Market Pulse
Electric Bar Group to buy Brighton Pier for £18m
Electric Bar Group has entered a conditional agreement to buy Brighton Pier for £18m in a deal it expects to be immediately earnings-enhancing from completion.
Antofagasta CEO Hernandez retires
Copper miner Antofagasta’s chief executive officer Diego Hernández will retire with immediate effect, to be replaced by Iván Arriagada, the current chief exec of Antofagasta Minerals.
Pressure builds for Cameron to resign over offshore funds
Pressure was building on Friday for Prime Minister David Cameron to step down after he finally admitted he had in fact benefited from a stake in his late father’s offshore investment fund.
Europe midday: Stocks in the black as oil rallies
European stocks rose on Friday, rebounding from losses in the previous session as oil prices advanced.
London midday: Stocks gain as oil prices rise
London stocks were on the front foot on Friday as oil prices regained strength and investors shrugged off disappointing UK economic data.
US pre-open: Firmer open expected as oil prices advance
US futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street, with equities set to rebound from Thursday’s losses as oil prices rallied and the yen retreated.
Tata Steel said to near Scunthorpe steelworks deal
A deal to rescue Tata Steel’s Scunthorpe plant may be signed as early as Monday.
Asia report: Markets end the week mixed
Markets in Asia ended Friday mixed, with the turbulent Japanese benchmark reversing losses as the yen weakened from this week’s highs.
UK trade deficit remained worryingly large in February
The UK's total trade deficit improved slightly in February, but "remained worryingly large" economists said.
HSBC downgrades Experian on Brazil risk
HSBC downgraded Experian to ‘reduce’ from ‘buy’ and cut the price target to 1,140p from 1,290p.
Exane BNP downgrades Schroders to 'neutral'
Exane BNP Paribas downgraded Schroders to ‘neutral’ from ‘outperform’ and cut the price target 10% to 2,700p as it took a look at asset managers.
Market overview: UK factory output falls sharply in February
0930: Total industrial production decreased by 0. 3% month-on-month, according to the Office for National Statistics. Economists had forecast an increase of 0. 3%. Manufacturing production was weakest, falling by 1. 1% versus January (consensus: +0. 7%).
UK industrial production registers sharp fall in February
British industrial and factory output registered unexpected declines in February, led by a sharp fall in factory output.
Bonmarche slides after cautious outlook
Shares in Bonmarche slid on Friday after the retailer said full year pre-tax profit will be at the lower end of guidance.
French industrial production falls back in February
French industrial production fell back in February, surrendering most of the previous month's gains, possibly heralding weaker economic momentum for the Eurozone as a whole in the second quarter, according to some economists.
London open: Miners lead equities higher
UK equities were led higher by mining stocks on Friday as oil and copper prices rose.
Europe open: Stocks rise as oil and metals prices firm up
European stocks rose in early trade, rebounding from losses in the previous session amid stronger oil and metals prices.
Hikma filing for generic of Glaxo's Advair Diskus accepted by US FDA
Hikma Pharmaceuticals said on Friday that its abbreviated new drug application for fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder has been accepted for filing by the Food and Drug Administration in the US.
Laurence Mulliez added to Morgan Advanced Materials board
Morgan Advanced Materials has announced the appointment of Laurence Mulliez to its board as a non-executive director on Friday, with effect from the end of the company’s Annual General Meeting on 6 May.
Dechra signs Tony Rice up to be chairman
Dechra Pharmaceuticals announced the appointment of Tony Rice to its board as non-executive director on Friday, with a view to elevating him to chairman after the company’s Annual General Meeting in October.