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US pre-open: Futures slip as investors await key inflation gauge
US stock futures were pointing to a negative start on Wall Street on Friday with investors awaiting a key inflation indicator ahead of the opening bell.
Harbour Energy making 'good progress' on Wintershall takeover
Harbour Energy said on Friday its blockbuster $11. 2bn acquisition of Wintershall Dea’s non-Russian oil and gas assets remained on track, with publication of the deal prospectus expected shortly.
Galliford Try wins government contracts worth £101m
Galliford Try has secured government work worth more than £100m, the construction group said on Friday, including a contract to finish an immigration detention centre.
German retail sales drop sharply in April
Retail sales in Germany dropped sharply in April, pulling back after a stronger-than-expected increase the previous month, according to Destatis.
AB Foods slumps as majority shareholder sells 10.3m shares
Associated British Foods was in the red on Friday after UBS said that its biggest shareholder, Howard Investments Limited - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wittington - has sold 10. 3m shares in the Primark owner in a placing.
Flutter shares dive as CFO departs, listing shifts to US
Shares in Flutter Entertainment nosedived on Friday as the gambling outfit said finance chief Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson would leave the company with immediate effect as it shifted its listing to the US.
Europe open: Shares down ahead of EZ, US inflation data; JD Sports slumps
European shares were in the red at the open on Friday as investors nervously awaited inflation data from the eurozone and US.
Competition watchdog opens probe into Nationwide-Virgin Money deal
The competition watchdog is to investigate the proposed £2. 9bn acquisition of Virgin Money by Nationwide Building Society, it was confirmed on Friday.
London open: Stocks nudge up ahead of US PCE
London stocks nudged up in early trade on Friday as investors mulled the latest UK house price and retail footfall data and eyed the release of US CPE figures.
Petrofac's delayed results reveal $505m loss as talks with creditors continue
Petrofac, the energy services group whose shares are currently suspended, has finally released its delayed annual results for 2023, which showed a net loss of more than half a billion dollars following a "challenging year".
Asia report: Shares creep ahead before US, eurozone CPI data
Asian stocks edged ahead on Friday as investors waited for inflation readings from Europe and the US for indications on the future movement of interest rates globally.
China manufacturing PMI falls more than expected in May
China Factory activity slowed more than expected in May, hitting a three-month low, as the world's second-largest economy continued to battle problems in its property market, according to survey data published on Friday.
Frasers Group lifts stake in Hugo Boss to £305m
Mike Ashley's retail conglomerate Frasers Group has raised its stake in Hugo Boss after a sharp drop in the German fashion group's share price since the start of the year.
UK house prices return to growth in May - Nationwide
UK house prices returned to growth in May after two months of declines, according to data released by Nationwide on Friday.
London pre-open: Stocks to edge up ahead of US PCE
London stocks were set to edge up at the open on Friday as investors eyed the release of the latest US CPE figures.
Government cuts NatWest stake to 22.5% after £1.24bn sale
The government has sold a £1. 24bn stake in NatWest, as the HM Treasury continues to reduce its shareholding in the state-backed lender.
JD Sports FY profits miss expectations; Govt cuts NatWest stake
London open The FTSE 100 was called to open around 10 points higher.
Friday newspaper round-up: Royal Mail, fossil fuels, Anglo American
The union that represents workers at Royal Mail has called for a new business model for the company that would see workers given a stake in the company and pay tied to growing services and meeting certain social benefits. Dave Ward, the general secretary of the Communications Workers Union (CWU), said that the potential takeover by the Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský should provide a moment to overhaul how the company is structured, which could mirror that of US-style public benefit corporations.