Market Pulse - Europe
Europe close: Stocks cling to gains in year's penultimate session
European shares managed to cling to positive territory on 2021’s penultimate day on Thursday, taking a cue from Wall Street’s sixth successive positive session overnight despite a continuing surge in Omicron cases.
Europe close: Shares dip below the line at end of quiet Wednesday
European shares dipped into negative territory by the close after a solid first half to the day on Wednesday, amid thin between-the-holidays trade with little corporate news and economic data to drive sentiment.
Lukoil agrees Meretoyakhaneftegaz joint venture with Gazprom Neft
Lukoil announced on Wednesday that it had concluded a sale and purchase agreement with Gazprom Neft for a 50% equity share of Gazprom Neft’s wholly-owned subsidiary Meretoyakhaneftegaz.
Europe close: Stocks firmer as Christmas cheer replaces Omicron fear
European shares finished in the green on Thursday in slow pre-Christmas trade, as market participants punted on hopes the ‘Omicron’ variant of Covid-19 would not overwhelm health systems and lead to further restrictions.
Europe close: Stocks bounce back from Monday's sell-off
European stocks managed a positive close on Tuesday, after the previous session’s sell-off saw investors go bargain hunting, despite ongoing concerns over the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
LFL sales on UK high street may have shifted online slightly due to Omicron
Britons splashed out at the start of December but the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, may have led some consumers to shift their spending online, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
EU new car registrations fall for fifth month as chip shortage lingers
European Union new passenger car registrations fell for the fifth consecutive month in November, according to industry data released on Friday, with the number sliding 20. 5% year-on-year to 713,346 units.
Europe close: Stocks end higher, but off best levels
European shares extended gains on Thursday after an upbeat assessment of the US economy from Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell overnight and despite an unexpected hike in UK interest rates.
Thursday preview: BoE and ECB in focus
All eyes on Thursday will be on the Bank of England with rate-setters expected to stay put on interest rates given the uncertainty around the impact that the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 may have on the economy.
Europe close: Stocks slip ahead of Fed rate announcement
European shares finished mostly higher heading into the US central bank's rate decision scheduled for Wednesday evening.
SFO confiscates £140,000 from Petrofac's former head of sales
Petrofac's former Head of Sales, David Lufkin, has been ordered to pay more than £140,000 after pleading guilty to 14 counts of bribery in order to influence the awarding of oil and gas contracts in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Wednesday preview: Federal Reserve, UK CPI in the spotlight
Financial markets' focus on Wednesday will be squarely on the US central bank's policy decision despite the fact that it will not be announced until after the close of markets in London.
US producer prices rise more quickly than expected in November
Producer prices rose more quickly than expected in November amid widespread gains the various categories of goods.
Europe midday: Stocks little changed as investors sit on their hands ahead of Fed decision
European shares were little changed with investors sitting on their hands ahead of the US central bank's policy decision due out the next day and while they waited for further news on the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Euro area industrial production picks up in October, points to solid Q4
Industrial output in the single currency bloc rebounded in October for a solid start to the fourth quarter.
Omicron results in fewer hospitalisations and ICU admissions, SA study shows
The newest variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has resulted in fewer hospitalisations and intensive care unit admissions than previous waves of Covid-19, the results of a new study show.
London midday: Stocks slip as oil majors reverse course, travel names drag
London's top-flight index is drifting lower after oil majors BP and Shell turned around and fell, adding to the selling pressure among travel and leisure names.
London open: Stocks edge higher as PM announces booster drive
Stocks in London have started the session a tad higher even after the Prime Minister warned that the country was facing a "tidal wave" of Covid-19 infections due to the new Omicron variant.
London pre-open: Futures pointing up despite higher Covid-19 alert level for UK
Stocks in London are being called to start the session a tad higher even after the Prime Minister warned that the country was facing a "tidal wave" of Covid-19 infections due to the new Omicron variant.
MD Medical opens its first standalone medical lab in Moscow
Russian private healthcare provider MD Medical Group announced the opening of its first lab for the collection of analyses on Friday.