Market Pulse
Economists see grim UK growth outlook as trade deficit widens
The UK's total trade deficit in goods and services widened to £2. 3bn in May but was not as bad as the £3. 6bn feared by economists, as exports fell 4. 4% month-on-month and imports were down 3. 5%.
Beijing considering more aid for ailing state-owned firms
Regulators in Beijing were considering an aid package for ten of its state-owned corporations, with the ailing Sinosteel Corporation set to be a major beneficiary.
FinnCap maintains Petra Diamonds at 'buy' rating on joint venture news
Petra Diamonds had its ‘buy’ rating and target price of 197p maintained on Friday by FinnCap after the miner announced a joint venture with Ekapa Mining.
Asia report: Markets mixed ahead of US nonfarms
Most Asian markets closed lower on Friday, as oil prices declined and investors kept their wallets in their pockets ahead of crucial US nonfarm payrolls data for June.
Compass target price lifted and 'buy' rating maintained by Canaccord
Compass Group’s ‘buy’ rating was left unchanged and its target price was lifted to 1,645p from 1,425p by Canaccord Genuity on Friday.
Airbus A380 sales plummeting as airlines look to more efficient alternatives
Airbus are struggling to maintain the viability of their glamour A380 plane as orders have dried up since its introduction in 2007, according to Bloomberg.
Europe open: Stocks rise ahead of US non-farm payrolls
European stocks gained on Friday as investors awaited the US non-farm payrolls report.
UK recruiters report four-year low in permanent placing
Numbers of British workers in permanent jobs in June dropped for the first time in almost four years, according to a UK recruitment survey.
London open: Stocks edge higher despite consumer confidence drop
London stocks opened higher on Friday morning, as a rally from battered blue chips outweighed a sharp drop in consumer confidence data and the usual caution about the looming US non-farm payroll report later in the day.
Portfolio values lift at Unite, though Brexit uncertainty looms
Student accommodation developer and manager Unite Students posted the quarterly valuation of the Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund (USAF) and the London Student Accommodation Joint Venture (LSAV) as at 30 June.
UK consumer confidence drops sharply to reignite recession fears
UK consumer confidence dropped at its sharpest rate in more than two decades, a survey from market researchers Gfk has found, as the Brexit referendum stokes worries about the economic outlook and inflation.
Tullett Prebon's Mainwaring the new IG finance chief
Online trading company IG announced on Friday that it has appointed Paul Mainwaring as chief financial officer designate.
London-pre open: Mixed bag for Friday as consumer confidence plunges, NFP eyed
London's larger stocks are expected to endure a mixed morning on Friday, coming off the previous positive session but waking up to the sharpest drop in consumer confidence in more than two decades.
Aveva CEO steps down, Brexit currency benefit eyed
Aveva Group has announced the stepping down of chief executive Richard Longdon after three decades at the data and IT group, which also said it could benefit from a potentially sizeable currency gain for the full year due to weakness of sterling since the EU referendum.
Friday newspaper round-up: Trade deals, job cuts, protectionism warning
The Business Secretary begins a round the world tour of Britain’s key trading partners, as he flies to India with a view to forging new links across the globe after the EU referendum. Sajid Javid will land in Delhi to begin preliminary trade talks with the world’s second most populous market, meeting with finance and industry ministers to outline what a future trading relationship between the two markets might look like. - Telegraph.