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Friday preview: US inflation data, AstraZeneca in the spotlight
All eyes at the end of the week will be on a slew of inflation indicators due out in the US.
US close: Stocks extend gains following Fed interest rate decision
Wall Street stocks closed higher on Thursday after the Federal Reserve Bank enacted its second 0. 75 percentage point interest rate hike overnight as part of an effort to ease rampant inflation without bringing about a recession.
London close: Stocks finish mixed as US economy contracts
London’s top-flight index had pared most losses but still closed weaker on Thursday, after a veritable king tide of corporate news, while fresh data showed the American economy contracting in the second quarter.
Director dealings: British American Tobacco non-exec invests $0.12m
British American Tobacco was at the top of the list of director buys on Thursday, after a non-executive director bought more than $0. 12m worth of shares.
Organic growth, acquisitions underpin CVS Group growth
Veterinary service provider CVS Group reported continued organic growth in an update on Thursday, with like-for-like sales growth for the financial year just ended of 8. 0%, compared to 17. 4% a year ago against a Covid-impacted comparator.
Yellow Cake pleased with June quarter performance
Long-term uranium investor Yellow Cake reported an estimated net asset value of 434p per share, or $964. 5m, at the end of its second quarter on Thursday, consisting of 18. 81 million pounds of triuranium octoxide valued at a spot price of $50. 50 per pound, and cash and other current assets and liabilities of $14. 8m.
GB Group reports strong performance in year-to-date
Digital location, identity and fraud software company GB Group said in an update on Thursday that the benefits of its diversity in geography, sector and solution-set were evident in its performance so far this year.
FTSE 250 movers: Hammerson heads higher; CMC Markets tumbles
London’s FTSE 250 was up 0. 7% at 19,772. 28 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Broker tips: JD Wetherspoon, Mycelx Technologies, Lloyds
Analysts at Berenberg slashed their target price on pub chain JD Wetherspoon from 1,050. 0p to 580. 0p on Thursday, stating it was now "hard to predict management decisions".
US open: Stocks head south following Fed decision, earnings
Wall Street stocks were in the red early on Thursday after the Federal Reserve Bank enacted its second 0. 75 percentage point interest rate hike overnight as part of an effort to ease rampant inflation without bringing about a recession.
US Q2 GDP drops 0.9%
The American economy recorded a second straight contraction over the three months to June, fitting the often used technical definition of a recession.
FTSE 100 movers: Smith & Nephew retreats; Ashtead shoots higher
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0. 3% at 7,328. 48 in afternoon trade on Thursday amid an avalanche of corporate news.
Inchcape buys Latam car distributor Derco; H1 profits grow
Car dealership Inchcape posted a rise in first-half profit and revenue on Thursday as it announced the acquisition of Latin American automotive distributor Derco for £1. 3bn.
Ceres Power expecting China venture to complete in second half
Fuel cell and electrochemical technology developer Ceres Power said in a trading update on Thursday that first-half revenue and other operating income was currently expected to be £10m, down from £17. 4m year-on-year.
Mortgage Advice Bureau trading well despite interest rate hikes
Mortgage Advice Bureau said in a trading update on Thursday that its first-half revenue increased 3% to £95m, from a comparative period in which mortgage completions were “considerably boosted” by the stamp duty holiday changes in early 2021.
Restore warns of higher finance costs after strong first half
Restore reported a 32% improvement in revenue in its first half on Thursday, to £140. 3m, driven by “strong” organic momentum of 14%, and the integration of acquisitions driving growth of 13%, though it did warn of higher finance costs for the full year.
US initial jobless claims decline by 5,000
Americans filed first-time unemployment claims at a slightly slower pace in the week ended 23 July, dropping by 5,000 to 265,000, according to the Department of Labor - short of expectations for a drop to 253,000.
Canaccord initiates coverage on MyCelX at 'speculative buy'
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage on water treatment systems developer Mycelx Technologies with a 95. 0p target price and 'speculative buy' rating on Thursday, pointing to opportunities in PFAS and the importance of the Middle East and North Africa market.
Bitcoin jumps above $23,000, buoyed by Fed rate hike and dollar weakness
Bitcoin and cryptoassets in general led an interesting rally, driven by the increased appetite for risk following the US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike of 75 basis points and a weakening of the dollar index. The digital currency par excellence rises above $23,000 and experts are wondering whether the momentum will last long enough to lift its price to $24,000. Resistance at $25,000 remains on the horizon as the level to beat. Ethereum rises above $1,600 and the total capitalization remains above $1 trillion.
Mediclinic says patient mix normalising towards pre-pandemic levels
Private healthcare group Mediclinic reiterated its full-year 2023 financial year guidance despite the increased macro uncertainty since it last updated financial markets.