Market Pulse
China GDP growth slows to 6.7% in first quarter, in line with views
China’s economy grew 6. 7% on the year in the first quarter compared with 6. 8% in the fourth quarter of last year, according to official data.
Goldman downgrades William Hill, sees underperformance continuing
Goldman Sachs downgraded bookmaker William Hill to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’ and cut the price target to 380p from 460p following the company’s most recent trading update, which highlighted slower growth in the online business partly on the back of new regulation.
London pre-open: Stocks seen flat after muted Asia session
London stocks were set to open broadly flat on Friday following a muted session in Asia, after Chinese first quarter GDP met expectations.
Rio Tinto and Sinosteel extend Channar joint venture
FTSE 100 mining firm Rio Tinto and Chinese state-backed Sinosteel Corporation announced the extension of their Channar Mining joint venture in Australia’s Pilbara region on Friday.
Friday newspaper round-up: Brexit, BP, HMRC, tax evasion
The British economy will be weaker, its international influence will be reduced and the EU will be damaged if the UK votes to leave the bloc in June, the White House said on Thursday. Speaking ahead of a visit to the UK next week by Barack Obama, senior administration officials insisted that the Brexit decision was one for British voters and that the US president would offer his views as a “friend” only if asked during his two days in London. – Financial Times.