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Europe close: Stocks rise despite wary investors, Dublin shares lead
Investors pushed the main stockmarket indices higher for another positive weekly close on the back of optimistic reports regarding the prospects for a US-China trade deal and much stronger-than-expected data out Asia's largest economy.
London close: Stocks buoyed by positive data at home and abroad
London stocks finished slightly higher on Friday as investors cheered better-than-expected Chinese manufacturing figures, reports that a US-China trade deal might soon be clinched, with WPP leading the charge on well-received results.
Europe midday: Stocks start March on front foot buoyed by trade hopes, China data
Investors are pushing markets higher at the end of the week on the back of optimistic reports regarding the prospects for a US-China trade deal and much stronger-than-expected data out Asia's largest economy.
US precautionary savings jump in December, even as personal income surges
Faced with volatility in capital markets and perhaps also due to the partial shutdown of the US federal government, Americans reined in their spending at the end of 2018, opting to put aside a surge in disposable income as savings.
US manufacturing activity cools in February and worse may be yet to come
US manufacturing activity cooled last month, according to the most widely-followed survey of conditions in that sector, with some economists warning that "worse is probably yet to come".
Broker tips: B&M European Value, McColl's, Centrica
B&M European Value has “reached an inflection point” for sales, reckons RBC Capital Markets, upgrading the discounter on Friday.
Director dealings: Incoming Spectris CFO's spouse snaps up shares
The spouse of Spectris' new chief financial officer Derek Harding purchased 4,000 ordinary shares in the FTSE 250-listed measuring devices maker.
Jefferies says Centrica dividend hanging 'by a thread', cuts target price
Analysts at Jefferies marked down their medium-term estimates for Centrica's earnings on the back of now lower projections for commodity prices and in anticipation of higher competitive pressures across the company's consumer and business units, leaving the dividend payout 'hanging by a thread'.
FTSE 250 movers: Jupiter ascending, Coats dropped
The FTSE 250 finished up 1. 14% at 19,399. 65 on Friday, led by fund manager Jupiter.
Sector movers: Few flops as feelgood factor reigns
Amid the wider feelgood factor in the market, most of London's blue chips were on the up on Friday, but the general retail sector stood out for its sea of green numbers, while media was the day's main underperformer.
Peel Hunt upgrades McColl's to 'buy' following Morrisons fascias trials
Analysts at Peel Hunt upgraded convenience shop and newsagent operator McColl's to 'buy' on Friday as it highlighted some of the benefits of the group's move to trial Morrisons Daily fascias in ten of its stores.
FTSE 100 movers: WPP rallies on results, Relx retreats on contract loss
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 5% to 7,109. 19 in afternoon trade on Friday, with WPP pacing the advance after well-received results.
US open: Stocks open higher amid another flurry of data releases
Stocks opened higher on Friday as investors worked their way through another day full of data releases and promising news coming from trade talks with China, following some solid GDP figures the day before.
Michigan consumer confidence index misses initial estimate
Consumer sentiment in the US improved less than initially estimated in February, according to a final reading from the University of Michigan.
Tesla to close retail sites, move sales online
Electric car manufacturer Tesla will shutter all of its retail locations and move its sales online in a bid to deliver on its promise of selling a mass market sedan for $35,000.
Red Emperor losses widen as work at Alaskan and Filipino projects ramp-up
Red Emperor Resources saw losses widen in its last trading year, as it forged ahead with development prospects in the US and the Philippines.
Global Petroleum agrees work commitment on Namibian licence
Global Petroleum updated the market on its work commitment at Petroleum Exploration Licence 0029 (PEL0029) in Namibia on Friday.
Volution buys Melbourne-based Ventair for up to AUD26.9m
Ventilation products supplier Volution has bought Australia's Ventair, a supplier of air movement products, for up to AUD26. 9m (£14. 6m).
Serinus starts moving TEG unit to Moftinu
Serinus Energy announced on Friday that the final assembly and testing of the triethylene glycol unit (TEG) was now complete.