Market Pulse
Market overview: Property REITs, miners fall
1630:Close Some of the most solid trading patterns broke down at the end of the week, with oil futures, the yen and prices for most industrial metals heading higher but stocks going south. Profit-taking and the ongoing toll from the car emissions scandal in Europe's automotive sector were blamed as the triggers for the move lower in equities. Traders may also have opted to take some money off the table in the run-up to next week's US and Japanese central bank policy meetings may also have been a factor.
Europe close: Stocks move lower as investors ponder next moves from the Fed and BoJ
Stocks moved lower going into the weekend, weighed down by slightly weaker than expected readings on the euro area economy and ahead of next week's US Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan policy meetings.
London close: FTSE ends lower after worse-than-estimated PMIs
The FTSE 100 ended lower on Friday after manufacturing data in the eurozone and in the US missed forecasts.
Friday newspaper share tips: British Land, Land Securities, Sky
The cycle in the UK property market was turning, The Daily Telegraph's Questor said, leading the tipster to advise readers to 'sell' real estate investment trusts.
Director dealings: N Brown's Spindler buys after results weigh on shares
Showing her confidence in underlying trading, N Brown chief executive Angela Spindler took advantage of the market's conservative view of the specialist-fit clothing retailer's results statement earlier in the week.
FTSE 100 movers: Mining bears outweigh construction bulls
London's blue chips were on the back foot as the week came to a close, weighed down as the miners continued to lose ground for a second session and despite oil prices launching a new move higher.
Zoltav Resources swings to full year profit
Russian oil and gas company Zoltav Resources swung to a profit in 2015 as revenues jumped 41% to $28. 1m despite a weak ruble against the dollar.
Housebuilders and supermarkets lead gains
Housebuilders were on the upside of the FTSE 100 for much of Friday, with some brokers turning less cautious on the sector than they have been in recent months.
FTSE 250 movers: Ted Baker higher on research note, Amec under pressure
The FTSE 250 edged lower on Friday afternoon, as investors digested worse-than-expected eurozone manufacturing data.
Friday broker round-up
Acacia Mining: Jefferies reiterates buy with a 390p target and Citigroup stays at neutral with a target price of 340p.
Royal Dutch a top-pick for UBS after oil hits bottom
With oil prices having possibly hit bottom in the first quarter of the year, investors would need to carefully watch European oil majors's progress on their cost and investment targets and any changes to targets or guidance, UBS said.
Volkswagen skids to loss after huge emissions provision
Volkswagen Group has careered to a €1. 3bn pre-tax loss after being forced to set aside a massive €16. 2bn (£12. 67bn) provision for the global vehicle emissions scandal.
Steinhoff-Conforama up Darty stake and offer 160p to all investors
South Africa-backed Steinhoff International has upped its stake in France-focused electronics retailer Darty at 160p and offered to buy other shareholders' stock at the same price as it battles long-running French suitor Fnac.
Negative interest rates in UK best avoided, BoE's Vlieghe says
Interest rates in the UK could conceivably go "a little bit negative" one of the Monetary Policy Committee's members said.
No debt deal for Greece yet, Eurogroup president says
One of Europe’s top-ranking economic officials sounded a positive note ahead of a meeting to discuss Greece’s progress on its third bail-out programme.
IMF boss Lagarde reacts coolly to latest Greek deficit figures
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde reacted coolly to data out on the previous day showing that Greece might have managed to beat Brussels target for belt-tightening.
Spain needs to get a handle on spending by profligate regions, Fitch says
Spain needed to get a handle on spending by its regional governments, but even the central government’s budget deficit in Madrid failed to register any improvement last year when adjusted for the effects of the economic cycle, one of the top three sovereign debt ratings agencies said.
Merlin Entertainments faces 'very large fine' for Alton Towers Smiler crash
Merlin Entertainments, the operator of Alton Towers theme park, has admitted breaking health and safety laws over the Smiler rollercoaster crash last June that left five passengers with life-changing injuries.
Broker tips: Sainsbury's, Sky, Northgate
Deutsche Bank upgraded Sainsbury's to 'buy' from 'hold' due to the expected benefit to earnings from the pending Argos acquisition and the supermarket's reduced level of price promotions.
McDonald's serves up tasty quarterly earnings
McDonald's served up a fat set of first-quarter results, with revenues and earnings and results both beating forecasts.