Latest News
June 2016 rate hike odds rise after US Fed minutes
A hike in short-term interest rates could well be on the table when rate-setters in Washington DC meet in mid-June, the minutes of their most recent deliberations showed.
No EPS recovery at Burberry before 2019 at the earliest, SocGen says
'Don't hold your breath', earnings per share at Burberry's were not set to recover before 2019 - at the earliest - analysts at Socgen said.
Brexit fears recede as EU remain campaign gains favour, poll says
The campaign to keep the United Kingdom within the European Union has taken an 18 percentage-point lead over the drive for it to leave, helping lever sterling higher against the euro and US dollar, a new survey has showed.
US close: Stocks fall flat after FOMC minutes raise rate odds
US stocks had the wind taken out of their sales by a surprisingly hawkish set of meeting minutes from the Federal Reserve's rate setters.
JD Wetherspoon now selling takeaway coffee for 99p
Pub chain J D Wetherspoon began selling a new product on Wednesday - takeaway coffee.
Private Equity firms may raise energy asset bids as oil stabilises, Baker & McKenzie expert says
Private Equity firms could step up their hunt for energy sector assets as the oil price stabilises, according to Baker & McKenzie partner Mona Dajani, an industry veteran who has worked on complex acquisitions for over two decades.
Financials lead gains as interest rate curves steepen, pound pops higher
Financials led gains in London, over on the Continent and across the Pond too, as interest rate futures continued to progressively - albeit only modestly - price-in a higher probability of a US central bank rate hike in the very near-term, perhaps as soon as the next month.
FX round-up: Sterling's rise on UK staying in EU may be short lived
Sterling turned in solid but potentially short-lived gains today against a mob of currencies as traders warmed to a trinity of gauges that suggest the UK will remain in the EU.
Energy industry heading for recalibration, Shell Midstream Partners chairman says
The energy sector is recalibrating to a “new normal” in wake of the oil price slump and it will not be all plain sailing, according to Curtis Frasier, Chairman of the board of Shell Midstream Partners, a limited partnership recently formed by Royal Dutch Shell to own, operate, develop and acquire pipelines and other midstream assets.
Europe close: Banks lead gains
European stocks moved higher despite heightened speculation that the Federal Reserve will hike rates possibly as early as next month.
Zotefoams shares firm on Q1 sales update
Zotefoams says first-quarter sales are ahead of the record achieved in the same period a year ago, propping shares in the cellular material technology specialist up almost 9% on Wednesday afternoon.
Small caps news round-up
Jiasen International Holdings said on Wednesday that it was not aware of any reason for the jump in its share price. The AIM-listed designer, manufacturer and wholesaler of wooden home furnishings said it was in the process of conducting its annual audit and expects to release its final results, including a trading update, in the week beginning 20 June.
London close: FTSE ends lower ahead of Fed's meeting minutes
The FTSE 100 ended lower on Wednesday as investors weighed mixed UK jobs data and awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting minutes.
Thursday preview: Royal Mail reports full year amid struggles at parcels unit
Royal Mail’s full year results will take centre stage on Thursday as the UK postal delivery company’s parcel delivery services struggles against fierce competition.
Details of more than 100m LinkedIn users hacked
Users of the professional networking service LinkedIn were being warned to change their passwords and lock down their online security on Wednesday, after it emerged the email addresses and matching passwords of more than 100 million users could be for sale online.
London midday: Stocks fall after mixed UK jobs data
London stocks declined on Wednesday as a mixed UK jobs report failed to inspire and as traders awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting minutes.
US oil inventories rise but product stocks drop, EIA says
US oil inventories rose in the latest week, even as product stockpiles registered large drops, official data showed.
Results round-up
Full year profits from Burberry fell 10%, at the bottom of analysts' range of estimates, and the fashion retailer warned that it expects 2017 full year adjusted profit before tax "to be towards the bottom of the range of analysts' expectations".
Sterling flies as surveys point to UK staying in EU
Sterling is forging ahead against key currencies this afternoon as the market embraces increasing survey evidence that the UK will remain in the EU after its Brexit referendum next month.