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Week ahead: US non-farm payrolls, Trade tensions in focus
Investors' attention over the coming week will be on the US non-farm payrolls report for the month of January.
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US close: Stocks lower following December PCE reading
Wall Street stocks closed lower on Friday despite a slightly better-than-expected US consumption reading.
Weekly review
The FTSE 100 ended the week up 171. 61 points, or 2. 02%, closing at 8,673. 96 on Friday.
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London close: Stocks finish January on a positive note
London's financial markets concluded the week on a positive note, with Smiths Group in the green on breakup plans, as investors looked to the latest PCE inflation reading across the pond.
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Broker tips: Next, Pennon, Greencore, Bakkavor
UBS upgraded its stance on Next on Friday to ‘buy’ from ‘neutral’ and lifted the price target to 11,700p from 10,500p.
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Deutsche Bank upgrades Pennon to 'hold' from 'sell'
Deutsche Bank upgraded Pennon on Friday to ‘hold’ from ‘sell’ and lifted the price target to 570p from 490p following the "deeply discounted" rights issue earlier this week.
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US open: Stocks jump on the back of slightly better-than-expected data
Wall Street was moving higher still shortly after the open, on the back of slightly better-than-expected readings for US consumption and on the outlook for inflation.
FTSE 250 movers: Moonpig rises on Berenberg note; Mining stocks lower
FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,924. 68 0. 57% .
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Exxon Q4 beats estimates on higher Permian, Guyana output
US oil giant Exxon Mobil fourth quarter profits beat estimates, despite weaker oil prices and refining margins, driven by increased production in the Permian basin at home, and in Guyana.
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Director dealings: The Works chair invests, Staffline director linked to sale
Among the director dealings disclosed to markets in London today involved insiders at discount stationer The Works, and the AIM-traded Staffline Group.
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FTSE 100 movers: Smiths surges on breakup plans; Sainsbury's hit by downgrade
London’s FTSE 100 was up 0. 3% at 8,675. 40 in afternoon trade on Friday.
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Offshore wind developer Orsted CEO Mads Nipper to step down
Offshore wind developer Orsted said on Friday that Mads Nipper was stepping down from his position as president and chief executive, to be replaced by Rasmus Errboe, who is currently deputy CEO and chief commercial officer.
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US consumer spending accelerates in December, price gains ebb
Americans spent more freely at the tail-end of 2024, while price pressures ebbed as forecast.
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UBS upgrades Next to ‘buy’, hikes price target
UBS upgraded its stance on Next on Friday to ‘buy’ from ‘neutral’ and lifted the price target to 11,700p from 10,500p.
German CPI posts surprise fall in January
German inflation has unexpectedly fallen to 2. 3% this month, according to official flash estimates published on Friday.
Europe midday: Stoxx pushes beyond 542 as records tumble
European markets on Friday strode into record territory as investors welcomed the latest rate cut from the European Central Bank and dovish comments from the central bank’s president Christine Lagarde.
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London midday: Stocks gain ahead of US inflation data
London stocks had extended gains by midday on Friday, with Smiths Group pacing the gains on break-up plans, as investors mulled house price data from Nationwide and eyed the latest US inflation reading.
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Fusion Antibodies validation project with US NIC progresses
Fusion Antibodies announced on Friday that its OptiMAL validation project with the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) was progressing as planned.
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Metals One completes PEA for Finland Black Schist project
Metals One announced on Friday that it has completed a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its Finland Black Schist Ni-Cu-Co-Zn Project, identifying the Rautavaara (R1) deposit as the key economic driver.
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Chevron adjusted earnings fall short of estimates
Texas-based energy giant Chevron reported fourth-quarter earnings of $3. 2bn on Friday, an increase from $2. 3bn a year earlier, although adjusted earnings of $3. 6bn fell short of analyst expectations.