Market Pulse
Europe midday: Stocks push lower on BoJ disappointment
European stocks lost ground on Thursday as investors were left disappointed that the Bank of Japan chose not to introduce further stimulus.
London midday: Stocks drop as traders weigh Fed and BoJ policy
UK stocks were in the red on Thursday as investors continued to weigh policy decisions from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.
Goldman Sachs downgrades Next amid industry headwinds
Goldman Sachs downgraded retailer Next to ‘sell’ from ‘neutral’, slashing the 12-month price target to 5,000p from 6,400p, highlighting limited upside relative to peers.
Asia report: Markets mixed as BoJ, RBNZ stand pat
All eyes in Asia were on the Bank of Japan on Thursday, as the central bank stood pat on monetary policy, leading to a local sell-off and a surge in the yen against the greenback.
Anglo American to sell Brazil units for $1.5bn
Anglo American has agreed to sell its niobium and phosphates businesses in Brazil to China Molybdenum for a cash consideration of $1. 5bn.
Investec upgrades Stagecoach to 'reduce'
Investec upgraded Stagecoach to ‘reduce’ from ‘sell’ saying that while the outlook for the company remains negative in many areas, much of this is already priced into the shares.
US pre-open: Stocks seen lower after BoJ disappoints
US futures pointed to a weaker open on Wall Street after the Bank of Japan surprised markets by choosing not to implement further stimulus measures.
TV advertising spending 'flat' in second quarter, reports say
UK television advertising spending is expected to be roughly flat in the second quarter of the year, according to industry reports.
Eurozone consumer confidence improves in April
Economic sentiment in the Eurozone improved a little more than expected in April, according to data from the European Commission.
Credit Suisse upgrades Bellway and Persimmon, downgrades Berkeley
Credit Suisse upgraded Bellway and Persimmon, but downgraded Berkeley as it took a look at UK housebuilders.
International PPL to invest in Gold Coast light rail extension
Infrastructure investment company International PPL said the GoldLinQ consortium, of which it is a member, will make a further investment into a 7. 3km extension to the Gold Coast Light Rail project in Queensland, Australia.
Fidessa still confident despite tough market conditions
Trading, investment management and information solutions company Fidessa Group reported difficult trading conditions in an update to the market on Thursday morning, but nonetheless remained confident in its outlook.
German unemployment steady at record low in April
The German unemployment rate held steady at 6. 2% in April, according to data released by the Federal Statistics Office.
KAZ Minerals makes strong start to 2016
Kazakhstan-focused copper producer KAZ Minerals has made a solid start to the year, reporting the on-schedule ramping up of projects and production in line with guidance in its first quarter on Thursday.
Weir says profits better than expected despite tough conditions
Engineering firm Weir Group reported trading that was “slightly ahead” of expectations in its first quarter on Thursday, saying cost reductions and a resilient performance from its minerals division underpinned that.
Synthomer trading in line, reaffirms full year expectations
Specialty chemicals company Synthomer reaffirmed its full-year view on Thursday as it said the business continues to trade in line with expectations.
London open: Stocks fall after FOMC and BoJ policy decisions
London stocks dropped on Thursday after the Federal Reserve left the door open to an interest rate hike in June and the Bank of Japan decided against fresh stimulus.
Europe open: Stocks in the red as investors digest Fed, BoJ
European stocks fell in early trade as investors digested the latest policy announcements from the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan, and waded through more earnings.
Lloyds Banking's first-quarter profits sink but beat forecasts
First-quarter results from Lloyds Banking Group revealed a 6% fall in underlying profit to £2. 05bn due to the sale of TSB, but this was largely better than forecast as a reduction in impairment charges, PPI provisions and lower costs counterbalanced a small decline in income.
Galliford Try celebrates three new contract wins
Housebuilding and construction group Galliford Try announced a new contract win on Thursday, with its joint venture with process outsourcing firm Capita extending the Urban Vision partnership with Salford City Council.