Market Pulse
Cobham tumbles as it swings to full year loss
Cobham shares slid on Thursday after the aerospace and defence group said it swung to a loss in 2015 and sounded a cautious note on the current year.
Amec Foster secures £125m contract with BP
Engineering services company Amec Foster Wheeler has secured a one-year engineering, procurement and construction contract with BP worth £125m.
Stagecoach's shares fall as Investec cuts rating to 'sell'
Stagecoach Group’s shares declined on Thursday as Investec cut its rating to ‘sell’ from ‘reduce’ and target price to 250p from 300p.
UK services PMI falls to lowest since 2013, rate hike 'put to bed'
UK services activity declined much more than expected in February as economic growth slowed to its weakest for almost three years, according to Markit-CIPS data, leading economists to dismiss the possibility of a Bank of Interest rate rise in 2016.
Asia report: Markets rise on upbeat sentiment in China, US
Most stock markets in Asia rose on Thursday, as oil prices gained and hints of improvement in the flagging US economy put some steam into things.
House prices fall in February on the month, Halifax data shows
UK house prices subsided 1. 4% month-on-month in February, well below the consensus for a flat month after two months of strong gains, according to data from Halifax.
Shrunken Melrose solid after further disposals
A much smaller Melrose Industries was looking solid on Thursday, as it reported on a year in which it disposed of its largest operating business and distributed the proceeds on the sale of another.
FCA to investigate six life insurers over exit fees
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched an investigation into six insurers following a review of the fair treatment of long-standing life insurance customers in relation to what they disclose about exit fees.
Eurozone retail sales stronger than expected in January
Retail sales in the Eurozone grew more strongly than expected in January, according to the latest figures from Eurostat.
Spirax-Sarco Engineering annual profit hit by currency headwinds
Spirax-Sarco Engineering posted a drop in 2015 pre-tax profit and revenue on the back of slowing industrial production growth and currency headwinds.
Schroders books solid earnings growth, names new CEO
Schroders reported some strong profit rises in the 2015 calendar year on Thursday, and named Peter Harrison as its new chief executive officer.
Admiral races ahead as full year numbers beat expectations
Shares in Admiral raced ahead on Thursday after the insurer posted a forecast-beating and record 6% jump in full year pre-tax profit as its car insurance customers grew.
Whitbread sales sink in fourth quarter on Costa slowdown
Sales slowed at Whitbread in the fourth quarter but the Premier Inns and Costa coffee shops owner said it would still deliver full year profit in line with expectations.
E-commerce drives growth at Domino's Pizza
A hunger for pizza, tied with an attachment to smartphones drove growth at Domino's Pizza Group in 2015, with the company seeing more and more sales from e-commerce.
Eurozone private sector growth at 13-month low
Markit’s final Eurozone composite purchasing managers’ index for February fell to 53. 0,above the flash estimate of 52. 7 and January's 53. 6 but marking the lowest reading since January last year.
London open: Stocks drop as China services PMI falls
UK stocks declined on Thursday as a report showed Chinese services activity slowed in February.
Rally in stocks has further to run, Marc Faber says
The rally in equities still had further to run, one of the most erstwhile 'bears' in the market said on Wednesday.
Europe open: Stocks slip as investors pause after recent gains
European stocks slipped in early trade as investors paused for breath following five consecutive days of gains.
CRH reports jump in full-year operating profits
CRH saw operating profits jump last year, driven by a strong performance at its heritage businesses and from acquisitions, although net debt rose substantially.
Strong results at Travis Perkins marred by plumbing impairment
A strong set of results from Wickes owner Travis Perkins were marred by difficult trading and impairments in its plumbing businesses in 2015, as the company released its final results on Thursday.