Market Pulse
FTSE 250 movers: Issues in Africa cause problems for Investec and PZ Cussons
The FTSE 250 continued to drop on Thursday, with the market down 52. 17 points (0. 30%) to 17,087. 68 by mid-afternoon.
Synectics announces modest resumed final dividend
Surveillance business Synectics estimated revenues for the year just ended rose as it announced the intention to recommend a "modest" resumed final dividend for 2015.
US import prices fall 0.4% in November
Import prices in the US fell 0. 4% in November as fuel prices slumped 2. 5%, following a 0. 3% drop in October and a 1. 1% decline in August, according to data from the Department of Labor.
Friday preview: US data in focus as Fed interest rate decision looms
US retail sales rose 0. 3% in November from a year ago, according to estimates ahead of data from the Commerce Department on Friday.
FTSE 100 movers: Old Mutual hit by rand and rating downgrade, Debt plan drives Glencore up
The FTSE 100 remained in negative territory on Thursday, sitting down 34. 53 points (0. 56%) on 6,092. 15 by mid-afternoon.
Glencore may float agriculture business, in talks about asset sales
Glencore has revealed it is examining a potential initial public offer (IPO) of the commodity group's agriculture business and has been in talks about the potential sale of some infrastructure assets.
City vacancies down almost a third in November
The winter might have started relatively mild in London, but the City job market cooled significantly in November according to a survey out on Thursday.
US pre-open: Investors hope to break three-day losing streak
US stock futures edged higher on Thursday, as investors hope to break a three-day streak of losses.
CMA backs travel cards for further government exemption
UK competition regulators have recommended extending the exemption of multi-operator travelcard ticketing schemes from competition law.
'China's Warren Buffett' goes missing as spate of disappearances continues
Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang, chairman of investment behemoth Fosun Group and known as the 'Warren Buffett of China', has gone missing according to local media.
Equity investors going into 2016 with very little faith, says Barclays
European investors are going into next year with very little faith in the future, Barclays said in strategy note.
Europe midday: Stocks in the red but basic resources recover
European stocks slipped on Thursday as investors kept an eye on commodity markets and looked ahead to next week’s interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve.
London midday: Equities slide as BoE keeps interest rates unchanged
UK equities declined as the Bank of England voted 8-1 to keep interest rates unchanged.
JP Morgan sees attractive entry point in Entertainment One
The recent sharp drop in the price of Entertainment One’s shares offered an “attractive” entry point, analysts at JP Morgan said.
Thursday newspaper share tips: Positive results for Ashtead prompt hold rating
Ashtead Group’s positive results has prompted The Telegraph’s Questor to recommend holding on to the company's stock.
EU regulators reportedly set to approve Rexam/Ball deal
EU antitrust regulators are set to approve Ball Corp’s bid for drinks can maker Rexam after it improved its concessions, according to reports.
Asia: Markets muted ahead of next week's Fed decision
Central banks and interest rates were the focus in Asia on Thursday, a week before the all-important December decision from the US Federal Reserve.
Opec production rises to three-year high
Opec said crude production from its members has risen to a three-year high in November and the Middle East oil cartel also raised its 2015 oil demand forecast.
North Sea oil output set for big boost as Shell and BP's Glen Lyon sets off
The UK's North Sea oil output is in line for a boost as the Glen Lyon floating production storage and offload (FPSO) vessel set off towards Shell and BP's 450m-barrel Quad204 destination west of Shetland.
Investec retains buy on Micro Focus on hopes of cash returns
Micro Focus International delivered better-than-expected interim sales growth and operating cost figures, and net debt was converging towards the company’s target, but the key attraction of the shares lay in its ability to return high volumes of cash in the medium-term, analysts at Investec said.