Market Pulse
US close: Stocks end in the red as oil prices slump
Stocks on Wall Street ended in the red on Wednesday as oil prices slumped after data showed an unexpected rise in US crude inventories.
Bonds: Gilts underperform sharply after house price data
These were the movements among the most widely followed longer-term sovereign bond yields:.
Short-term politicking should not stand in way of long-term prosperity, CBI chief says
Politicians in the UK should not let short-term politics trump the opportunity of creating longer-term prosperity, the head of Britain’s largest business lobby said on Wednesday.
Europe close: Oil price drop weighs on stocks
Europe's main equity benchmarks closed near their session lows, weighed down by a renewed slide in global energy prices after Saudi Arabia signaled it would not let up the pressure on higher cost-producers and rivals.
London close: Stocks end lower on slump in commodities
UK stocks slumped on Wednesday as shares in mining and oil producers declined.
US pending home sales unexpectedly drop in November
Home prices were just about the only thing which was on the rise in the US home building sector in November, according to the findings of a monthly survey from a business lobby group.
Sector movers: Oil producers and mining stocks under pressure
Commodity producers were under the cosh on Wednesday as oil and metal prices slipped.
US crude oil stockpiles register unexpected build in latest week
US oil stocks registered an unexpected build last week, pushing already weak oil futures lower.
UK feels Frank's fury as severe flood warnings issued
Hundreds of households across the north of England and Scotland were evacuated on Wednesday as winter Storm Frank swept across the Irish Sea dumping more rain on already flooded areas.
KEFI Minerals on course to start production at Tulu Kapi in 2017
KEFI Minerals continued to be course to begin production at its Ethiopian gold project in 2017, thus ending the year in a strong position, the company told investors in an operational update.
Malaysian pension fund to sell London asset and repatriate funds
Malaysia’s second-largest pension fund will respond to a government call to repatriate some of its assets by selling an office building in the City of London.
Watchstone Group chairman buys shares
Richard Rose, non-executive chairman of Watchstone Group – formerly Quindell – bought 100,000 shares in the insurance technology company at 257. 88p each.
FTSE 100 movers: Worldpay strong but banks out of favour
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0. 6% to 6,274. 20 at 1425 GMT, giving back some gains following a solid performance in the previous session, in holiday-thinned trade.
Former Martin Shkreli firm KaloBios files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, which fired controversial chief executive Martin Shkreli earlier this month, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
US open: Stocks decline as oil prices reverse gains
US stocks declined as oil prices reversed gains and trading volumes were thin ahead of the New Year.
Saudi Arabia to keep up pressure on high-cost producers, oil futures slump
Saudi Arabia would not let up the pressure on high-cost oil producers in a bid to maintain its share of the market, the country’s energy minister said on Wednesday.
Thursday preview: Trading hours for global markets
UK markets will close early on Thursday as traders pop the champagne to bring in the new year.
UK wages to grow more slowly than expected in 2016, CIPD says
The government got its forecasts for wage growth in Britain in 2015 very wrong, according to an industry body.
US pre-open: Futures point to slightly lower start as oil prices tank again
US stock futures pointed to a slightly weaker open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with volumes likely to be low as the New Year approaches.
Europe midday: Stocks off lows in holiday-thinned trade; oil prices slide again
European stocks were off earlier lows but still in the red in holiday-thinned trade, as oil prices resumed their slide on the last full trading day of the year.