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US close: Stocks stall as House healthcare vote delayed
US stocks closed marginally lower on Thursday after a House of Representatives vote on President Donald Trump's healthcare plan was delayed.
US House of Representatives postpones vote on healthcare reform
Leaders of the US House of Representatives put on ice plans for a vote on Thursday night on President Trump's proposal to repeal Obamacare.
Bonds: Gilts slump on retail sales data as safe haven bid unwinds
These were the movements in the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2. 41% (+1bp)UK: 1. 23% (+5bp)Germany: 0. 43% (+2bp)France: 1. 04% (+0bp)Spain: 1. 73% (-1bp)Italy: 2. 27% (+1bp)Portugal: 4. 20% (+4bp)Greece: 7. 39% (-1bp)Japan: 0. 06% (0bp).
Directors dealings: Abcam chief shows faith, pulls out chequebook again
Abcam's chief pulled out his wallet for a second time in just under a week to purchase shares in the company he runs.
Thursday broker round-up
Tullow Oil: RBC downgrades to Sector Perform with a target price of 275p.
San Francisco Fed chief says forecasts for 3 or 4 hikes in 2017 make sense
A top US rate-setter said the median expectation from policymakers for a total of three to four interest rate hikes in 2017 would make sense if the economy continued progressing as expected.
FX round-up: Sterling rises on hearty UK retail sales as inflation, possible BoE rate rise lurk
Sterling ticked higher on most major crosses Thursday thanks to better-than-expected UK retail sales figures for February, with rising inflation and a possible Bank of England (BoE) interest rate hike lurking in the background.
Europe close: Stocks gain as political worries in France abate
European stocks were higher on Thursday as investors' concerns about US president Donald Trump’s economic plans drew attention to the relatively better valuations on offer on the Continent.
London close: FTSE gains on clothing retailers after improved UK shop-sales data
Equities in London rose to a positive close with the FTSE 100 enjoying a rise after UK retail sales for February came in stronger than expected and helped both clothes-related retailers and sterling higher.
Apple under pressure following tax avoidance reports in New Zealand
US tech giant Apple is facing further scrutiny surrounding its tax practices after reports that it has not paid any tax in New Zealand for the last decade.
Belgian police arrest Frenchmen trying to drive into Antwerp crowd
Belgian police arrested Frenchman on Thursday after he tried to drive into a crowd at high-speed in a shopping area in Antwerp at around 11am, local police said.
Commodities: Gold a snip ahead with risk aversion potentially driving further gains
Gold was pricing a snip higher on Thursday afternoon with present risk aversion in the market potentially able to lift the nil-yielding precious metal higher in the short term.
RBS to shed 158 branches along with 400 jobs as digital banking rises
Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Natwest will see 158 branches close and shed 400 jobs as the bank blames a “dramatic shift” in banking practices.
EU summons Turkey delegate to explain Erdogan 'threat' towards Europeans
The European Union has summoned Turkey's ambassador to explain what appeared to be threatening remarks by its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan towards European citizens.
China Africa Resources formal name change delayed
Shares fell in China Africa Resources on Thursday as the miner said there was a delay to its formal name change to Pembridge Resources.
London attack: Dead terrorist named as UK-born Khalid Masood
UK police have named the man responsible for the terrorist attack in Westminster on Wednesday as British-born Khalid Masood.
Friday preview: Euro and US PMIs, Smiths Group results
Survey data on European and US services and manufacturing industries should give a good macroeconomic steer, while for UK corporate watchers Smiths Group is the biggest name reporting.
FTSE 100 movers: Next cuts a dash in dull market
Clothes retailer Next led the FTSE 100 risers despite reporting underlying pre-tax profits fell 3. 8% to £790. 2m last year and warned 2017 will be "another tough year" due to a shift away from spending on clothing and a squeeze on UK wages.
US open: Stocks rise ahead of healthcare bill vote
US equity markets rose on Thursday ahead of the closely watched vote on the Republican healthcare bill.
Atlantis Resources tidal power project close to generating 400MWh
Atlantis Resources’ tidal power generation project is nearing 400m megawatt per hour of energy generation in the first phase of development, the company said.