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US open: Stocks on the back foot as oil and dollar slumps
US equity markets were on the back foot on Wednesday as oil prices weakened lowering energy stocks, while the dollar fell after previous gains.
Guscio unveils new GoTech moniker
Sports, health and wellbeing focused technology company Guscio announced on Wednesday that its directors had resolved to change the company’s name to GoTech Group with immediate effect.
FTSE 250 movers: Ascential and Sophos lead mid-cap rise
The FTSE 250 index was slightly up on Wednesday afternoon, in contrast to its larger sibling.
FTSE 100 movers: Mining shares slide, housebuilders rally
The FTSE 100 fell 0. 41% to 7,156. 95 points in Wednesday afternoon trade, led by mining shares.
Results round-up
Smurfit Kappa Following its recent admission to the FTSE 100 index, packaging company Smurfit Kappa hiked its full year dividend 20% as it reported earnings grew despite headwinds from higher raw material costs and adverse currency effects.
Dunelm first-half profit drops 26%
FTSE 250 homewares retailer Dunelm posted a 26% drop in pre-tax profit in the first half amid a weaker market.
China Africa Resources to take minority stake in US Lithium
Natural resource exploration and development company China Africa Resources announced on Wednesday that it has signed an Investment Agreement with US Lithium, a private Australian company, to acquire up to a 47. 5% shareholding in USL.
EU's chief Brexit negotiator warns bloc could 'disappear'
Guy Verhofstadt, the chief negotiator for the European Parliament in upcoming Brexit negotiations, has said the EU is in danger of disappearing as it comes under pressure from populist movements.
Analysts mostly bullish on houseuilders after housing White Paper
HSBC kept 'buy' recommendations on all the UK housebuilding stocks it covers, as the government's housing white paper contains "few measures that would upset the expected delivery of homes" from the major developers, with Bellway and Bovis offering the most upside.
Broker tips: Hargreaves Lansdown, FirstGroup, Shaftesbury
Despite seeing material long-term potential from the structural shifts in the pensions market, Numis downgraded its recommendation on Hargreaves Lansdown to 'hold' from 'buy'.
GlaxoSmithKline hits targets, earnings could slip due to generic rival
GlaxoSmithKline hit its full year earnings target on Wednesday but said growth in 2017 could be severely hampered by the looming prospect of generic competition to its key Advair respiratory drug.
Westmount Energy acquires stake in Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas
Westmount Energy's shares are up 2% as it acquired a stake in Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd (EOG) to obtain a low-cost exposure to the Orinduik block in the Guyana basin.
Thursday preview: Dairy Crest to reveal impact of higher dairy prices
Dairy Crest’s profitability has been hit by rising dairy prices in the company’s butter business, the group is expected to reveal in its latest interims on Thursday.
Bowleven tells shareholders to vote against 'defective' COC takeover
Bowleven updated the market on Wednesday, saying that following the requisition of a general meeting on 24 January, Monaco-based private investment vehicle Crown Ocean Capital had continued to purchase Bowleven stock.
Range Resources confirms $30m convertible note financing
Shares in Range Resources are up almost 9% as it confirmed all conditions for a $30m convertible note financing have been met.
Underinvestment in UK may be result of persistent risk aversion, BoE's Cunliffe says
The Great Financial Crisis may have led not only to higher uncertainty which continued to linger but to a long-term increase in the level of risk aversion among businesses as well, a top UK rate-setter said.
MegaFon secures credit-line financing for Mail.ru Group stake buy
Russian telecommunications operator MegaFon and Sberbank have signed an agreement to open a 35 billion ruble credit line that expires 2024 to finance a stake acquisition in Mail. ru Group.
Kodal pleased with final drilling assays from Bougouni project
Shares in Kodal Minerals fell more than 10% as final drilling assays from the Ngoualana prospect at Bougouni Lithium Project in Mali confirmed high-grade mineralisation.
MPs to debate further amendments and vote on final brexit bill
MPs are to debate further amendments and vote on the final Brexit bill that will trigger Article 50 for the two-year process to leave the European Union on Wednesday, following two days of debate that has left the bill unchanged.
Disney warns against China trade war as sales fall unexpectedly
Walt Disney chief executive Bob Iger has warned that a trade war with China brought about by US President Donald Trump's protectionist policies would negatively affect business.