Market Pulse
How relevant is US labour data?
With concerns about commodity and oil prices and slowing of global growth, will the usually all-important non-farm payroll report on Friday even figure in the Federal Reserve's interest rate thinking, writes Ipek Ozkardeskaya, market analyst at London Capital Group.
US close: stocks rebound as oil prices soar 8%
US stocks rebounded on Wednesday, responding to an 8% jump in oil prices.
Bonds: Gilts track Japanese bonds and German Bunds higher
These were the movements in the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields:.
Sector Movers: Banking stocks struggle, weaker dollar gives miners respite
Banking stocks struggled for much of Wednesday, while firmer oil prices and a weaker dollar gave resource stocks some respite from recent declines.
Commodities: Oil, gold futures recover as dollar weakens
Oil futures returned to positive territory on Wednesday, while gold recovered and base metals went through another session marked by modest gains.
Europe close: Stocks end lower despite oil price slide
European stocks fell sharply on Wednesday, taking their cue from downbeat sessions in the US and Asia ahead of Friday´s US jobs report for the month of January and despite sharp gains in crude oil futures.
London close: Stocks fall after mixed services data
The FTSE 100 closed lower on Wednesday as investors weighed mixed services data and a report showing US crude oil inventories rose more than expected last week.
FTSE 250 movers: Banking and investment firms drive market down
The FTSE 250 was down 289. 58 points (1. 78%) to 16,010. 10 shortly before the close on Wednesday.
Audioboom picked as Google Play content partner
Audioboom Group was celebrating a major contract win on Wednesday, having been selected as a content partner for the Google Play store - the world's most popular smartphone application and media marketplace.
Lloyds confirms 1,585 job cuts
Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed a net 1,585 roles in its retail, group operations, commercial banking, consumer finance, legal and finance teams will be axed as part of the 9,000 redundancies.
FX Roundup: Dollar slips on disappointing data
The dollar headed lower on Wednesday following the release of disappointing data, while commodity linked currencies got respite in wake of firmer oil prices.
FTSE 100 movers: StanChart leads market lower on Citi note
The FTSE 100 was down again on Wednesday, dropping 78. 22 points (1. 32%) to 5,843. 79 by mid-afternoon.
Rockhopper considering damages claim against Italy
Rockhopper Exploration was facing more disappointment this week, after an about-face of Italian legislation sent its Ombrina Mare exploration project grinding to a halt.
UBS issues reality check to global banks but likes Lloyds, RBS
UBS had a reality check for global banks in 2016, warning that another year of fundamental headwinds such as oil and central bank policy will likely weigh on earnings expectations.
Babcock non-exec picks up some shares
Engineering support services company Babcock International said non-executive director Jeff Randall purchased 1,134 shares at 8. 81p each.
Cameron faces criticism in Parliament over EU deal
David Cameron faced criticism in the House of Commons on Wednesday, after the Prime Minister agreed on the proposed conditions for Britain to remain in the European Union.
KEFI Minerals moves closer to commencing at Tulu Kapi
KEFI Minerals moved a step closer to commencement at its Tulu Kapi Gold Project on Wednesday, announcing the successful selection of its preferred senior secured lenders.
Arria NLG receives fresh US patent
Arria NLG's intellectual property protection strategy received a boost on Wednesday, with the granting of a fresh US patent on its 'method and apparatus for updating a previously generated text'.
US open: Stocks drop on disappointing services data
US stocks were declined on Wednesday as a better-than-expected private payrolls report was offset by disappointing services data.
IAG January traffic and load factor rise
British Airways and Iberia parent International Consolidated Airlines Group’s traffic and load factor rose in January.