Market Pulse
Majority of business chiefs would rather the UK remain in the EU
The number of business supporting that Britain remain in the European Union increased slightly in April, the results of a survey showed.
IMF warns Denmark over potential housing bubble
The International Monetary Fund was warning Denmark of the need to avoid a housing bubble this week, as the Scandinavian country approached the four-year anniversary of implementing negative interest rates.
Panama Papers: New Zealand revealed as a tax haven
New Zealand - the collection of sparsely-populated islands in the South Pacific, better known for its sheep and excessively-traded currency than for being a tax haven - was implicated at the heart of the Panama Papers on Monday.
Douwe Egberts owner gobbles up Krispy Kreme to add to coffee stable
Iconinc US doughnut maker Krispy Kreme has agreed to a $1. 35bn takeover by JAB Beech, the powerful investment company owned by Germany’s reclusive Reimann family that already owns brands ranging from Douwe Egberts to Jimmy Choo.
Freeport-McMoran to sell Tenke copper stake to China Molybdenum
Freeport-McMoran has agreed to sell its interest in TF Holdings to China Molybdenum for $2. 65bn in cash.
Botswana Diamonds to carry out more drilling on Gope licence
Botswana Diamonds said on Monday that it will shortly begin a large diameter drilling (LDD) programme on one of its licenses in the Gope region to establish the grade and quality of diamonds it knows to be present.
Total moves into electric batteries with EUR 950m Saft acquisition
Oil and gas conglomerate Total announced a “friendly” offer for fellow French firm Saft this week, in a bid to expand its interests in sustainable energy and electricity.
LendingClub slumps as CEO resigns after internal review
Shares in LendingClub tumbled in pre-market trade after the peer-to-peer lending company announced the resignation of its chief executive and chairman Renaud Laplanche following an internal review of sales of $22m in near-prime loans to a single investor.
Dollar/yen strengthens following BoJ minutes
The Japanese yen weakened on Monday afternoon after the minutes of the Bank of Japan's last policy meeting revealed policy-makers were split about the costs and benefits of employing negative interest rates.
Asia report: Markets mixed as oil surges ahead
Markets in Asia ended Monday mostly mixed, with oil prices rallying on the shock departure of Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi and supply shortages in Canada.
Stagecoach-Virgin face open access competition on East Coast train line
Bad news for Stagecoach and Virgin Trains emerged as a report commission by the Office of Rail and Road backed proposals to introduce 'open access' competition to the east coast main line between London and Edinburgh.
US economy on track to grow by 2.5% in 2016, Fed's Evans says
A top US rate-setter reiterated a moderately upbeat view on that country's economy, highlighting a recent increase in the so-called labour force participation rate.
ECB's Constancio warns of need to offset low productivity, weak demographics
The euro area economy is on the mend but the medium-to-long term challenges facing the currency bloc are daunting, the vice president of the European Central Bank said.
Europe midday: Stocks push higher as oil advances
European stocks pushed higher on Monday as disappointing Chinese trade data was outweighed by rising oil prices and the scaling back of Federal Reserve rate hike expectations.
RBC upgrades easyJet to 'outperform' citing good entry point
RBC Capital Markets upgraded EasyJet to ‘outperform’ from ‘underperform’ and lifted the price target to 1,500p from 1,450p.
Goldman Sachs cuts forecasts for European, UK equity indices
Goldman Sachs now expects 2016 European earnings per share to decline 2% compared with a previous forecast for 4% growth, but the bank lifted its 2017 growth estimate to 15% from 10% as it expects financials to recover, benefiting from rising inflation and interest rates.
UBS downgrades Restaurant Group on near-term uncertainty
UBS downgraded Restaurant Group to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’ and slashed the price target to 305p from 780p saying near-term uncertainty outweighs the long-term potential.
London midday: Stocks gain as oil prices rally, Greece announces reforms
UK equities advanced on Monday as oil prices jumped and Greece made positive progress with reforms.
Imagination Technologies rockets as Tsinghua buys 3% stake
Shares in Imagination Technologies rocketed on Monday after it revealed Chinese state-backed conglomerate Tsinghua Unigroup International acquired a 3% stake in the London-listed chip designer.
Iofina cuts losses and makes progress on debt talks
Iofina impressed investors with confirmation of record iodine production, annual losses cut more than expected and encouraging sounds from its bond talks.