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FX round-up: Sterling knocked by slowing UK construction activity
Sterling was knocked lower on Tuesday on the back of a slowing in UK construction activity and suppressed thereafter by a blend of geopolitical unease gripping markets in Europe, the US and Asia.
Europe close: Basic Resource stocks, Oil&Gas gain at start of quarter
European stocks turned higher on Tuesday as Basic Resource shares gained and oil prices continued to advance, even as geopolitics weighed on investors' minds, with the upcoming Trump-Xi summit in the US ahead at the end of the week and a televised debate of the main contenders in France's presidential elections scheduled for Tuesday evening.
Europe midday: Stocks unchanged as investors eye Trump-Xi summit, French election
European stocks struggled for direction on Tuesday as geopolitics weighed on investors' minds, with the upcoming Trump-Xi summit in the US and the French election.
Sector movers: Miners, Oil&Gas see biggest gains
Miners gained altitude with some traders linking those gains to the weaker pound, which boosts the results of companies reporting in US dollars.
London close: Sterling weakness helps FTSE higher, guided by resources
Equities in London held on to their early moderate gains on Tuesday to close the session on a positive note, helped throughout the day by weakness in sterling and despite a fall in UK construction growth.
Directors dealings: Meggitt's Engineering Director hands spouse some shares
Meggitt's Engineering Director added to his holdings via his wife after exercising his share awards under the company's equity participation plan.
Transocean signed to drill Verbier prospect
North Sea-focussed independent upstream oil and gas company Jersey Oil & Gas announced that Statoil - operator of UK Seaward Licence P. 2170, blocks 20/5b & 21/1d - awarded a contract to Transocean Drilling UK for the semisubmersible rig Transocean Spitsbergen.
Commodities: Safe-haven gold feasts on geopolitical stew to rebound higher
Gold is rebounding on Tuesday afternoon as investors like the safe-haven metal amid a stew of concerns comprising Brexit nerves, European political risk, Trump uncertainties and Opec output pledges.
Wednesday preview: Lots riding on services data, Fed minutiae on offer
Wednesday will see eyes turn to research firm IHS Markit as it unloads a cavalcade of reports on the services sector around the world, while in the US non-manufacturing sentiment is expected to remain high and minutiae lovers will get a look at the FOMC's minutes.
Volga Gas reports bumper 2016 results
Russia-focussed oil and gas exploration and production group Volga Gas announced its preliminary unaudited annual results for the year ended 31 December on Tuesday.
Tax Systems acquires OSMO, completes board shuffle
Corporation tax software and services supplier Tax Systems announced on Tuesday that it acquired the entire issued share capital of OSMO Data Technology in return for the issue of 4,701,492 new ordinary shares of one penny each in the capital of the company.
US open: Stocks on the back foot ahead of Trump-Xi summit
US stocks were on the back foot on Monday as investors geared up for the first bilateral meeting between President Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Advertising watchdog taking aim at 'fibre' broadband marketing
So-called ‘fibre broadband’ is coming under the microscope of the Advertising Standards Authority, amid growing concerns that internet service providers are misleading consumers as to the nature of the internet technology they’re signing up for.
Staples surges on report of possible sale
Shares in Staples surged on Tuesday following a report that the office supplies chain was mulling a possible sale of the company.
US factory orders rise more strongly than expected in February
Total factory orders grew by 1. 0% month-on-month in February to reach $476. 5bn, according to the Department of Commerce.
FTSE 250 movers: Sophos surges but Allied Minds retreats
London's FTSE 250 was up 0. 2% to 19,000. 04 in afternoon trade, with broker notes behind some of the moves.
Political and economic nervousness abounds, SocGen's Kit Juckes says
SocGen strategist Kit Juckes spied potential trading opportunities in the European single currency versus the US dollar and pound, amid renewed doubts about the US economy and lingering caution ahead of the French presidential elections.
Android knocks Windows off its OS-leading pedestal
The dominance of Microsoft Windows as the world’s most popular operating system came to an end this week, with the release of fresh data suggesting Google's Android system had inched ahead of it.
RBS faces EU investigation into alternative Williams & Glyn plans
European regulators have launched an in-depth probe into the decision to allow Royal Bank of Scotland an alternative option rather than offloading its Williams & Glyn business.
Imagination Technologies has 'strong legal case', analysts say alternative is 'fatal'
With the very survival of Imagination Technologies in question due to Apple's plan to stop using its processor technology within two years, most analysts warned of the potentially fatal consequences but some highlighted that the British company's legal case is very strong.