Market Pulse
Asia report: China closes down while others advance
Most markets in Asia advanced on Thursday, shaking off the effect of a negative finish in the US overnight.
UK house price growth slows, ONS data shows
UK house price growth surprisingly slowed in February, official figures confirmed on Tuesday, easing to a 7. 6% annual rate of growth from the 7. 9% rise the previous month.
UK inflation rises more than expected to 15-month high
UK inflation increased more than expected in March as an early Easter lifted air fares and as clothing prices rose.
Nomura announces EMEA, Americas restructuring
Nomura Holdings has announced a restructuring of its wholesale business in EMEA and the Americas following extreme volatility in global markets and a big drop in liquidity in the second half of last year.
Yen could be replaced by fingerprints for tourists in Japan
Tourists in Japan might soon be able to forgo the rigmarole of changing their sterling to yen, with a new system being launched allowing fingerprints to be used to pay for items.
Tesco sells half stake in Asian ecommerce site to Alibaba
Tesco has agreed to sell just over half its stake in South East Asia ecommerce marketplace Lazada to China's giant Alibaba Group for $129m.
Retail sales decline in March as Easter proves disruption, BRC-KPMG says
UK retail sales in March were flat compared to the previous year but down 0. 7% on a like-for-like basis, according to the industry's benchmark survey.
German consumer prices in line in March
German consumer prices rose 0. 8% in March from the previous month, in line with the initial estimate and expectations, according to data from Destatis.
Europe open: Stocks in the red as luxury goods stocks slide
European stocks edged lower in early trade as investors sifted through earnings, with luxury stocks under pressure.
Asos beats forecasts thanks to US surge and price investment
Half-year sales and profits from Asos were comfortably stronger than forecast as the online fashion retailer said its pricing investments and high flow of new clothes styles has improved the proportion of full price sales and reduced its reliance on promotions.
Goldman downgrades AstraZeneca on full valuation
Goldman Sachs downgraded AstraZeneca to ‘sell’ from ‘neutral’ and cut the price target to 3,700p from 4,400p saying current long-term estimates are overly optimistic.
Sports Direct buys Oxford Street property
Sports Direct looked set to expand its West End footprint on Tuesday, acquiring the freehold property at 161-167 Oxford Street and 36 Poland Street from Aviva Investors nominee CIP Property.
London pre-open: Stocks seen lower ahead of inflation figures
London stocks were set to open a little lower on Tuesday as investors looked to the release of UK inflation figures.
Rogers out, Paul in at Costa Coffee
FTSE 100 hospitality group Whitbread announced the departure of Christopher Rogers on Tuesday, as managing director of coffee shop chain Costa and executive director on the firm’s board.
Tuesday newspaper round-up: Italy bank fund, Port Talbot, Goldman Sachs
Italy’s strongest banks, insurers and asset managers have agreed to create a €5bn backstop fund to bail out weaker lenders in an effort to calm growing investor concern about the stability of the banking sector of the eurozone’s third-largest economy. The rescue fund, announced by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi after a six-hour meeting of financiers, regulators and ministers in Rome, comes after a plunge in the value of Italian bank shares this year on widening concerns about the effect of €360bn of non-performing loans on Italy’s financial stability.