Market Pulse
Sophos full-year billings up 20%
FTSE 250 cyber security firm Sophos Group reported solid sales growth on Thursday in its first results as a public company.
Europe open: Stocks waver after two days of gains; Brent crude breaches $50 level
European shares wavered in early trade following two days of gains, as Brent crude prices breached the $50 a barrel mark for the first time since November.
London open: Miners, big oil and grocers lead push higher
Britain´s top flight index moved into the green early in the session, led by gains in shares of miners, big oil and grocers, lifted by the rising tide in oil prices and somewhat more favourable Brexit poll results.
Foxtons appoints Mark Berry as new CFO
Estate agent Foxtons has appointed Mark Berry – currently group financial controller at Hays – as its new chief financial officer.
Asos founder trims stake but analysts sanguine
Asos founder Nick Robertson sold a large amount of shares on Thursday due to personal needs for additional liquidity arising from recent developments in his personal life.
Shares in Spanish lender Popular dive after bank announces cash call
News that Spanish lender Banco Popular was set to go cap in hand to investors for fresh capital sent the stock crashing on Thursday.
Daily Mail H1 profit drops, warns on print advertising
Daily Mail & General Trust shares tumbled on Thursday as the company posted drop in first-half profit and warned that a weak print advertising market will hit margins in the media business.
United Utilities reports large drop in full-year profits, divi up
United Utilities reported a substantial drop in full-year underlying profits following the introduction of new regulated price controls and because of the expected increase in depreciation and other costs.
Fed´s Kaplan sees case for rate hike in near future, Brexit will be a factor
A top US central bank official said he would support another interest rate hike "in the near future", adding that the risk of a possible Brexit would factor into rate-setters´ deliberations.
B&M European Value declares ritzy divi as rapid expansion rolls on
B&M European Value Retail, the discounter chaired by Sir Terry Leahy, declared a special dividend as it posted final results showing strong sales, profits and cash generation.
LondonMetric buys Crawley distribution development site
LondonMetric has bought a four acre site in Crawley to develop around 100,000 sq ft of distritbution space at a cost of approximately £20m.
London pre-open: Fedspeak, G7 and rise in oil futures in focus
Stocks are set to give back some of the week´s ahead of the a fresh reading on economic growth in the first quarter and against the backdrop of today´s meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors in Sendai, Japan.
Inchcape trading in line with expectations
FTSE 250 car dealership Inchcape said on Thursday that it has made a good star to the year, in line with its expectations.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, Tata Steel, BHS
Shares in Lloyds Banking Group have passed the level at which taxpayers break even on their stake in the bailed-out bank for the first time this year. The move through 73. 6p will be closely watched by George Osborne. The chancellor was forced to postpone an offering of the bank’s shares to the public as a resut of the turmoil in the markets in the start of the year. Even though the retail offering is on hold, Osborne can offload shares in small tranches to professional investors every time the shares rise past 73.
Pets at Home FY profit edges up, dividend lifted
Pets at Home reported an increase in pre-tax profit for the year as revenue grew and the company lifted its dividend.
Legal & General chairman to step down in June
Legal & General chairman John Stewart has set a date of 1 June for his retirement, when he will be replaced on an interim basis by senior independent director Rudy Markham.