Market Pulse
RWE, Drax power ahead as UK wins approval to convert Lynemouth power station
Shares in German utility RWE and UK power company Drax rallied after the European Commission approved the UK government's support for converting the Lynemouth power station from coal to biomass.
Finncap stays at buy on Petra Diamonds
Analysts at Finncap greeted the decision by two of Petra Diamond’s lending groups to waive the measurement of two covenant tests relating to its operating profits for the year to 31 December 2015.
US pre-open: Futures climb ahead of manufacturing data
US stock futures turned north on Tuesday, as Wall Street looked to begin December on the front foot.
London midday: UK banks lift equities after passing BoE stress test
Banking stocks gave the UK equity market a boost after all seven of Britain’s biggest lenders passed the Bank of England’s stress tests.
Citi downgrades Babcock to 'sell'
Babcock is in a sweet-spot strategically, given its growing market and “solid” barriers to entry, but at present there are “too many risks for comfort” around the investment case, analysts said.
Asia: Equities rally on hopes for fresh stimulus in China
Asian stocks rallied on Tuesday, as investors pinned their hopes on expectations Chinese authorities will soon introduce fresh stimulus measures.
Brazilian economy crashes for third straight quarter
South America’s largest economy shrank for a third straight quarter over the three months to September, the longest such stretch since records began in the mid-1990s.
Reserve Bank of India stays put on interest rates
India’s central bank kept interest rates steady after its bi-monthly policy meeting on Tuesday, while making the option of further easing dependent on consumer price inflation falling further over the course of the next two years.
SafeCharge's CFO steps down, new GCOO appointed
SafeCharge’s chief financial officer Ali Khwaja has tendered his resignation from the AIM-listed company.
Home Retail surges as former Garden Centre exec said to eye Homebase
Argos-owner Home Retail surged on Tuesday following a report that Nicholas Marshall, a former executive of the Garden Centre Group, is mulling a bid for Homebase.
German manufacturing climbs to three-month high in November
Manufacturing activity in Germany reached its highest level in three months, a widely-followed survey showed on Tuesday.
German Cabinet approves military deployment against IS
The German Cabinet has approved plans to provide military support in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria.
CareTech expands to acquire ROC North West
CareTech Holdings will acquire ROC North West and all of the children's residential properties which it operates from for up to £11. 425m.
Credit Suisse expects emerging market currencies to perform better in 2016
Emerging market equities and currencies have already priced-in the impact of the forthcoming normalisation of interest rates by the US Federal Reserve, so the worst may almost be past for investors in the asset class, according to analysts at Credit Suisse.
ITE full year profit and revenue hit by Russia weakness
Exhibition and conference organiser ITE Group reported a drop in full year pre-tax profit and revenue due to difficult trading in Russia and central Asia.
Eurozone unemployment hits three-year low in October
Unemployment in the Eurozone fell to a three-year low in October, figures released on Tuesday showed.
Merlin Entertainments rollercoaster year should hit target
Theme parks group Merlin Entertainments confirmed it is likely to end its rollercoaster year on a stable footing with full year profit forecasts expected to meet lowered expectations despite the continued significant weakness at Alton Towers since the crash on its Smiler ride in June.
Sovereign Mines plummets ahead of emergency cash call
Sovereign Mines of Africa has warned it needs to make an emergency discounted fundraising after the failure of long-running talks with a major mining partner.
UK manufacturing activity growth slows more than forecast in November
UK manufacturing activity growth slowed more than expected in November, data from Markit/CIPS revealed.
HSBC cuts exposure to equities in strategic portfolio
HSBC has significantly cut its exposure to equities in its strategic portfolio while keeping a defensive tactical position, with 76% in bonds.