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Europe midday: Gains for euro dampens demand for stocks
Stocks are holding onto slight gains come midday despite another move higher for the single currency.
London midday: Stocks maintain gains as pound re-takes $1.30
London stocks were holding onto gains by midday, rebounding from two days of losses as investors put worries about US President Donald Trump to one side and digested some solid manufacturing data.
Trump administration kickstarts Nafta renegotiation
US President Donald Trump has put the wheels in motion on a major trade shake-up, after his administration triggered the renegotiation of the North-American Free Trade Agreement on Thursday.
Asia report: Shares finish turbulent week on mixed note
Asian shares finished the week on a mixed note as earlier losses were reversed on the back of higher oil prices and a rebound in US stocks after better than expected jobless figures.
Pallinghurst makes unsolicited bid for remaining Gemfields shares
Gemfields advised its shareholders not to take any action on Friday after it received an unsolicited offer from its biggest shareholder, Pallinghurst, for the remaining 52. 9% of the company it doesn't already own.
US pre-open: Stocks seen touch higher as politics take a back seat
US futures pointed to a firmer start on Wall Street as stocks got back on track following a mid-week, Trump-inspired selloff.
Friday newspaper round-up: Consumer concerns, Brexit M&A, migration, SFO
British consumers are bracing themselves for an expensive and uncertain post-Brexit future, with four out of five fearing price rises on household essentials such as food, drink and clothing, a survey has revealed. Eighty-three percent of Britons admit they are concerned about price hikes in goods and services, while 59% are most worried about the soaring cost of groceries, according to a poll for Mintel’s 27th annual British Lifestyles report. Spiralling holiday costs are a concern for 35%, with 26% fearing higher prices for clothing and shoes.
Smiths Group CFO O'Shea steps down
Chris O'Shea is stepping down as chief financial officer of engineer Smiths Group with immediate effect and the search for his successor has begun.
Friday broker round-up
Shire Pharmaceuticals: HSBC downgrades to Reduce with a target price of 4450p.
Eurocell reports 'positive' start to year
Eurocell updated the market on its trading performance for the first four months of 2017 on Friday morning, in advance of its annual general meeting which was being held during the afternoon in Alfreton.
Hikma updates revenue guidance after US delays asthma drug approval
Pharma group Hikma has updated its guidance on full year revenue to be $2bn - $2. 1bn in constant currency after last week's delay of an application for its asthma drug by US regulators.
Jefferies downgrades Experian to 'hold'
Jefferies downgraded credit checking company Experian to 'hold' from 'buy' and cut the price target to 1,550p from 1,670p following the company's preliminary full-year results on Thursday.
Suitors extend Shawbrook takeover offer deadline
Shawbrook Group suitor Pollen Street has extended its offer deadline as it looks to coax more shareholders to support its takeover offer of the challenger bank.
Consumers concerned about post-Brexit price hikes, survey shows
A large majority of UK consumers are worried about the rising cost of household items in the aftermath of upcoming Brexit negotiations, a new survey has found.
Magnolia to participate in seven new wells, 11 workovers
US-focussed oil and gas exploration and production company Magnolia Petroleum announced its participation in seven new wells in the prolific SCOOP and STACK plays in Oklahoma on Friday, including five increased density wells which are to be drilled on the same spacing unit as already producing wells, and are therefore deemed to have been significantly de-risked.
Plexus receives purchase order from Aker BP
Oil and gas engineering services business and owner of the POD-GRIP proprietary friction grip wellhead engineering technology, Plexus Holdings, announced on Friday that it has received an initial purchase order from Aker BP which, following the acquisition by Det norske of BP's Norwegian assets, is Norway's largest independent petroleum producer by volume.
Safestore in refinancing deal to save £3m a year
Safestore Holdings said it had refinanced its US private placement notes (USPP) and amended bank facilities to extend the average maturity and lower the cost of the group's debt management by £3m a year.
Gresham House agrees to buy Hazel Capital
AIM-listed specialist asset manager Gresham House has entered into exclusivity arrangements and conditional heads of terms to acquire Hazel Capital, a UK asset manager of new energy infrastructure, for an undisclosed sum.
Johnston Press revenues nudge up, warns over 'challenging' market
Newspaper publisher Johnston Press posted a 0. 2% rise in total revenues for the 17-week period to the end of April as it noted that trading conditions for regional newspapers remain challenging.
Europe open: Greece moves back into the spotlight
Greece is in the spotlight at the end of the week even as the angst around the political situation in the US over the past few days appears to have calmed down, at least for the moment.