Market Pulse
US close: Stocks end lower after mixed bag of earnings
US stocks declined on Tuesday as traders focused on a mixed bag of earnings reports on a quiet day of economic data.
Commodities: Oil adds to losses ahead of OPEC technical meeting
The commodities complex found a small bid courtesy of a slight retreat in the greenback and against a backdrop of relatively stable risk sentiment.
Bonds: Gilts outperform after record demand at sale of ultra-long debt
These were the movements in the yields of the most widely followed long-term sovereign bonds:.
Market overview: BofA pushes back ECB QE2 call
1630:Close Stocks edged lower, tracking the selling pressure on Wall Street amid a small retreat in Gilts (although they outperformed) and a mixed performance by commodities. Copper futures were up but crude futures slid ahead of Wednesday’s technical meeting from OPEC and market coverage of the intense price competition among member countries for cargoes to Asia. Against that backdrop, Credit Suisse downgraded stock in AstraZeneca to ‘underperform’ from ‘neutral’.
Sector movers: Telcos save market from bigger declines
The fixed line communications sector saved the day and helped the market rebound in afternoon trading.
London close: Stocks close slightly lower amid interest rate speculation
The UK equity market declined on Tuesday as investors weighed remarks from the Bank of England’s Ian McCafferty and US data.
Europe close: Stocks slide as hopes for more stimulus fade
European equities markets lost ground on Tuesday, falling into the red as expectations of further stimulus were dampened by a bank lending survey from the European Central Bank showing improved lending conditions.
BT encouraged by G.fast broadband speed trials
Shares in BT Group gained on encouraging early trial results that found its G. fast technology, which can roll out more quickly and cheaply than replacing its entire copper wire network with fibre-optic cable, was capable of achieving speeds of more than 5 gigabits per second.
Directors claim more bacon from Entertainment One
Entertainment One’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer are helping the company get a bigger slice of Peppa Pig.
Harworth Group appoints new finance director
Andrew Kirkman has been appointed as the finance director of Harworth Group, the investment group said on Tuesday.
FTSE 250 movers: Aveva Group drives market higher
The FTSE 250 was up mid-afternoon Tuesday to 16,974. 63, rising 57. 29 points (0. 34%).
AstraZeneca slumps on Credit Suisse downgrade
Credit Suisse cut AstraZeneca to ‘underperform’ from ‘neutral’ and trimmed its price target to 4,000p from 4,320p.
Inmarsat wins 10-year inflight broadband deal with Lufthansa
Satellite group Inmarsat has formalised an agreement to provide high-speed inflight broadband to Lufthansa flights in Europe for a ten-year period.
FTSE 100 movers: IHG and Inmarsat help blue chips regain buoyancy
The FTSE 100 regained its buoyancy late on Tuesday after spending almost all the session underwater, crawling higher up 0. 01% at 6,352. 98, led by a rebound the big miners resources stocks and some encouraging company news.
Yum! Brands spins off China operations
Fast food operator Yum Brands announced it would separate its Chinese operations after a failed multi-year attempt to return them to profitability.
Wednesday preview: Sky reports first quarter, ARM Holdings posts third quarter
Sky is expected to report a solid first quarter on Wednesday despite losing the broadcasting rights to the Champions League.
1Spatial confident of meeting annual targets despite wider interim loss
IT software and consultancy group 1Spatial said its interim loss widened but reiterated it expects to meet full-year expectations.
Credit Suisse and RBS expect ECB to increase QE in December
The European Central Bank might loosen monetary policy further, but the timing of the decision could be dictated by the value of the euro, analysts at Credit Suisse said.
Landmark tax decision could cost Fiat and Starbucks tens of millions
A landmark tax avoidance decision could cost Starbucks and Fiat tens of millions of euros this week.
US open: Equity markets edge lower amid deluge of corporate earnings
US stocks edged lower early on Tuesday, as investors digested a number of mixed corporate earnings reports.