Market Pulse
US close: China concerns and choppy dollar hit stocks
US stocks fell on Tuesday after Chinese manufacturing data teamed up with a highly volatile dollar.
Sports Direct dumps JD shares as BHS remains in play
Sports Direct has continued to dispose of shares in rival JD Sports as chairman Mike Ashley eyes a move to rescue the collapsed BHS chain.
Commodities: Gold futures retreat after hitting 15-month high
Commodities were knocked lower almost across the board in the wake of weaker than expected manufacturing data out of China which itself came close on the heels of another negative surprise out of the States in the previous session.
Sector movers: Insurers and telecoms lead gains
Insurers led the way higher on Tuesday, boosted by positive coverage from some of the largest brokers, including Barclays and Macquarie.
Bonds: German bunds rise most in six weeks as EU slashes inflation outlook
These were the movements in the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields:.
FX round-up: Emerging market currencies hit by weak Chinese data
America´s greenback ended on a higher note following weak figures on the state of China´s manufacturing sector with emerging market currencies left nursing the worst losses.
Europe close: Stocks get off to weak start in May
A weaker than expected reading on the state of China´s manufacturing sector added to worries about global growth and added to already weak sentiment among analysts heading into what is typically a seasonally weak time of the year for trading in equities, May and summer.
Tight race between Brexit and Remain campaigns, poll reveals
It continues to be a tight race between the Brexit and Remain campaigns ahead of the European Union referendum, according to the latest poll by ICM on Tuesday.
Too early to assess if US inflation will be sustained, Fed´s Lockhart says
A top US rate-setter continued to emphasise that the central bank might hike interest rates twice more in 2016, even while flagging risks to the economy and the outlook for inflation.
Gold futures hit 15-month high after weak manufacturing PMIs
Gold futures hit a 15-month high on Tuesday as traders reacted to weaker than expected readings on manufacturing sector activity in China, overnight, and from the US, on Monday, which might lead to less monetary policy tightening and greater demand for safe-haven assets.
FTSE 250 movers: Tullow slides on downgrades; Just Eat rallies
London’s FTSE 250 index was down 0. 4% to 16,726. 93 in afternoon trading.
Interserve JV wins £46m water contract
Interserve’s joint venture with process engineering firm Doosan Enpure has been awarded a £46m contract by Northumbrian Water to upgrade the Horsley water treatment works in the Tyne Valley.
'Country fashion' favourite Joules sets out plans for Aim float
Clothing retailer Joules has revealed its plans for a £140m initial public offer on London's AIM market.
US open: Stocks fall after worse-than-estimated China PMIs
US stocks fell on Tuesday after Chinese manufacturing data came in worse than anticipated.
FTSE 100 movers: Miners slump on China data; Insurers shine
London’s FTSE 100 index was down 0. 9% to 6,187. 50 in afternoon trading, as investors digested disappointing Chinese data and a weaker-than-expected reading on UK manufacturing.
Whitbread buys 49% stake in Pure food chain
Whitbread has acquired a 49% stake in Healthy Retail, which trades as Pure, for £6. 8m.
Drug trials using Vectura's Fox nebuliser make progress
A respiratory treatment being developed using Vectura's Fox nebuliser technology device has passed safety and efficacy trials and looks likely to be moved into a Phase II efficacy study in infants.
JP Morgan goes underweight global equities for first time since 2007
Entering equities at current levels 'chasing performance' would be "a mistake", strategists at JP Morgan believed.
Light beers put more fizz into MillerCoors
MillerCoors, the joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors, has served up some strong growth in the first quarter as 'Lite' beer brands both enjoying their strongest volume since the JV began.