Market Pulse
US close: Blue Monday as investors rush to safe havens
US stocks closed on an even sharper note than they opened on Monday, with fears of a global slowdown and fresh drops in oil prices leading a New York-led flight into gold and bonds.
Sector Movers: Resource stocks recover but financials suffer
Resource stocks saw an uptick on Monday, but financial stocks and market data conspired to drag headline London indices lower.
Commodities: Gold spikes on 'safe haven' calls, oil slides further
Gold spiked on 'safe haven' demand on Monday, while oil futures started yet another trading week on a negative footing.
Europe close: Steep falls for stocks as oil price slide resumes
European stocks fell into the red on Monday, with energy issues under the cosh as oil prices slid again and investors piling into the safest sovereign debt as tensions appeared to build in the US market for so-called 'junk-bonds'.
London close: Economic data drags headline indices lower
Data from China and Germany, coupled with another oil market slump saw headline London indices start the week on a negative footing.
Tuesday preview: Light economic and corporate calendar may see lull in selling
The economic calendar for Tuesday was quite sparse, which might provide a respite from selling for global financial markets ahead of Fed chair Janet Yellen´s semi-annual testimony before her country´s Congress due the next day.
US open: Sharp losses on Wall Street
Stocks on Wall Street were registering steep losses at the start of the week following a poor report on Chinese currency reserves for January and renewed downward pressure on the oil complex.
Trinity Exploration secures another debt repayment extension
AIM-listed Trinity Exploration & Production announced that it has agreed a further extension to the moratorium on principal repayments relating to its outstanding debt balance of $13m (£9m) with its lender until 19 February 2016.
LondonMetric directors up stake in company
A number of LondonMetric’s directors have increased their stake in the property company as it continues to adjust its portfolio towards retail logistics and distribution.
Broker tips: Wood Group, ITV, AstraZeneca
Wood Group shares fell after Goldman Sachs downgraded the company from ‘neutral’ to ‘sell’ and cut its target price from 639. 6p to 517. 6p.
Lok'nStore indicates positive growth in first half
Lok'nStore Group's growth strategy was paying off, as the company indicated positive movement in the six months to 31 January, ahead of its interim results.
Goldman Sachs concerned about Wood Group's working capital
Wood Group shares fell after Goldman Sachs downgraded the company from ‘neutral’ to ‘sell’ and cut its target price from 639. 6p to 517. 6p.
LED International ceases joint-venture discussions
LED International ceased joint venture negotiations with Shenzhen Ruihetai Industry Co. Ltd (RHT) on Monday, having discussed possibilities with RHT for almost a year.
Poundland rises as Deutsche Bank upgrades to buy
Poundland shares surged after Deutsche Bank upgraded the company from ‘hold’ to ‘buy’ - a move it said was controversial - but cut its price target from 200p to 180p.
Ocado drops on concerns about international deal
Ocado shares dipped on the back of a note from Barclays, saying it is struggling to have “sufficient faith in an imminent international deal” to justify upgrading the stock.
Elegant Hotels acquires another Barbados resort
Elegant Hotels was adding another significant property to its Caribbean portfolio on Monday, acquiring Swiss International Ltd, owner of Waves Hotel and Spa, for a total consideration of $18m (£12. 5m).
Ten Alps acquires small corporate video business
Ten Alps was in expansion mode on Monday, announcing it had agreed terms to swallow a small, unnamed corporate video business specialising in making videos for blue chip organisations.
FTSE 250 movers: Poor start to week as analyst note drives Wood Group down
It was a poor start to the week for the FTSE 250, with the second tier market down 313. 83 points (1. 96%) to 15,688. 45 by mid-afternoon on Monday.
FX Roundup: Dollar up against European crosses, China's reserves plunge
The dollar headed higher against European crosses on Monday, as forex market chatter was dominated by the plunge in China’s currency reserves.
Delayed purchases hurt LiDCO at year-end
LiDCO was still facing challenges at the end of the financial year, as a number of customers slid large orders through past 31 January.