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Hikma to swap with G4S in latest FTSE index reshuffle
A reshuffle of London's main share indices is expected to see Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Intu Properties kicked out of the FTSE 100, with outsourcer G4S and industrial real estate investor Segro taking their places.
General Election: When can I vote and when will we have a winner?
UK voters will go to the polls on Thursday 8 June in a crucial election which will have a major impact on how Britain enters negotiations with other European states to thrash out its departure from the bloc.
US close: Banks pull markets lower after warnings of tougher times
Financial stocks pulled US markets lower at the close on Wednesday with the banking sector taking the biggest hit.
FX round-up: Cable casts off UK poll-induced softness to finish higher
Sterling mostly cast off its earlier softness sparked by election poll jitters in the market to chime in Wednesday's close on a positive note not far below resistance at about $1. 29.
Europe close: Stocks end higher for the month despite oil price drop
European stocks ended the session on a mixed note - but higher on the month - with a late bout of selling sending all of the region's main indices lower as crude oil futures took a hit.
London close: FTSE 100 ends lower as sterling advances and resources stocks weigh
UK blue chips inched their way to a lower close on Wednesday as sterling shrugged off its most-of-day weakness to nip higher, while falls among heavyweight resources stocks told.
Broker tips: Worldpay, IAG, British Land
Barclays downgraded Worldpay to 'equal weight' on Wednesday as it raised some questions about the payment group's growth ambitions.
Tekcapital acquires exclusive licence to gesture recognition software
International provider of technology and intellectual property investment services Tekcapital announced on Wednesday that it acquired the worldwide exclusive licence to a software program and patent application for enhanced gesture recognition for computing devices, which it believed has the potential to enhance the accuracy of the detection of gesture and character inputs across a wide range of mobile and desktop devices.
Thursday preview: UK and US manufacturing data, Johnson Matthey, FirstGroup
A week before the general election and after a televised multi-party debate, political news will dominate the domestic agenda on Thursday 1 June, even if UK and US manufacturing data wildly veer away from expectations.
Commodities: Crude veers heavily lower as Libya output surges
Crude-oil futures veered heavily lower on Wednesday as markets already underwhelmed by Opec's recent output-curb extension now quit the asset on fears of surging Libyan production.
US open: Commodity stocks, banks drive losses
Falling prices for metals and a sharp drop in crude oil futures weighed on the main Wall Street averages as investors waited on the release of the US central bank's Beige Book later in the session.
Union Jack acquires another 3.33pc of Wressle-1 licences
Union Jack Oil announced on Wednesday that the UK Oil and Gas Authority had now approved its acquisition of a further 3. 33% interest in PEDL180 and PEDL182, which contain the Wressle-1 discovery, from Celtique Energie Petroleum, which it had previously announced on 6 March.
Styles&Wood trading in line with expectations
As investors in integrated property services and project delivery specialist Styles&Wood gathered on Wednesday for the company’s annual general meeting, chairman Paul Mitchell was set to update them on the firm’s current trading, confirming business in the year to date had been in line with management expectations.
US pending home sales fall unexpectedly in April
A lead indicator for home sales Stateside surprised to the downside amid stretched levels of affordability, but economists were sanguine that new cycle highs would be established over the next few months.
BT's Openreach arm cuts wholesale prices
BT Group's Openreach infrastructure business has pledged to cut wholesale prices for its high speed broadband network, according to regulator Ofcom.
FTSE 100 movers: Burberry boosted by weak pound; miners drop
The FTSE 100 was up 0. 2% to 7,542. 19 in afternoon trade after hitting a fresh intraday record of 7,563, boosted by a weaker pound.
FTSE 250 movers: IG gains on update; NEX hit as CFO steps down
London’s FTSE 250 was down 0. 1% to 19,973. 90 in afternoon trade.
Pound whips back as conflicting polls leave traders edgy
After an overnight opinion poll indicated the Conservative party's lead was likely to all but disappear, a later survey on voting intentions showed the Tory lead remained intact.
Barclays downgrades Worldpay over growth questions
Barclays downgraded Worldpay to 'equal weight' on Wednesday as it raised some questions about the payment group's growth ambitions.
Safestay to take over Equity Point hostels in €3.6m deal
Hostel owner and operator Safestay announced on Wednesday that it entered into a debt financing agreement with Equity Point Hostels, that would see the group make an immediate payment to Equity Point of €3. 6m - structured by way of debt - in return for security over 90% of Equity Point's share capital, valued at approximately €10m.