Market Pulse
US close: Markets ahead as oil pares losses
Stocks in the US started the week on a high, closing in the black on Monday, with healthcare and consumer discretionary spending among the top risers. The performance was underpinned by oil, which pared back most of its Asia and Europe losses during New York trading.
Commodities: Citi sounds positive note, but expects short-term weakness in oil
The energy space was in sharp focus on Monday after oil producers failed to reach an agreement to freeze production over the weekend, initially sending oil futures hurtling 6% lower.
FX round-up: Commodity currencies see spike in volatility, cable stronger
Commodity currencies were back on the front foot in late trading, having snapped back quickly from the large losses seen at the start of the session as news broke that many of the world's largest oil producers meeting in Doha, Qatar had failed to reach an agreement to freeze their levels of output - while the main currency.
London close: Stocks recover as oil prices waver after Doha meeting
The FTSE 100 ended higher on Monday, recovering from earlier declines as crude oil futures bounced back from the steep losses seen at the start of trading.
Sector movers: Miners lead gains
Shares in miners paced gains as the prices of several key industrial metals bounced back and a leading commodities strategist said that for the first time in three years probabilities around a base-case were shifting to the 'bullish' rather than the 'bearish' side.
Market overview: Miners lead gains, China vows to cut steel output
1630:Close Stocks bounced back on Monday, led by gains in miners, amid gains in the prices for industrial metals as oil prices rebounded from losses early in the session. After the close of markets in London, Business Secretary Said Javid said from Brussels that China had vowed to reduce the amount of steel it produces. Ahead of the the latest weekend IMF meetings, China had announced it would remove export subsidies on aluminium products including speciality steel and titanium.
Europe close: Stocks track bounce in oil futures, end higher
European stocks closed firmly in the black in a volatile day of trading as crude oil futures climbed back from early losses, possibly on the back of reports of possible disruptions to supplies from Kuwait as a result of a strike among public sector workers on Sunday.
Directors dealings: Relation of Essentra's chairman picks up some shares
Karen Tracy Lester, a relation of Essentra’s non-executive chairman, Paul Lester, picked up a significant amount of stock in the supplier of specialist packaging materials.
Tuesday preview: AB Foods to report 'slight' fall in first half EPS
Associated British Foods is expected to report a drop in first half earnings per share on Tuesday as low sugar prices offset higher retail sales.
US open: Stocks rise as investors shrug off fall in oil prices
US stocks rose on Monday as investors seemed unfazed by a decline in oil prices after global producers failed to reach an agreement to freeze output.
RBC mulls over reports of EasyJet bid for Monarch
EasyJet shares were flying higher on Monday following weekend press reports the budget airline is making a surprise takeover bid for rival Monarch.
Monetary policy adjustment in US will be gradual and cautious, Fed's Dudley says
Much had already been done to help make the financial system on both sides of the Atlantic more resilient but more still needed to be done, New York Federal reserve bank chief William Dudley said.
Watchstone Group rejects conditional proposal
Watchstone Group, the insurance technology firm formerly known as Quindell, noted the recent jump in its share price and confirmed it has received a draft and highly conditional, non-cash proposal from a private company for all of its assets, excluding the actual and contingent liabilities.
NAHB homebuilder sentiment unchanged for a third month in April
US housebuilders’ sentiment was unchanged for a third consecutive month in April, according to a widely-followed gauge of confidence in the sector.
In EMs JP Morgan prefers stocks that play on consumer theme
Emerging markets equities continued to be under-owned by JP Morgan's reckoning, despite the lowest valuation on offer since 2003 and the smallest growth differential between developing and advanced economies since 2001.
FTSE 250 movers: Lancashire gains on Citi upgrade; Beazley drops
London’s FTSE 250 was down 0. 2% to 16,882. 17 in afternoon trading as investors continued to mull over the weekend’s failed meeting of oil producers in Doha.
Monday broker round-up
Thomas Cook: Berenberg upgrades to hold with a target price of 105p and Goldman Sachs reiterates sell with a 94p target.
Germany's economy strengthened further in the first quarter
Germany’s economy may have accelerated in the first quarter of the year, thanks to robust domestic demand, the country’s monetary authority said.
Credit Suisse upgrades Worldpay, highlights structural growth
Credit Suisse upgraded Worldpay to ‘outperform’ from ‘neutral’ saying the share price weakness after the 2015 results was the opportunity it had been waiting for to turn more positive on the stock.
HSBC looking at share buy-back
HSBC was reported to be looking at possibly buying back shares on Monday.