Market Pulse
Wednesday newspaper share tips: Ashmore Group, AB Foods
Argentines aren’t the only ones with sturdy egos these days, emerging market bond fund managers also have a new-found spring in their step, the Financial Times’s Lex column said.
Broker tips: N Brown, Burberry, BT Group
Broker Peel Hunt downgraded N Brown to 'reduce' after the specialist fit clothing retailer ran into challenging conditions in the new financial year.
Servoca surges thanks to UK teacher shortage
Outsourcing and recruitment services group Servoca said its first-half trading has improved "significantly" thanks to the UK teacher shortage and strong demand for nurses from the NHS and private hospitals.
Turkish central bank steps up pace of rate cuts
Turkey’s central bank cut overnight lending rates in reaction to falling inflation, which made it less necessary to maintain a wider interest rate corridor.
London midday: Stocks fall as UK unemployment rises
London stocks dropped on Wednesday after labour market data revealed UK unemployment rose for the first time since mid-2015 in the three months to February.
Centrica's British Gas to cut nearly 700 jobs, close Oldbury office
Centrica’s British Gas has announced a proposal to cut 684 office-based roles, including the closure of its Oldbury office, as it looks to consolidate operations on fewer sites.
Drax optimistic about phasing out coal
The chairman of Drax said on Wednesday that the FTSE 250 power company could beat the 2025 deadline set by ministers in November to end the use of coal generation.
Clinton and Trump take NY primaries by storm
Hillary Clinton rode to victory in Tuesday night’s Democratic Party presidential primaries in New York, consolidating her position as the front-runner to win her party’s nomination for the 2016 elections.
Europe midday: Stocks slip as oil prices decline
European stocks were slightly weaker on Wednesday as mostly well-received corporate news helped to offset sliding oil prices.
HSS Hire uncouples from CFO and deputy chairman after eventful year
HSS Hire's finance director and deputy chairman have both stepped down from their roles at the tool rental group after a less than smooth first year on the market.
RELX reaffirms full-year outlook
RELX reaffirmed its full-year outlook on Wednesday, saying it will deliver another year of underlying revenue, profit and earnings growth in 2016 as it continues to executive on its strategy.
US pre-open: Stocks seen flat as oil prices push lower
US futures pointed to a broadly flat open on Wall Street amid weaker oil prices.
Mitsubishi admits to falsifying fuel economy data
One of Japan’s carmakers was in the firing line on Wednesday, after admitting its falsified fuel economy data for more than 600,000 vehicles sold on the domestic market.
UK construction outlook dims, RICS survey finds
UK construction growth slowed in the first quarter of 2016, according to fresh data, with the rate of private house building slowing to a three-year low.
N Brown results show turnaround success, new year brings new problems
Clothing retailer N Brown posted solid final results and held its dividend steady but has endured a slowdown since the year end and warned of currency headwinds.
Asia report: China sinks as investors cash out
Stocks in Asia pared back much of their early gains on Wednesday, with markets in China being hit particularly hard.
Punch Taverns profit drops but new strategy beginning to bear fruit
Punch Taverns posted a drop in first-half pre-tax profit on Wednesday but shares in the pub group rallied as investors welcomed signs of progress on the strategy set out back in November.
Goldman Sachs downgrades Burberry, sees limited near-term upside
Goldman Sachs downgraded Burberry to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’ and cut the price target to 1,550p from 1,690. 8p.
Jefferies downgrades BT on impaired visibility
Jefferies downgraded BT Group to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ and cut the price target to 475p from 515p, pointing to impaired visibility.
Peel Hunt downgrades N Brown after clothing margins cut
Broker Peel Hunt downgraded N Brown to 'reduce' after the specialist fit clothing retailer ran into challenging conditions in the new financial year.