Market Pulse
US close: Stocks decline after worse-than-forecast data
US stocks closed lower on Monday after investors were left disappointed by worse-than-expected economic data and the China government's lack of concrete stimulus plans at the G20 meetings.
Sector Movers: Resource stocks keep London market on green turf
Resource stocks managed to keep headline London indices in marginally positive territory on Monday, following an uptick in major commodity futures contracts.
Amara Mining agrees merger with Australia's Perseus
Amara Mining has agreed an all-paper merger with Australia's Perseus Mining that values Amara at £68. 3m, or 16. 3p per share.
DX Group posts statutory loss after major goodwill impairment
Underlying profits crashed 87% at DX Group, the mail and logistics company, in the first half of the year, while a major write-down of goodwill sent it into a large paper loss.
Commodities: Oil futures register gains on Saudi comments
Oil futures began the week on a positive footing, as Saudi Arabia said on Monday it would work with other producers to limit oil market volatility.
Europe close: Investors pin hopes on ECB, China
European stocks finished the day largely up as the market looked ahead to hopes of more stimulus from the European Central Bank, while mulling on the meaning of China's cut to its bank reserve ratio.
India plans fiscal deficit cut to 3.5% of GDP, central bank gets policy committee
India plans to cut its fiscal deficit to 3. 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2016-17, from 3. 9% the year before, according to the country’s finance minister Arun Jaitley.
FX Roundup: Euro stumbles on data, Indian rupee rises on budget statement
The euro headed lower on Monday following a surprise decline in inflation, while the Indian rupee rose as the country’s finance minister unveiled a commitment to reduce the fiscal deficit and give India's central bank a monetary policy committee.
London close: FTSE ends lower on China slowdown worries
The FTSE 100 ended February on a low as bets of further quantitative easing from the European Central Bank failed to offset growing worries over China’s slowdown.
Moody's cuts Weir's credit rating as weak oil weighs on end markets
Moody's downgraded the long-term ratings of engineer Weir Group to Baa3 from Baa1, keeping the outlook at negative.
Director dealings: RBS directors snap up GBP1m of shares
Royal Bank of Scotland's chairman, chief executive and finance director have together spent £1m buying shares as the state-owned bank hit its lowest levels for three and a half years.
FTSE 250 movers: Ocado, Ultra and Hiscox weigh on index
The FTSE 250 crawled back towards parity by mid-afternoon on Monday after an early morning dip, but the index remained doggedly on the wrong side of the line.
FTSE 100 movers: Miners gain but HSBC slumps on Bernstein note
London’s FTSE 100 index was down 0. 3% to 6,075. 39 at 1525 GMT, as investors weighed up disappointment that the G20 meeting did not yield a coordinated stimulus effort against the People’s Bank of China’s move to cut the reserve requirement ratio.
Chicago PMI weaker than expected in February
The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ index fell 8 points to 47. 6 in February following a sharp increase to 55. 6 the previous month.
US open: Stocks slip at the start of trading
Wall Street was trading on a mixed note at the start of the week, with investors looking out to next Friday´s monthly US jobs report and watching to see whether the S&P 500 managed to clamber atop a key short-term level of technical resistance.
US pending home sales undershoot forecasts in February
A lead indicator of activity in the US housing sector fell at the start of the year, but remained slightly above year ago levels.
Vedanta to benefit from India's rejigged commodity tariffs
Shares in Vedanta surged on news that India will shelve export taxes on low-grade iron ore, a move that should benefit the FTSE 250 miner but could lead to further worldwide oversupply.
Peel Hunt sees attractions of the 'challenger banks'
Broker Peel Hunt has slapped a 'buy' recommendation on Aldermore, OneSavings Bank and Shawbrook, as it began coverage of the three challenger banks.
Market overview: Chicago PMI misses forecasts
1445: MNI´s February Chicago manufacturing sector purchasing managers´ index declined 8. 0 points to 47. 6 (consensus: 52. 8).
S&P takes BHP Billiton´s long-term credit rating off CreditWatch
S&P took BHP Billiton´s long-term credit rating off CreditWatch following moves by the metals miner to tie its dividend policy more closely to conditions in the marketplace and its own operating performance.