Latest News
US close: Stocks end mostly higher as Fed stands pat on rates
US stocks ended mostly higher on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve stood pat on interest rates as expected, with only the tech-heavy Nasdaq in the red amid heavy losses for Apple.
Bonds: Yields dive despite Fed holding door open to June Fed hike
These were the movements in the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields:.
Fed stays put on interest rates
US central bankers chose to stay put on policy at Wednesday´s meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.
Big oil lends its weight to advance in FTSE 100
The Footsie was lifted by gains in the oil majors as crude oil futures hit their best level year-to-date in morning trading and analysts weighed in with positive views on BP´s first quarter financials.
Oil prices snap rally after rise in US crude inventories
Oil prices pared gains on Wednesday after official data showed US crude oil inventories rose more than expected last week.
Directors dealings: Rockhopper finance chief picks up some shares
Two top executives and one non-executive director at Rockhopper Exploration, including its finance chief, picked up some shares on the previous day, the company said in a statement.
Commodities: China places new curbs on steel-related futures
Commodities came under pressure following a decision by China´s regulators to curb speculative inflows into the country´s futures exchanges and the release of 'bearish' weekly oil inventory data Stateside.
Europe close: Shares finish higher ahead of Fed announcement
European stocks pulled off a slightly higher close on Wednesday as investors sifted through earnings ahead of the Federal Reserve’s rate announcement.
Small caps news round-up
Pressure Technologies issued a dire warning about the state of oil and gas services on Wednesday, signalling its struggle through the first six months of the trading year were even more difficult than previously anticipated. The AIM-traded company had highlighted difficult trading conditions in the oil and gas market at its February AGM, and at the time indicated that no significant pick up was expected this year.
London close: FTSE rises ahead of Fed interest rate decision
The FTSE 100 finished higher on Wednesday, rebounding from earlier declines, as investors weighed UK economic data and awaited the Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision.
Pressure Technologies issues warning as oil industry stagnates
Pressure Technologies issued a dire warning about the state of oil and gas services on Wednesday, signalling its struggle through the first six months of the trading year were even more difficult than previously anticipated.
FX round-up: Aussie pummelled following weak inflation numbers
Foreign exchange markets were little changed for the most part ahead of the upcoming policy decisions by the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan, although traders in the Australian dollar were left nursing heavy losses.
LGO Energy starts pumping at recompleted Trinidad well
LGO Energy excitedly announced the start of production from a new interval in well GY-671 on the Goudron Field in Trinidad on Wednesday.
Ilika launches miniaturised battery for 'internet of things'
Materials innovation and solid state battery company Ilika announced its contribution towards solving one of the digital age’s biggest problems on Wednesday, with the launch of its miniaturised solid state battery technology Stereax M250 for the so-called internet of things (IoT).
Minds + Machines swings to loss in 2015
Internet top-level domain group Minds + Machines saw billings and revenue rise significantly in 2015, it revealed in its annual results on Wednesday, but a lack of auction activity and the burden of historic contracts saw the company swing to a loss.
Armstrong Ventures to become virtual reality music company
Media, technology and healthcare investor Armstrong Ventures announced a plan to acquire virtual reality music experience company MelodyVR on Wednesday, for a total consideration of £5. 12m.
US pending home sales rise more quickly than expected in March
A leading indicator of existing home sales in the US increased slightly in March, reaching their highest level since May 2015.
Results round-up
Barclays reported a dip in profit in its first quarter on Wednesday, with group profit before tax at £793m in the three months to 31 March, down from £1. 06bn a year earlier.
Broker tips: Tesco, Weir Group, StanChart
Shares in supermarket chain Tesco were under the cosh on Wednesday as JPMorgan Cazenove issued a downbeat note on the company and downgraded its estimates.
Wednesday broker round-up
BP: Barclays reiterates overweight with a 550p target, Credit Suisse keeps at underperform with a target of 330p, Cannacord stays at buy with a 420p target and Exane BNP Paribas reiterates neutral with a target of 350p.