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Miners and big oil pace gains
Miners traded higher, boosted by calmer trading overnight on Asian bourses as some analysts expressed confidence that any depreciation in the Chinese yuan would likely remain 'orderly'.
FX round-up: Pound weaker ahead of MPC meeting, but up against US dollar
Sterling brushed of another spate of weaker than expected data heading into the Monetary Policy Committee’s meeting the next day.
Europe close: Stocks end off their worst levels of the day
European stocks finished in the red on Wednesday, weighed down by Banks and Media stocks although they managed to finish off their worst levels of the day.
US crude oil futures jump on bearish weekly stockpiles data
US oil stockpiles registered an unexpected fall over the previous week, government data revealed, triggering a sharp jump in crude oil futures.
Small caps news round-up
Imperial Innovations announced a new chairman on Wednesday, appointing David Newlands to the post in a non-executive capacity with effect from the start of its new financial year - 1 August. The AIM-traded firm said that, after its announcement on 21 March that Dr Martin Knight would be stepping down as non-executive chairman and director, the nomination committee carried out a rigorous assessment of available candidates, and concluded that Newlands met the criteria for the role given his extensive board experience.
Imperial Innovations appoints David Newlands as chairman
Imperial Innovations announced a new chairman on Wednesday, appointing David Newlands to the post in a non-executive capacity with effect from the start of its new financial year - 1 August.
US open: Staples, Walt Disney weigh on Wall Street
Wall Street was in a sombre mood on Wednesday following poor numbers out of entertainment giant Walt Disney and after regulators blocked a merger between Office Depot and Staples, in keeping with a tougher stance of late from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic.
London close: Stocks finish higher as oil prices rally
London stocks finished higher on Wednesday as oil prices gained after a report showed a surprise fall in US weekly crude inventories.
Premier Oil to meet upper end of 2016 production guidance
Premier Oil on Wednesday said it was on track to deliver “at or above” the upper end of its 2016 guidance.
Director dealings: Rio Tinto's Professor L’Estrange doubles stake
Rio Tinto non-executive director Michael L’Estrange almost doubled his stake in the mining heavyweight with a AU$44,590 (£23,000) purchase on Wednesday.
GDP slows to 0.3% in three months to April, says NIESR
UK economic growth slowed in the last three months as the effect of uncertainty over the EU referendum spread its tentacles ever wider, according to estimates from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
FTSE 250 movers: Interserve surges while market punishes William Hill
The FTSE 250 was trading just below the waterline before the close on Wednesday, after opening the session in the positive and then briefly nudging the green again the late trading.
Thursday preview: BoE's 'Super Thursday' in focus
The Bank of England will take centre stage on Thursday as it releases its interest rate decision, policy meeting minutes and Inflation Report.
FTSE 100 movers: Property drags on buoyant mining
The FTSE was underwater but working it was back to dry land late on Wednesday, as the index's raft of heavyweight miners were buoyed by commodity prices.
MX Oil abandons Mexico to focus on Nigeria, maybe
MX Oil has abandoned its much-hyped Mexican development plans when its local partner failed to stump up the cash for an asset swap deal, leaving the company focused on the sale of its Nigerian asset about which it is feeling some seller's remorse.
Centaur Media trots out encouraging update
Centaur Media gave investors an upbeat update on the first four months of the year, as revenues grew 5% and the B2B publishing and events group made a significant improvement in cash collection.
EC stops Three acquiring O2 from Telefonica, Hutchinson mulls legal challenge
Hutchinson said it may challenge the European Commission's decision on Wednesday to block its subsidiary Three's proposed acquisition of UK mobile network O2 from Telefonica.
Broker tips: Cape, Compass Group, Barratt Developments
A recent pull-back in the shares of Cape may have thrown up a "window of opportunity" for investors, Numis said.
Melrose says everything's fine in very short update
The board of Melrose Industries released a trading statement so short it could fit into two tweets on Wednesday, in an apparent bid to reassure investors that everything was chugging along nicely.
Results round-up
Information services group Experian grew total and organic revenue 5% at constant exchange rates in the year to 31 March, it reported on Wednesday, to $4. 55bn, with total revenue from continuing activities sitting at $4. 48bn.