Market Pulse
Investment boosts revenue and profits at Cyprotex
Contract research organisation Cyprotex posted its interim results for the half year to 30 June on Tuesday, with revenues up 26% to £8. 73m from £6. 93m a year ago.
Revenue and underlying earnings up at 4imprint
Promotional direct marketer 4imprint Group announced its half year results for the six months to 2 July on Tuesday, with revenue improving 17% to $270. 22m, from $231. 03m.
Intesa Sanpaolo declines despite smaller than expected quarterly loss
Intesa Sanpaolo reported a smaller than expected decline in second quarter profits, as asset sales boosted the bank´s bottom line.
Record £3.5bn exodus from retail funds a painful lesson for investors
Retail investors removed a massive £3. 5bn from UK investment funds in June in the industry's worst ever month for withdrawals as Brexit worries led to many funds suspending redemptions.
FairFX teams up with Monarch
FairFX has teamed up with UK airline Monarch to help holidaymakers save money on travel and benefit from a better customer experience.
APC Technology raises £1.1m by placing 13.75m shares on AIM
Electronic component and service provider APC Technology raised £1. 1m through a placing of 13. 75m ordinary shares of 2p on AIM at 8p per share.
US personal income and spending advance at steady clip in June
Personal income and spending in the States continued advancing at a steady clip in June, amid large revisions to historical data for disposable income and savings.
OptiBiotix appoints director of business development
AIM-listed OptiBiotix Health has announced the appointment of Luis Gosalbez as director of business development with immediate effect.
WPP's J Walter Thompson to buy US digital agency iStrategyLabs
WPP’s wholly-owned global market communications agency J Walter Thompson has agreed to buy full service US digital agency iStrategyLabs (ISL) for an undisclosed sum.
Yen gains after Tokyo approves new fiscal spending package
Tokyo unveiled a multi-year fiscal package which included approximately 4. 6 trn yen (£34bn) worth of additional spending for the current fiscal year which began in April 2016.
McDonald's revamps menu ingredients after consumer pressure
McDonald's rid many of its products of various controversial preservatives after facing growing pressure from consumer bodies to alter food culture in the US.
This could finally be a Super Thursday - but not for the pound
By Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior market analyst at London Capital Group.
Commerzbank shares fall sharply after negative rates hit quarterly revenues
Profits dropped sharply at German lender Commerzbank in the second quarter despite a decline in loan loss provisions and cost cuts.
FTSE 100 movers: Direct Line drives ahead, Travis tumbles
Direct Line Group topped the FTSE 100 risers after posting its half year report for the six months to 30 June on Tuesday, with gross written premiums for ongoing operations 3. 9% higher, driven by strong growth in motor in-force policies - up 2. 5% - and a 9. 5% increase in premium rates.
UK construction output drops at fastest rate since 2009
UK construction output continued to fall in July as activity dropped by the fastest rate in seven years, further raising the risk of a recession and possibly increasing the likelihood of a Bank of England rate cut this week.
Microsoft sells $20bn in debt to fund LinkedIn purchase
Microsoft sold $20bn in debt overnight to help fund its acquisition of LinkedIn in what amounted to the fifth largest corporate bond issue on record, according to the Financial Times.
William Hill buys gaming software company Grand Parade
William Hill has acquired betting and gaming digital solutions company Grand Parade for £13. 6m in cash and shares.
Amkor Technologies posts improved profits due to smartphone demand
Amkor reported a net income of $4. 7m on revenue of $917. 3m for the second quarter results published overnight, beating analyst estimates.
Europe midday: Stocks push lower as banks slump
European equity markets were in the red on Tuesday amid weakness in the banking sector, as investors sifted through earnings.
Omega Diagnostics secures GBP1.8m R&D grant
AIM-listed Omega Diagnostics has secured a £1. 8m Scottish Enterprise research and development grant that will help fund the planned expansion of its Allersys range of reagents for use in allergy in vitro diagnostics.