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Chinese manufacturing activity expands in August, PMIs show
Chinese manufacturing activity expanded in August, according to two separate reports on Thursday.
The Gym Group flexes higher as Numis reiterates 'buy'
The Gym Group’s shares were given a lift after Numis reiterated a ‘buy’ rating and target price of 275p, saying the business has an “impressive record of profitable growth”.
BP signs second Chinese shale gas contract with CNPC
BP has signed a second production sharing contract (PSC) for shale gas exploration, development and production with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
McColl's Q3 total sales up amid expansion
Convenience retailer McColl’s Retail Group reported a rise in third-quarter total sales but a drop in like-for-like sales, as it said it is on track to deliver full-year results in line with the board’s expectations.
International PPL grows NAV and profit in first half
Infrastructure investment company International Public Partnerships posted its half year results to 30 June on Thursday, with continued net asset value growth over the half year of 6. 3% to £1. 37bn.
Markit eurozone manufacturing PMI ticks lower in August
Markit’s final eurozone manufacturing purchasing managers’ index came in at 51. 7 in August, marking a three-month low.
Safestore expects to 'slightly' beat profits forecasts
Although third quarter sales slowed moderately, Safestore said adjusted earnings for the full year are likely to be "slightly ahead" of current market expectations.
UK pension funds deficit grows to over £710bn
The United Kingdom's overall deficit for its benefit pension funds has increased by £100bn in a month to reach £710bn, a new report says.
Pennon director McAulay steps down as Viridor CEO
Pennon director Ian McAulay has resigned with immediate effect as he stepped down as chief executive of the FTSE 250 group's waste business.
Ascential's main shareholders sell down stakes and withdraw directors
Ascential's former owners Apax Partners and Guardian Media Group have together sold £200m shares in the events and publishing company and consequently withdrawn their two representatives from the FTSE 250 company's board.
Europe open: Stocks rise as oil prices rebound
European stocks pushed up in early trade amid rising oil prices, as investors digested mixed data out of China.
London open: Stocks edge higher as investors digest mixed China data
Stocks in London edged higher in early trade as investors digested some mixed Chinese data ahead of the release of UK manufacturing figures.
AstraZeneca offloads anaesthetic rights to Aspen
AstraZeneca announced on Thursday morning that it has completed its commercialisation agreement with Aspen Global Incorporated, for rights to its global anaesthetics portfolio outside the US.
Hays full-year profit, net fee income up
FTSE 250 recruiter Hays reported a rise in profit for the year to the end of June as net fee grew and the company said it was too early to gauge how Brexit will affect the business.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Pension deficits, sovereign bond yields, Rolls-Royce, Poundland
The scrapping of a dividend by specialist plastics group Carclo due to its spiralling pension deficit triggered rules that prohibited a payout could be a watershed moment for British business as it highlighted the crisis in corporate pensions. The combined deficit of all the UK’s 6,000 pension funds has risen by £100 billion to £710 billion in the past month, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Skyval Index. - The Times.
Paysafe buys Income Access Group for CAD40m
FTSE 250 payment solutions provider Paysafe – known as Optimal Payments before it merged with competitor Skrill in August last year – has acquired affiliate technology business Income Access Group for a cash consideration of CAD40m.
London pre-open: Stocks seen higher as investors digest China data
London stocks were expected to open higher on Thursday following the release of encouraging Chinese data, as investors eyed data on UK manufacturing.
Asia close: Nikkei 225 hits two-week high
The Nikkei-225 climbed to a two-week high on Wednesday, boosted by shares of exporters as Japan´s currency, the yen, weakened versus the US dollar.