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US close: Markets end mixed as oil plummets
Stocks in the US finished mixed on Thursday as sharp drops in crude prices weighed on markets, and investors kept their wallets shut ahead of Friday’s crucial nonfarm payrolls.
FX round-up: Sterling mixed as speculation of BoE rate cut grows
Sterling was trading mixed this evening, having surrendered early session gains against the dollar as traders speculated on whether Bank of England will move to cut rates next week and, if so, by how much.
International property buyers take advantage of weak pound
With the pound plummeting post-Brexit, foreign investors are cashing in on luxury properties at a lower price in the UK.
Small caps news round-up
Dart Group’s low cost airline subsidiary Jet2started accepting bookings for its eighth UK base at Birmingham Airport on Thursday, and said the addition would bring 200 jobs to the city. The leisure airline, which focuses on hubs outside of London and the south east, will fly to 15.
Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom win Tory MP vote as Gove eliminated
Britain is likely to see its second female prime minister by 9 September after Michael Gove was eliminated and Andrea Leadsom joined Theresa May in the next stage of voting.
Avast Software to buy AVG Technologies for $1.3bn cash
Prague-based Avast Software has agreed to buy Netherlands' AVG Technologies for $1. 3bn cash, adding mobile phone-protection software to its existing offering as it moves into the growing Internet of Things (IoT) market.
Commodities: Gold, silver dip after FOMC, ahead of US non-farm payrolls
Gold, silver and copper futures dipped Thursday after their recent run-up, as expectations of a US rate rise in 2016 dried up and traders began looking to the market-sensitive US non-farm payrolls data out on Friday.
C&C drinks volumes are up but remains cautious about Brexit
Irish drinks manufacturer and distributor C&C on Thursday reported a rise in drink volumes but was cautious of Brexit uncertainty as they could be affected by the weakened pound.
London close: Banks, financials and property fly amid BoE rate-cut chatter
UK shares flew north with Associated British Foods leading blue chips on a chipper update and chased by a peloton of banking, financial and property stocks on rising expectations of a Bank of England rate-cut next week.
Second Tesla crash incident investigated in US
A second incident involving a Tesla car in the United States has once again brought the spotlight back on the company's self-driving feature, known as Autopilot.
Europe close: Stocks finish higher on hopes of further ECB QE
Stocks in the euro-area finished higher on Thursday as the European Central Bank’s June meeting minutes showed policymakers were ready to provide more stimulus measures to the economy if needed.
Director dealings: Debenhams and NewRiver execs go bargain hunting
A pair of Debenhams directors have dipped into the market as shares in the department store group sank to a seven-year low, while the chief executive of NewRiver Retail has also looked to top up his holdings as the retail property investment group subsided to a 20-month low.
Rise in GDP not expected to sustain over coming months, says NIESR
UK gross domestic product rose by 0. 6% in the three months to June 2016, according to The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) on Thursday.
Sector movers: Banks and housebuilders rebound
Banks and financial services stocks rebounded on Thursday as the market enjoyed a respite from worries about Brexit.
Ex-Barclays employees jailed in Libor-rigging case
Four bankers who worked for Barclays were given prison sentences on Thursday after being found guilty of conspiring to rig global global benchmark interest rates in the Libor scandal.
Minnesota death causes outrage as video of aftermath goes viral
Protests are continuing in the US after a black man was shot dead in Minnesota by law enforcement officers, just a day before another man was killed in Louisiana in similar circumstances.
Faroe Petroleum awarded new licence in Irish Atlantic margin
Oil and gas company Faroe Petroleum was awarded a new three-year licence option in the Irish offshore by the 2015 Atlantic margin licensing round (AMLR).
FTSE 250 movers: Miners sink back down while NCC flies
The FTSE 250 was trading comfortably in the green on Thursday afternoon, as housing and property companies delivered a surprise bounce from house price data and growing expectations of a Bank of England interest rate cut.
Broker tips: Rightmove, Anglo American, AB Foods
Morgan Stanley cut its forecasts and price share targets by varying degrees for internet players Rightmove, Auto Trader and Zoopla, but saw a higher price for Just Eat.
Tullow Oil sacks off Rome well
Tullow Oil's Norwegian arm has plugged and abandoned an exploration well on the Rome prospect in the central North Sea after it failed to find any oil or gas.