Market Pulse
London midday: Stocks slide as oil prices plunge below $30
London stocks were on the back foot on Friday after weak UK construction data, a drop in oil prices and another fall in Asia stocks.
EU clears Ball/Rexam merger, subject to divestments
The European Commission has approved the acquisition of London-listed drinks can maker Rexam by US rival Ball Corp, subject to the divestment of 12 plants in Europe.
Numis says 'hold' on Home Retail amid Sainsbury takeover talks
Home Retail has made it "difficult to mount a convincing defence against any bid from Sainsbury" after reporting disappointing sales over the Christmas period, Numis said on Friday.
Eurozone trade balance at €22.7bn in November
Figures released by Eurostat showed the Eurozone trade surplus came in at a nine-month high in November.
Unions back at the table ahead of tube strikes
Union and London Underground bosses were back at the negotiating table in a bid to avoid a series of 24-hour tube strikes, the Evening Standard reported on Friday.
Tate & Lyle rallies after encouraging capital markets day
Tate & Lyle was a high riser on Friday following an encouraging capital markets day.
BP and Rosneft dissolve German JV
BP and Rosneft have agreed to dissolve their refining joint venture Ruhr Oel GmbH as they move towards completion of the previously announced restructuring of their German refining and petrochemical venture.
Asia: Stocks decline as China enters bear market
Asia stocks declined on Friday as China entered a bear market and oil prices reversed the previous day’s gains.
Canada Pension Plan head joins Entertainment One board
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s Scott Lawrence has joined the board of Entertainment One as a non-executive director.
Gerald Corbett appointed Segro chairman-designate
Gerald Corbett has been appointed chairman-designate of Segro, taking over from Nigel Rich who announced last year he was stepping down.
UK construction output unexpectedly drops in November
UK construction output unexpectedly dropped in November from the previous month, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.
IG Group appoints Mark Ward as interim CFO
Broker IG Group has appointed Mark Ward as interim chief financial officer.
London open: Stocks decline as China enters bear market
UK stocks declined on Friday following another loss in Asia as China entered a bear market.
Bonmarche Christmas sales drop; guidance reiterated
Women’s value retailer Bonmarche posted a drop in sales over Christmas but reiterated its guidance for the year.
Europe open: Stocks mostly lower on weak China cues; BHP slumps
European stocks were mostly lower in early trade following a steep decline in Chinese markets, as oil prices slid.
Moneysupermarket.com posts growth in all divisions
Moneysupermarket. com’s full-year revenues are expected to grow 14% for the year to £281. 7m across the group.
China credit growth hits 12-month high in December
Chinese banks are continuing to lend to the economy and that should provide support to the economy in coming quarters, some economists said following the release overnight of the latest government data on credit growth.
Bovis Homes sees big jump in 2015 revenue and profit
Housebuilder Bovis Homes said on Friday that it expects to report a "significant" increase in 2015 revenue and pre-tax profit following a record number of legal completions and a big jump in prices.
London pre-open: Lower oil futures to cap gains in Footsie
UK shares are being called to start the day slightly higher thanks to a favourable tailwind from a higher close on Wall Street and more dovish Fed talk on Thursday.
BT Group gets approval to acquire EE
The Competition and Markets Authority has approved BT Group’s plans to acquire EE, bringing together the UK’s largest fixed telecoms business and the UK’s largest mobile telecoms business.