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Broker tips: EnQuest, Debenhams, Smiths Group
Oil producer EnQuest’s shares rose on Friday as Canaccord Genuity said the company is “one of the most attractive plays in the sector”.
Domino's to trial pizza delivery robot
Takeaway delivery drivers could be the latest profession to be made obsolete by robots, if Domino's Pizza has its way.
Results round-up
FTSE 100-listed house builder Berkeley Group said it expected current year results to be at the top end of expectations, after absorbing approximately £25m of accelerated operating expenses.
Europe midday: Stocks nudge higher as oil pops up again
European stocks nudged higher on Friday, struggling for direction following recent gains at the end of a week jam-packed with policy decisions.
Hinkley Point 'poison pill' criticised as France underpins EDF
The first nuclear power plant to be built in Britain for 20 years was desribed as a "terrible deal" on Friday, just a day after the French government promised a bailout to allow the project to proceed.
London midday: Equities advance as miners and banking shares rally
UK equities advanced on Friday with banking and mining stocks leading the way as investors reassessed a jam-packed week of events.
Good Energy customer numbers surge but profit slips
AIM-listed Good Energy posted a 44% rise in customer numbers in 2015 as more people opted to sign up with smaller energy firms.
Russian central bank keeps rates unchanged despite oil price rebound
Russian rate-setters stuck to their guns, keeping interest rates on hold and cautioning they might stay at current levels for longer despite a rebound in global oil prices and a rally in the ruble.
Asia report: Strong yen holds Japan markets back
Markets in Asia traded mostly higher on Friday, taking their lead from the US as oil prices hit their highest levels for a year. Japan was the odd one out, however, as a strong yen dragged on the markets.
US pre-open: Stocks set for slightly higher open as oil rises
Stocks on Wall Street looked set for a slightly stronger open on Friday as oil prices pushed higher.
EnQuest gains as Canaccord lifts target price
Oil producer EnQuest’s shares rose on Friday as Canaccord Genuity said the company is “one of the most attractive plays in the sector”.
UK small business outlook falls to over three-year low in Q1, FSB says
Small businesses in the United Kingdom were in a dour mood in the first quarter, amid weak exports, a slump in the oil price, public sector austerity and uncertainty surrounding the impact which the 23 June referendum on continued membership of the European Union, the results of a survey showed.
EU, Turkey in talks over refugee resettlement proposals
European Union leaders held talks with Turkey in Brussels on Friday in an effort to reach agreement on the refugee crisis.
Deutsche Bank sees upside to European stocks, warns of unstable equilibrium
Dovish guidance from the US Federal Reserve reduces the risk that sovereign bond yields will rise in 'real' terms, which in turn should support European equities, including the likes of Rio Tinto, but tensions in credit markets and other segments of global capital markets could resurface in the second half of 2016, strategists at Deutsche Bank said.
Investec downgrades Debenhams on structural challenges
Investec downgraded Debenhams to ‘sell’ from ‘hold’ and trimmed the price target to 67p from 70p amid expectations of little profit over the medium term.
JP Morgan sees increased downside risks for DJ Stoxx 600
The DJ Stoxx 600 equity benchmark is losing momentum even as other markets pick up the tempo, pointing to renewed downside risks, technical analysts at JP Morgan told clients.
Smiths Group boosted by RBC upgrade
Smiths Group got a boost after RBC Capital Markets upgraded the stock to ‘outperform’ from ‘sector perform’ and lifted the price target to 1,225p from 1,050p saying it expects the recent outperformance to continue.
Further Eurozone rate cuts possible, ECB chief economist Praet says
Further interest rate reductions in the single currency area are possible if the European Central Bank's recently announced barrage of new measures fails to have the desired effect, a top official said at the end of the week.
Investec results to be hit by weak rand, volatile markets
Dual-listed bank and asset manager Investec said on Friday that its results have been hit by the slump in the South African rand and equity market volatility, but operating profit will be a touch ahead of the previous year.
Arriva wins London Overground concession
One of London's largest railway concessions was awarded to Arriva on Friday, with the German-owned transport group set to take over the current 50-50 joint venture on London Overground.