Market Pulse
Booker third quarter sales up 10.5%, guidance reiterated
Food wholesaler Booker Group posted a rise in third quarter sales as it said the outlook for profits and net cash remains in line with guidance given at the interim results.
Duncan Gillis leaves John Crane
Duncan Gillis, president of engineered products and services company John Crane, is leaving the role.
SuperGroup Christmas trading lifted by European roll-out
SuperGroup reported a jump in revenue over the Christmas period thanks in part to the roll-out of the European store programme.
Home Retail profit to be at lower end of expectations
Home Retail Group’s full year profit is expected to come it at the lower end of expectations after Argos sales over the festive period dipped.
Bunzl chief executive Roney to retire
Bunzl’s chief executive Michael Roney has decided to retire from the company after more than 10 years in the role.
London pre-open: MPC and US earnings announcements in focus
The Footsie is expected to begin the session with losses of about 100 points after a bruising session on Wall Street last night, with some traders pointing out possible hints in yesterday's sector performance Stateside that weakness in energy is filtering through to other sectors of the stockmarket.
AB Foods group revenue hit by currency headwinds
Group revenue at Associated British Foods slipped at the end of last year, although sales at Primark were a little stronger.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Sports Direct, CMC Markets, China
Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey used the weakness in Sports Direct's share price following its profit warning last week to rebuild his stake in the retailer. Despite saying last Friday he had "seen the writing on the wall", Mr Odey's hedge fund, which bears his name, is understood to have upped his holding from just north of 1% to slightly more than 5%. - The Daily Telegraph.
Indonesia's central bank unexpectedly cuts interest rates
Indonesia's central bank unexpectedly cut rates on Thursday.
Housebuilding costs rocket in fourth quarter, says RICS
The cost of building new homes in the UK has rocketed in recent months due to a continued skills shortage, putting government targets even further out of reach.
Hundreds of police exchange gunfire with attackers in Indonesia's capital
A series of bomb blasts rocked the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Thursday morning, followed by reports of continuing gunfire and further explosions, the BBC reported.