Market Pulse - Europe
High Court upholds sale of collapsed Bulb to Octopus Energy
The UK government’s decision to sell failed energy firm Bulb to Octopus Energy was upheld by the High Court on Friday, after challenges were brought by Centrica’s British Gas, E. ON, and Scottish Power.
Europe close: Stocks extend recent gains, eye Q1 highs
European shares extended gains on Thursday as traders apparently adopted a "no news is good news" approach to the latest round of banking misbehaviour and fashion chain H&M boosted sentiment with a surprise quarterly profit.
Headphone maker Zound to acquire Marshall Amplification
Swedish headphones producer Zound Industries announced the acquisition of Marshall Amplification on Thursday, to create the Marshall Group.
German CPI seen lower in March
German headline inflation recorded only a minor decline in March, in line with consensus expectations.
Broadcom's $61bn purchase of VMware heading for deeper CMA probe
Broadcom's proposed $61bn acquisition of cloud computing specialist VMware faced a fresh roadblock on Wednesday, as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) referred it for an in-depth investigation.
Walgreens Boots maintains guidance as quarterly earnings slip
Transatlantic pharmacy giant Walgreens Boots Alliance reported second quarter results in line with expectations on Tuesday, with the company on track to meet full-year guidance.
UK's Gambling Commission fines online operators
Britain's Gambling Commission has hit online operators 32Red and Platinum Gaming with a £7. 1m penalty due to social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.
Europe construction output shows healthy growth in January
Construction output in Europe showed significant growth in January compared to the previous month, According to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, released on Tuesday.
Polymetal flips into negative free cash flow amid sanctions, but upbeat on outlook
Polymetal decided to forego dividend payments for 2022 in order to preserve flexibility in navigating what it termed "a highly volatile and uncertain external environment".
H&M Q1 sales rise less than expected
Fashion retailer H&M reported a smaller-than-expected increase in first quarter sales on Wednesday as it continues to struggle to compete with rival Zara.
Credit Suisse chairman to forego bonus
Investment bank Credit Suisse revealed on Tuesday that chairman Axel Lehmann will forgo a payment of CHF 1. 5m (£1. 35m) for his first full year on the job following the group's worst annual performance since the global financial crisis in 2008.
Adidas flags weak 2023 as it works on turnaround
Sportswear giant Adidas reported a 1% increase in currency-neutral revenues in its 2022 results on Wednesday.
BMW to pour almost £500m into Oxford plant
German carmaker BMW will invest hundreds of millions of pounds into its Oxford plant, ensuring Britain's iconic MINI will continue to be made in the UK.
Hellofresh shares slump on disappointing profit guidance
Meal kit outfit Hellofresh saw its shares head south early on Tuesday after providing 2023 profit guidance that fell short of market expectations on the back of decreasing order numbers amid inflationary constraints.
Eurozone retail sales increase at slower than expected rate
Retail sales increased at a slower than expected clip across the Eurozone in January, with household budgets continuing to be strained by both high inflation and rising interest rates.
Europe close: Decent data helps lift regional bourses
European shares ended higher on Friday, having started the day in the green after a late rally on Wall Street overnight.
Lufthansa Group rises on strong 2022 turnaround
Lufthansa Group reported a solid financial turnaround in its 2022 results on Friday, swinging to adjusted EBIT of €1. 5bn, from a loss of €1. 7bn in the prior year.