Market Pulse
Tim Peake becomes first 'official' British astronaut (+LIVE VIDEO)
Tim Peake has become the first “official” British astronaut after he took off from earth to the International Space Station on Tuesday.
European car sales surge in November
European car sales surged 13. 7% in November, according to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Royal Mail avoids larger French fine as cartel probe climaxes
Royal Mail has been fined €55. 1m (£40. 2m) by the French competition authority after an investigation into the industry's price-fixing cartel across the Channel hit a group including FedEx and TNT hit with total fines of €672m.
UK house prices up 7% in October, says ONS
UK house prices rose 7% in the year to October, up from 6. 1% in the year to September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
German economic sentiment beats expectations in December, says ZEW
German economic sentiment rose for the second consecutive month in December, according to the ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim.
Asia: Stocks fall as PBoC cuts yuan's reference rate and investors eye Fed
Asia stocks fell on Tuesday as China’s central bank cut the yuan’s reference rate and as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision.
Gateley posts solid first half performance
Commercial law firm Gateley has reported a solid first half performance, with revenue up 10. 9%.
Moody's slashes Brent assumption to $43 for 2016
Moody's has taken an axe to its oil price estimates due to the threat of prolonged oversupply, hacking its 2016 Brent assumption to $43 from $53, with West Texas Intermediate lowered to $40 from $48.
Trafalgar New Homes swings to first half loss
AIM-listed residential property developer Trafalgar New Homes swung to a first half loss as revenue slid.
Meggitt upgraded to buy on aerospace growth drivers
Meggitt has been upgraded by Berenberg from ‘hold’ to ‘buy’, saying the company is well positioned to benefit from strong growth drivers in its civil aerospace markets.
SuperGroup tumbles as Liberum recommends taking profits
SuperGroup traded sharply lower after Liberum downgraded the stock to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’, noting that the shares are up 85% since it upgraded them last December.
Imagination Technologies slumps as it warns over full year profit
Imagination Technologies was under pressure after the company said operating profit for the year will be below previous expectations, as it posted a wider first half loss amid a slowdown in the semiconductor market.
Carpetright rolls out 6% interim profit rise
Carpetright posted a 6% jump in first half pre-tax profit as revenue rose and the company said it was on track to meet its full year expectations as the new, smaller high street format begins to bear fruit.
London open: Stocks gain ahead of UK and US inflation reports
London stocks gained on Tuesday ahead of the release of data which is expected to show an improvement in UK and US inflation.
UBM agrees sale of PR Newswire to Cision for USD841m
UBM has agreed the sale of its PR Newswire arm for $841m (£554m) to US group Cision, leaving it to focus on its events business.
Sainsbury stands out as Tesco and Morrison sales fall, Kantar shows
Sainsbury’s has continued to thwart its rivals in recent weeks, increased sales and growing its market share as Tesco, Asda and Morrison all saw sales fall, according to Kantar Worldpanel data.
Europe open: Stocks bounce back as FOMC decision looms
European stocks rose in early trade, bouncing back from losses in the previous session as investors looked to the start of the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting.
Serco does about turn on sale of Environmental Services and Leisure businesses
Serco has decided not to dispose of its Environmental Services and Leisure businesses.
Great Portland Estates refinances The Great Ropemaker Partnership
Great Portland Estates has arranged a new £90m five year non-recourse loan for The Great Ropemaker Partnership.
Segro and Hermes complete industrial asset swap
Segro has completed a property swap transaction with Hermes Property Unit Trust.