Market Pulse
US close: Stocks end higher as Fed's Lockhart calls for 2015 rate hike
US stocks closed higher on Monday as Federal Reserve policymaker Dennis Lockhart called for an interest rate hike this year.
Government to sell remaining 14% stake in Royal Mail
Westminster will let go of its remaining stake in Royal Mail through a sale to professional investors.
Sector movers: Oil, Mining stocks drag London market lower
Oil and mining stocks pushed the London market lower on Monday, as nickel prices dropped and comments from OPEC sent Brent and WTI oil futures sliding.
London close: Stocks fall as mining shares, oil prices decline
London stocks ended lower on Tuesday, dragged down by mining shares and drop in oil prices.
Europe close: Stocks struggle for direction amid lack of data
European stocks opened the week on a downbeat note, as they ended their best winning streak since July on Monday.
Quadrise Fuels posts narrower full-year loss
Quadrise Fuels International posted a narrower loss as the company husbanded resources amid the oil price collapse to support the commercialisation phase of its major projects.
Broker tips: Standard Chartered, Hays, IAG
Investec downgraded Standard Chartered to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ with an unchanged target price of 820p.
Goldman Sachs reinstates IAG at buy
International Airlines Group was set to see a marked and sustained improvement in its short and medium-term financial performance, prompting analysts at Goldman Sachs to reinstate their ‘buy’ recommendation on the carrier’s stock.
Commodities: Oil drops on OPEC data but metals recover
Oil futures plummeted on Monday as OPEC revealed a further rise in its production level, while gold rose and selected agricultural commodities posted declines.
Greece to vote on omnibus bill this week
The Greek parliament is set to vote this week on the first set of reforms needed to secure its third bailout.
NMC Health's non-executive director steps down
Heather Lawrence is set to step down from the non-executive board of NMC Health after three years as director.
FTSE 250 movers: Carillion surges as investors cheer contract wins
London’s mid-cap index was down 0. 6% to 16,990. 42 at 1545 BST, in line with the broader market as investors struggled for direction amid an absence of market-moving news.
FTSE 100 movers: SABMiller gains as AB InBev sweetens approach; Rolls-Royce slumps
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0. 7% to 6,374. 06 at 1520 BST as investors struggled for direction amid quiet trade, with no major data releases scheduled.
Hiscox non-executive directors step down
Daniel Healy and Andrea Rosen have stepped down from their role as non-executive directors of Hiscox, the insurance group confirmed on Monday.
OPEC raises view on 2015 oil demand
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will need to hike production to meet the world’s increased thirst for oil in 2015 and 2016 amid lower supplies from outside its own ranks, according to an internal report.
FX Roundup: Dollar trades lower against major forex crosses
The US dollar traded lower against a basket of global currencies on Monday, in the absence of any major data releases and low trading initial volumes with the Columbus Day public holiday weekend in the US, and Thanksgiving break in Canada.
S&P downgrades Volkswagen by one notch
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has downgraded its rating on Volkswagen AG by a notch to ‘A-‘ from ‘A’ following the company’s admission that it installed software designed to manipulate diesel engine exhaust emissions in 11m vehicles.
AB InBev sweetens proposal to SABMiller to £43.50 a share
Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev has sweetened its proposal to SABMiller to £43. 50 per share after its London-listed rival rebuffed a third approach at £42. 15 last week.
US open: Stocks struggle for direction as investors await Fed speakers
US stocks struggled for direction early on Monday, amid thin trading on Columbus Day.
Former M&S boss insists Britain must remain part of EU
The former boss of Marks & Spencer has claimed remaining in the European Union can be the “patriotic course for Britain”.