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Admiral races ahead as full year numbers beat expectations
Shares in Admiral raced ahead on Thursday after the insurer posted a forecast-beating and record 6% jump in full year pre-tax profit as its car insurance customers grew.
Whitbread sales sink in fourth quarter on Costa slowdown
Sales slowed at Whitbread in the fourth quarter but the Premier Inns and Costa coffee shops owner said it would still deliver full year profit in line with expectations.
E-commerce drives growth at Domino's Pizza
A hunger for pizza, tied with an attachment to smartphones drove growth at Domino's Pizza Group in 2015, with the company seeing more and more sales from e-commerce.
Eurozone private sector growth at 13-month low
Markit’s final Eurozone composite purchasing managers’ index for February fell to 53. 0,above the flash estimate of 52. 7 and January's 53. 6 but marking the lowest reading since January last year.
London open: Stocks drop as China services PMI falls
UK stocks declined on Thursday as a report showed Chinese services activity slowed in February.
Rally in stocks has further to run, Marc Faber says
The rally in equities still had further to run, one of the most erstwhile 'bears' in the market said on Wednesday.
Europe open: Stocks slip as investors pause after recent gains
European stocks slipped in early trade as investors paused for breath following five consecutive days of gains.
CRH reports jump in full-year operating profits
CRH saw operating profits jump last year, driven by a strong performance at its heritage businesses and from acquisitions, although net debt rose substantially.
Strong results at Travis Perkins marred by plumbing impairment
A strong set of results from Wickes owner Travis Perkins were marred by difficult trading and impairments in its plumbing businesses in 2015, as the company released its final results on Thursday.
UK house prices increases remain steady, says Nationwide
UK house prices increased by a steady 0. 3% month-on-month in February, the same rate as the month before but below the consensus forecast of 0. 4%, according to data from the Nationwide building society.
Inmarsat profit drops amid weak government spending
Satellite communications provider Inmarsat posted a drop in full year profit amid weak global government spending.
BHP's Samarco agrees $8bn compensation programme
BHP Billiton's part-owned Brazilian mining venture Samarco has agreed a B$30bn ($8bn or £5. 5bn) program of compensation and clean-up from the bursting of a mine tailings dam last November.
London pre-open: Equities track oil futures lower
The Footsie was being called to start slightly lower despite overnight gains on Wall Street, as stocks continued to track movements in the oil price.
Thursday newspaper round-up: National Grid, Rolls-Royce, bookmakers
The energy regulator Ofgem is to be handed sweeping new powers to manage the country’s electricity supplies, switch off factories and request emergency back-up generation, under energy market reforms being considered by Whitehall. Documents seen by The Times show ministers are considering three main options designed to strip National Grid of its role as the UK’s power system operator, a role that grants it huge supervisory influence. - The Times.
BHP reaches Samarco settlement, Schroders CEO steps down
London open The FTSE 100 is expected to open rather timidly, rising by only one point on Tnursday morning, after losing ground on the previous day.