Market Pulse
Europe midday: Stocks nudge higher with OPEC, ECB in focus
European stocks nudged tentatively higher on Thursday as the OPEC meeting got underway in Vienna and ahead of the European Central Bank rate announcement.
US pre-open: Stocks seen flat as investors eye OPEC, ADP report
US futures pointed to a muted open on Wall Street as the OPEC meeting got underway in Vienna and as investors looked to the release of the ADP employment report ahead of Friday’s non-farm payrolls.
Eckoh wins two sizeable US call centre contracts
Eckoh has won two US contracts, worth collectively around $7m spread across three years, while also extending its US distributor agreement with telecoms group West Corp.
London midday: Stocks rise as OPEC meeting begins
London stocks gained on Thursday as OPEC members started their meeting in Vienna to address the global supply glut.
Eurozone producer prices drop in April
Producer prices in the Eurozone unexpectedly fell in April, according to the latest figures from Eurostat.
Airline carrier profits to soar as oil price benefits hit heights - IATA
Profits in the airline industry are expected to take off this year as the benefits from low oil prices peak, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Premier Veterinary signs deal with US distributor
Premier Veterinary Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Premier Vet Alliance, has signed a major agreement with Atlanta-based veterinary products distributor Veterinary Products Inc (VPI).
Asia report: Japan slumps after sales tax delay
Trading in Asia was choppy on Thursday, with shares in Japan slumping off the back of fresh acknowledgement of a softer economy from the government.
Pace of UK construction slows more than expected
The pace of UK construction slowed more than expected in May, with new orders down for the first time since April 2013 as many firms held off on placing orders until after the EU referendum, according to data released on Thursday.
Moneysupermarket slumps on Jefferies downgrade
Moneysupermarket. com was under the cosh on Thursday as Jefferies downgraded the stock to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ and cut the price target to 312p from 440p.
GlaxoSmithKline brings forward COPD application in US by over a year
GlaxoSmithKline has, after discussions with the US regulator, accelerated the new drug application for its daily closed triple therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Porvair sees interim profit ahead of last year
Specialist filtration and environment technologies group Porvair said on Thursday that interim profits are in line with management expectations and will be ahead of those reported in 2015.
Mondi buys Turkish consumer packaging firm for EUR90m
Paper and packaging group Mondi has signed an agreement for the acquisition of 90% of the outstanding share capital in Turkish consumer packaging firm Kalenobel from private equity group Argus Capital and M. Olcay Hephiz, one of the company’s founders.
London open: Stocks gain ahead of OPEC and ECB meetings
UK stocks rebounded on Thursday as oil prices jumped ahead of an OPEC meeting and as investors awaited the European Central Bank’s latest policy decision.
Europe open: Stocks waver ahead of ECB, OPEC
European stocks wavered in early trade as investors exercised caution ahead of the European Central Bank rate announcement and the OPEC meeting in Vienna.
Fastjet nosedives at it warns over 2016
Fastjet shares slumped on Thursday after the Tanzania-based budget airline posted a narrower loss the year to the end of December but said it expects to report a trading loss and to remain cash flow negative in 2016.
Investec plc to raise £145m in placing
Investec plc announced on Thursday morning its intention to place up to 30. 87 million new ordinary shares in the company, representing 4. 99% of its current issued share capital and 3. 4% of Investec plc and Investec Ltd’s current issued share capital.
Ryanair traffic up 12% in May
Low-cost airline Ryanair reported a jump in passenger numbers for May.
FTSE quarterly review confirms raft of changes to 100 and 250 indices
Hikma Pharmaceuticals' promotion to the FTSE 100 index was confirmed after the latest quarterly review was announced overnight, while demoted blue chip Inmarsat was joined in the FTSE 250 by three recently floated finance groups CYBG, CMC Markets and Metro Bank plus several others.
RPC Group full-year profit and revenue up, dividend lifted
FTSE 250 plastic products design and engineering company RPC Group posted a rise in full-year profit as revenue grew and said it has made a good start to the new year.