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Friday preview: German CPI, French and Spanish industrial output in focus
There would be little in the way of new company or economic reports for investors to chew on at the end of the week.
Europe close: Shares little changed despite weak data
European shares ended the day roughly flat despite a downward revision of eurozone GDP and weak data from China and Germany, although worries persisted among investors over oil supply.
London close: Stocks mixed as weaker pound lifts FTSE 100
London's stock market presented a mixed close on Thursday, with the bourse’s top-flight index ending in positive territory, buoyed by a weakening pound.
FTSE 250 movers: Direct Line motors, Sythomer sinks after rights issue
Shares in Direct Line Insurance Group surged on Thursday as the company slapped drivers with a 25% premium hike to improve operating profit next year while it also picked up £520m via the sale of its commercial lines business.
Director dealings: Capita CFO invests, Ninety One directors linked to trust's purchase
Capita was at the top of the list of director purchases on Thursday, after its chief financial officer picked up more than half a million shares.
Byotrol maintains strategy amid some revenue struggles
Byotrol updated the market on its trading on Thursday, after announcing full-year results in line with expectations in July, reporting that there had been no shift in its approach to its operating strategy going forward.
Directa Plus secures big contract with Romanian steel producer
Graphene nanoplatelet technology specialist Directa Plus announced on Thursday that its environmental services arm Setcar has been awarded a three-year contract with Liberty Galati - Romania's largest integrated steel producer.
Curtis Banks fulfils regulatory requirements for takeover by Nucleus
Curtis Banks updated the market on its agreed acquisition by Nucleus Financial Platforms on Thursday, having first announced it on 6 January.
US open: Apple leads markets lower on China fears
US stocks were trading lower on Thursday as investors continued to react to mixed economic data, while the Nasdaq was registering heavy losses owing to weakness in Apple's shares.
Jadestone updates market on Montara Venture restart
Asia-Pacific focussed oil and gas producer Jadestone Energy updated the market on its operations at the Montara Venture floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel on Thursday, located offshore Australia.
Greencoat Renewables enters framework deal with FuturEnergy Ireland
Greencoat Renewables announced a new strategic framework agreement with FuturEnergy Ireland on Thursday, to advance its 1GW+ pipeline of onshore wind projects in the nation.
PayPoint on track after solid Q2
PayPoint said it's confident of meeting expectations this year after a solid second quarter for the payments and merchant services group.
FTSE 100 movers: Melrose rallies on outlook upgrade; Beazley slumps
London’s FTSE 100 was up 0. 3% at 7,449. 77 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Interim profits surge at Lloyd's of London
Lloyd’s of London swung back into the black in the first half of the year, the historic marketplace confirmed on Thursday, boosted by strong demand and higher investment returns.
MP Evans makes two Indonesian palm oil acquisitions
Indonesian palm oil producer MP Evans announced on Thursday that it has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of PT Agro Bumi Kaltim (ABK) and PT Nusantara Agro Sentosa (NAS).
EMIS pleased with first half ahead of acquisition by UntiedHealth
Healthcare software specialist EMIS Group reported a 2% increase in total first-half revenue on Thursday, to £88. 8m.
US jobless claims drop to seven-month low
Initial claims for jobless benefits in the US unexpectedly fell last week to their lowest levels since February, according to statistics from the Department of Labor released on Thursday.
Aldi planning to open 500 new UK stores
Discount grocer Aldi unveiled plans to open 500 new outlets in the UK on Thursday, as it opened its 1,000th store in the country, in the Surrey town of Woking.
Safestore sees FY earnings at lower end of forecasts
Safestore Holdings warned that full-year earnings were likely to come in at the lower end of analyst forecasts on Thursday, as it continued to invest in new sites.
Direct Line shares surge on 25% price hike, commercial lines sale
Shares in Direct Line Insurance Group surged on Thursday as the company slapped drivers with a 25% premium hike to improve operating profit next year while it also picked up £520m via the sale of its commercial lines business.