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US close: Wall Street closes in the green as earnings season peaks
Wall Street bounced back quickly but modestly on Thursday as the peak day of the earnings season was rather mixed, with investors still getting over their disappointment over White House tax cut plans the previous day.
Lloyds Banking Group profit increases, on track to meet 2017 targets
Lloyds Banking Group’s first quarter profit increased with the part state-owned bank still on track to meet its 2017 targets.
Shift in 'forward guidance' was not discussed on Thursday, ECB chief Draghi says
European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi left the door open to further policy easing, sending the euro slightly lower, albeit while noting that the balance of risks had moved towards a "more balanced configuration".
ECB policy decision - Analysts react
"In June we expect a change to a less dovish and more symmetric forward guidance that would open the door for depo rate hikes in 2018. In particular, we would expect modifications possibly to both the forward guidance on rates and on QE by removing the explicit reference in the statement to a scenario with lower rates and/or higher QE. " - Philippe Gudin, Antonio Garcia Pascual, Barclays Research.
FX round-up: Sterling sails higher on UK retail data, ECB rate call
Sterling sailed higher on most key crosses Thursday as investors liked the currency after pleasing UK retail data, European Central Bank holding interest rates and last night's US tax-reform disappointment.
Bonds: GIlts pushed higher by cautious ECB, underwhelming US tax cut plans
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2. 30% (-1bp)UK: 1. 06% (-2bp)Germany: 0. 30% (-6bp)France: 0. 83% (-6bp)Spain: 1. 63% (-7bp)Italy: 2. 24% (-7bp) Portugal: 3. 46% (-11bp)Greece: 6. 38% (-3bp) Japan: 0. 02% (+1bp).
Europe close: ECB pours cold water on expectations of policy shift
European stocks declined for the first time in seven days despite the European Central Bank sounding a more confident note on the single currency bloc's economy.
Friday preview: UK economic growth seen slowing, RBS results under scrutiny
On Friday the Office for National Statistics will reveal its preliminary estimate for UK gross domestic product growth for the first quarter.
Europe midday: Stocks fall for first time in seven days as investors eye ECB comments
European stocks declined for the first time in seven days on Thursday as investors awaited the European Central Bank’s policy decision.
London close: Resources weakness, US tax-reform hangover and ex-divs punish FTSE
Equities in London were punished lower on Thursday as pronounced weakness among mining and oil majors, a US tax-reform hangover, and a bundle of ex-dividend shares all told against the FTSE.
United Airlines to offer up to $10K to passengers affected by overbooking
Under-fire US carrier United Airlines has said it will change its overbooking policy so that any passengers asked to give up their seat could be reimbursed as much as $10,000.
ThinkSmart CEO de Vicente to leave earlier than anticipated
ThinkSmart issued an update on its management situation on Thursday, having announced on 15 March that the board had accepted the resignation of CEO Fernando de Vicente.
RBS agrees further settlement with shareholders over 2008 rights issue
Royal Bank of Scotland has reached a "full and final" settlement with a large group shareholders over claims it misrepresented its financial health at the time of its 2008 rights issue.
N Brown results send shares to 10-month high
Final results from N Brown confirmed slow but steady progress with the catalogue retailer's transition to an online force, with a smaller decline in profits than expected sending shares to their highest since the Brexit vote.
Commodities: Crude futures slump on reports of two Libya oilfields resuming output
Crude-oil futures slumped more than 2% on Thursday afternoon as a report said two key oilfields in Libya have resumed pumping against a backdrop of rising US shale output and the now chronic global glut.
Merkel warns UK not to approach Brexit talks with "illusions"
German chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that British people should not harbour "illusions" about the country's fate in the aftermath of Brexit.
Sector movers: Oil majors act as drag on market as Brent futures slip
Oil stocks and Cyclicals weighed on the market as news flowed in that Libya's main oilfield, Sharara, with a production capacity of 300,000 barrels a day, had come back online after an armed group that was protesting by blocking its pipelines stopped doing so.
Credit Suisse initiates coverage of UK life insurers
Credit Suisse initiated coverage of five UK life insurers on Thursday.
Concha in 'dialogue' with Ve Interactive after management buyout
Concha issued a statement to the market on Thursday, after a number of media reports emerged on Wednesday about Ve Interactive.
Salt Lake Potash raises £7m in placing for Goldfields project
Salt Lake Potash has raised £7m through a placing of 30m shares at 25p each, which will be put towards the planning and construction costs of the pilot plant it is proposing to build at its Goldfields Salt Lakes Project, as well as ongoing exploration and development costs.