Market Pulse
Hargreaves Services interim profit, revenue slide amid tough markets
Hargreaves Services reported a drop in interim revenue and profit and cut its dividend, pointing to pressures in the UK coal and steel markets.
German investor sentiment deteriorates in February
German investor confidence deteriorated in February, albeit a little less than expected, according to the latest survey from the ZEW Center for European Economic Research in Mannheim.
UK producer prices fall slightly more than expected in January
Factory gate inflation fell in January by slightly more than markets had been expecting.
Sweet crude flows from Gatwick Airport oilfield
First ever crude oil has flowed at encouraging levels from the Horse Hill discovery well being drilled in the Weald Basin near Gatwick Airport, as anti-fracking protests reconvened nearby.
ITV promotes Bazalgette to chairman as Norman steps down
ITV chairman Archie Norman, who has overseen a successful turnaround of the broadcaster over the last six years, has confirmed he will step down in May and be replaced by board colleague Peter Bazalgette.
UK CPI declines more than expected in January
The cost of living in the UK decreased sharply at the start of the year, weighed down by declines in the prices for clothing and footwear and those for furniture and household equipment.
Stellar Diamonds exports diamonds for third trial auction
Stellar Diamonds revealed the export of a sizeable diamond parcel on Tuesday - 3,341 carats in total - from trial mining of its Baoulé kimberlite project in the Aredor area of Guinea, to Antwerp.
FinnAust Mining appoints experts to Pituffik
FinnAust Mining pressed on with its strategy to rapidly assess potential at the Pituffik Titanium Project in Greenland on Tuesday, announcing the appointment of independent experts TZ Minerals International (TZMI) and Peter Waugh to assist.
China extends more new loans than expected in January
China banks granted more new loans than expected in January, boosted by increased injections from the central bank ahead of the Lunar New Year.
Tracsis sees full year results in line with market views
Tracsis, a provider of software and technology led products and services, expects full year results to be in line with market views, with pre-tax profit lower than the previous year but revenue and earnings ahead.
StanChart slumps on Investec downgrade
Standard Chartered was under the cosh after Investec downgraded the stock to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ in light of the very recent share price performance.
Morgan Stanley stays at underweight on StanChart
The outlook for asset quality at Asian banks has deteriorated since StanChart's strategic review was carried out because of slowing economies and lower commodity and property prices, analysts at Morgan Stanley said on Tuesday.
Europe open: Stocks in the black as oil prices rally
European stocks edged higher in early trade following on from a positive session in Asia, as oil prices rallied.
Redefine International announces placing to raise £100m
UK real estate investment trust Redefine International announced a placing of up to 375m shares to raise gross proceeds of over £100m to finance the second tranche of its acquisition of the AUK Portfolio announced back in September.
Russian and Saudi oil ministers to meet in Doha
The energy ministers of Russia and Saudi Arabia were set to meet on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar to discuss the situation in oil markets, Bloomberg reported citing a person familiar with the talks.
Zoopla puts £1m into 'proptech' sector
Zoopla was vying to remain front and centre of the property technology - 'proptech' - sector on Tuesday, announcing the investment of £1m into four startup firms, along with long-term partnerships with the businesses.
Spectris earnings down on mixed global markets
Mixed global conditions made 2015 a rocky ride for Spectris, with the company's full year results to 31 December - released on Tuesday - showing increased sales, but depressed earnings.
Merlin Entertainments poaches CFO Nesmes from Dechra
Merlin Entertainment was confident it had made a strong choice on Monday, in appointing Anne-Françoise Nesmes to its board as Chief Financial Officer from 1 August.
London pre-open: Stocks seen higher on positive Asian cues
London stocks are expected to open higher on Tuesday following another positive session in Asia and amid rising oil prices.
Tuesday newspaper round-up: BoE, car industry, Shell, HSBC
The Bank of England has rebuffed criticism from the chief architect of the UK’s banking reforms by denying that it has watered down his recommended minimum capital levels for Britain’s biggest lenders. In a statement released late on Monday the BoE rejected that it had gone soft on UK banks and pushed back firmly against an article in Monday’s Financial Times by Sir John Vickers. – Financial Times.