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US open: Markets start higher with energy stocks lifted by rising oil prices
The Dow moved towards its 10th consecutive day of gains as US stocks opened higher on Thursday, led by energy stocks buoyed by firmer oil prices and a weak dollar.
Europe close: Stocks slip as Basic Resources, Bank shares retreat
Europe's main stock market benchmarks ended slightly lower weighed down by losses for Basic Resources and Banks.
FX round-up: Sterling up on UK retail data as dollar drops after Fed's jawboning
Sterling firmed on key crosses Thursday, helped up by a slight improvement in UK retail-sales figures, a widely weaker dollar on perceived Federal Reserve jawboning and lingering Eurozone political uncertainty.
London close: FTSE ends lower on banks in news-rich session
London shares closed lower on Thursday with banks leading the drop in blue-chip stocks in a session overflowing with mostly well-received corporate news.
US Treasury secretary Mnuchin vows 'very significant' tax reform by August
Donald Trump's newly appointed Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin has said that 'very significant' tax reforms will be in place in the US by August.
Neil Woodford launching new income-focused fund
Star fund manager Neil Woodford has revealed a few more details about a new income fund that he will manage alongside his popular existing funds, which attracted record inflows on launch.
Kolar shareholders approve name change to Lionsgold
India and Finland-focussed gold explorer and trading exchange provider Kolar Gold announced late on Thursday that at the extraordinary general meeting held during the afternoon, the resolutions proposed were duly passed.
Commodities: Crude surges on drop in US supplies as gold rises, dollar falls
Crude-oil futures raced ahead Thursday after overnight American Petroleum Institute figures revealed a drop in US supplies of the black liquid.
Regional REIT acquiring £129m Conygar property portfolio
Regional office and industrial property-focussed Regional REIT announced on Thursday that it has reached an agreement with The Conygar Investment Company to acquire UK regional office, industrial and retail, and retail distribution investment properties owned by Conygar, valued at £129m.
International Personal Finance appoints Lockwood as permanent CFO
International Personal Finance has appointed Justin Lockwood as its new chief financial officer after he assumed the role on an interim basis back in September.
Atalaya Mining to buy 10% stake in Spanish copper project
Atalaya Mining is to buy a 10% stake in Cobre San Rafael, a subsidiary of Explotaciones Gallegas, in order to increase its interest in the Touro copper project in Spain.
Aussie firm Ansell suing Reckitt over their rubbers
Australian rubber manufacturer Ansell announced on Thursday that it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare UK, for their distribution of the ‘Durex RealFeel’ condom.
Friday preview: Banks stay in focus as RBS, StanChart report
Friday sees the release of more bank earnings, with Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered on the slate following numbers from HSBC, Lloyds and Barclays earlier in the week.
Sector movers: Non-life insurers, miners lead gains
The latest raft of earnings reports was the main driver behind sector movements on Thursday afternoon, with Non-life insurers and Mining shares leading the way.
Small cap news round-up
Antalya Mining is to buy a 10% stake in Cobre San Rafael, a subsidiary of Explotaciones Gallegas, in order to increase its interest in the Touro copper project in Spain.
Full steam ahead as HS2 receives Royal Assent
Britain’s second dedicated high-speed railway line sped ever closer to construction on Thursday, with the bill giving HS2 the go-ahead receiving Royal Assent.
Deltex confirms major monitor orders
Oesophageal doppler monitoring supplier Deltex Medical Group announced that it received confirmation of monitor orders worth over £0. 2m on Thursday which, as indicated in the trading update announced on 18 January, had moved into 2017 due to the rescheduling of capital allocations in a small number of hospitals.
Macfarlane Group makes 'good' sales progress
Macfarlane Group posted its annual results for the 2016 calendar year on Thursday, reporting it made further “good progress” in with sales of £179. 8m, up 6% on the previous year.
FTSE 100 movers: Intu Properties gains but Centrica slumps on results
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 1% to 7,306. 28 in afternoon as investors digested a slew of corporate releases and the latest retail sales figures from the CBI.
Barclays plans early closure of bad bank as full year profits rise
Barclays posted fourth-quarter results shy of consensus and cut its dividend, as expected, but said it would complete its restructuring six months earlier than previously planned.