Market Pulse
US close: Stocks rise for second day despite mixed signals
After a choppy session, US stocks finished on the front foot for the second day, with traders weighing unpredictable oil prices, worse than expected initial jobless claims, durable goods and factory orders but a sharply retreating dollar.
Commodities: Oil futures slide but gold holds firm
Oil futures fell into negative territory during Thursday afternoon trading, while gold futures extended gains for much of the session.
Sector movers: Resource stock uptick continues as dollar weakens
Resource stocks rose for a second successive session on Thursday, as the dollar weakened resulting in an uptick for a plethora of commodity futures.
Current situation needs to be assessed very carefully, Fed´s Kaplan says
The US central bank wanted to ward against market distortions arising from interest rates near zero but the current situation needed to be assessed and risks to growth monitored, a top-ranking official said on Thursday.
Pearson downgraded with stable outlook by Moody's
Global education publisher Pearson has seen its ratings downgraded by Moody’s, following the close of markets on Thursday.
Bonds: Investors outside the US take profits
These were the movements in some of the more widely-followed 10-year sovereign bonds:.
FX Roundup: Pound corrects as BoE revises UK growth forecasts
The pound fell against major currency crosses on Thursday, after the Bank of England adjusted forecasts for UK growth.
Europe close: Shares rise as oil strengthens and US dollar weakens
European stocks ended on a mixed note as investors sifted through a deluge of earnings amid steadying oil prices and a falling US dollar.
London close: Stocks gain as BoE votes to hold interest rates steady
UK equities rallied on Thursday as the Bank of England unanimously agreed to keep interest rates unchanged as it cut economic growth forecasts.
Activist investor Bramson ups stake in Electra Private Equity
Edward Bramson has increased his stake in Electra Private Equity through his Sherborne Investors vehicle, three months after finally getting onto the board.
Pricing pressures to nibble at UK packaged food suppliers' profits, Moody's says
Difficult trading conditions for packaged food suppliers in the UK will persist in 2016 as a result of the ongoing price war between food retailers, according to Moody’s.
FTSE 250 movers: Oil and miners help market claw back losses
The FTSE 250 was in the green by mid-afternoon on Thursday, clawing back some gains from the week-to-date of losses, up 66. 43 points (0. 42%) to 16,058. 85.
ConocoPhilips slashes dividend in face of uncertain outlook for commodities
Conoco Philips slashed its dividend payout by two-thirds and unveiled new reductions to its capital investment programme as well as cost cuts alongside its fourth-quarter results.
Minerals industry contributes £235bn to UK economy, CBI report says
The UK mineral extraction industry contributes to the economy by underpinning £235bn in added value terms, representing 16% of the total economy, according to a report published by the Confederation of British Industry.
IPSA legal battle reaches Malaysian conclusion
A long-running legal battle reached its latest conclusion for IPSA Group on Thursday, with a claim brought by Iris Eco Power Sdn Bhd of Malaysia being rejected by the Federal Court in that country.
First gas for Sound Energy's Nervesa project
One of Sound Energy's projects hit a major milestone on Thursday, with the revelation that the company's onshore Nervesa gas discovery had reached first gas.
Thursday broker round-up
Coca-Cola HBC: Barclays downgrades to underweight with a target of 1325p.
Global businesses were in confident mood over fourth quarter, ACCA survey finds
Business confidence saw a marked improvement at the end of 2015, according to a survey conducted by Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Institute of Management Accountants.
Sphere Medical opens new Welsh production facility
Sphere Medical was celebrating a major step forward for its product range on Thursday, with the opening of a new commercial production facility in St Asaph, Wales.
FTSE 100 movers: Anglo surges as miners rise
The FTSE 100 had turned things around on Thursday, with the blue chip market in the green by mid-afternoon for the first time this week, up 33. 66 points (0. 58%) to 5,870. 80.