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US close: Stocks end in the black as oil rallies
US stocks ended higher as oil prices rallied, but gains were fairly muted overall as investors awaited the outcome of Thursday’s European Central Bank announcement.
Commodities: Oil, base metal futures resume upticks
Oil and base metal futures resumed upticks on Wednesday, after the previous rally came to an abrupt end overnight following disappointing data from China.
Sector Movers: Resource stocks recover on base metal, oil futures uptick
Resource stocks headed higher on Wednesday following a recovery in base metal and oil futures prices.
Interview: Red Hat CIO chalks data driven progress at open-source firm
Software makes the corporate world tick in the digital age and developing it is big business. The ‘open-source’ model, or collaborative software development from multiple, often unconnected sources, promotes a pooling of resources and a diverse design spectrum than any one company is capable of developing and sustaining over the long-term.
Bonds: Traders take position ahead of ECB meeting
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields:.
Palace lays complaint over 'Queen Backs Brexit' headline
Buckingham Palace laid a formal complaint with the press watchdog on Wednesday, over an article in this morning's The Sun newspaper claiming the Queen backed Brexit.
Wednesday newspaper share tips: Grafton Group, John Laing Group
UK and Ireland-based construction materials group Grafton continues to build its margins and expand its international footprint, with the shares’ current valuation offering a “good” entry point, The Times’s Tempus said.
Europe close: Stocks edge higher ahead of Draghi
European stocks edged higher amid rising oil prices, as investors looked to Thursday’s European Central Bank meeting for fresh catalysts.
Director dealings: ITV's chairman elect forks out for shares
Ahead of his promotion to chairman, ITV non-executive director Peter Bazalgette has invested £350,000 in the broadcaster's shares.
Updata signs network access deal with CityFibre
One of the UK's leading public sector suppliers, Updata, decided to bypass the much-maligned Openreach network where it could on Wednesday, in favour of the fledgling CityFibre.
FX Roundup: Commodity currencies rise as market awaits ECB meet
None of the major forex crosses dominated proceedings on Wednesday, although the dollar was a shade weaker ahead of European Central Bank’s Governing Council meeting on Thursday.
Small caps news round-up
Real Estate Investors was looking at the possibility of a combined West Bromwich development on Wednesday, announcing its intention to purchase the freehold of West Plaza on the high street from Bond Wolfe Estates for £8m. The AIM-traded real estate investment trust said the deal would be funded by cash from its existing resources and facilities. The property was valued at £8. 1m by GBR Phoenix Beard on 5 February, it confirmed.
London close: Stocks rise on UK manufacturing data, rally in oil prices
The FTSE 100 closed in positive territory on Wednesday after data on UK manufacturing and industrial production beat forecasts and as oil prices rallied.
Real Estate Investors buys West Bromwich block
Real Estate Investors was looking at the possibility of a combined West Bromwich development on Wednesday, announcing its intention to purchase the freehold of West Plaza on the high street from Bond Wolfe Estates for £8m.
US crude stockpiles rise in line with expectations, EIA data reveals
Oil prices rallied on Wednesday as government data showed US crude stockpiles rose in line with analysts’ expectations.
Wednesday broker round-up
Worldpay: Jefferies reiterates buy with a target price of 340p and Goldman Sachs keeps at buy with a target price of 400p.
FTSE 100 movers: Burberry brought back to earth, Pru allays Asia worries
The FTSE 100 fell back into the red towards the end of Wednesday's session, having approached 6,200 in the early afternoon.
San Leon secures fourth extension on Mart deal
San Leon Energy secured a fourth extension on its takeover of Mart Resources on Wednesday, citing administrative hold-ups as the reason behind the delays.
Breedon Aggregates shares down on positive final results
Breedon Aggregates was laying out a year of good growth on Wednesday, publishing its audited results for the 2015 calendar year, and signalling positive expectations going forward.
Amerisur shares down after quick-fire placing
Amerisur Resources had a bit more cash in its pocket on Wednesday, having completed a quick-fire placing it had announced first thing.