Market Pulse
MPC decision and August Inflation Report: Analysts´ reactions
"The stock of the APF programme was increased by £70bn from its present £375bn, with an unexpected move into corporate bonds. The expectation regarding QE was split but generally short of our call of a £100-150bn increase in asset purchases, although we had expected the Committee to focus purely on gilts. [. ] The Bank of England released its new macro forecasts in the accompanied Inflation Report. [. ] Overall, this results in a growth forecast above consensus but an inflation profile broadly in-line with consensus.
FTSE 250 movers: Serco surges while Cobham crumbles
The FTSE 250 was higher in afternoon trading on Thursday, as the Bank of England cut interest rates and increased the size of its asset purchase programme.
Rotala buys Wigan Coachways
Transport company Rotala has acquired Wigan Coachways for a cash consideration of £213,000.
Ford to recall 830,000 vehicles due to door latch issue
US automaker Ford is set to take a hit of $270m as it has recalled 830,000 vehicles due to a design fault.
US weekly unemployment claims edge gigher
Unemployment claims in the US edged higher during the latest reference week.
Lok'nStore signs management contract for Hertfordshire, Kent stores
Self-storage company Lok’n Store signed management contracts to develop and operate two new stores in Hertfordshire and Kent to continue its expansion strategy.
Vitec´s interim revenues get a kick from weak sterling
Broadcast and photographic service provider Vitec’s revenue grew in the first half of the year, in line with expectations, as it benefitted from weak sterling.
Bank of England slashes 2017 growth forecast, expects stimulus to avert recession
The Bank of England slashed its growth forecasts for 2017 in its quarterly Inflation Report on Thursday, but expects to steer the UK economy away from recession with a cut in interest rates and a package of stimulus measures to reignite growth.
Scotgold Resources places 62.5m shares on AIM, ASX to raise £500,000
Scotgold Resources announced a sharply discounted share placing and delays in the proceeds from gold sales, sending the stock sharply lower.
Apple App Store reveals highest monthly developer payout
Tim Cook has revealed that Apple gave out a record-breaking amount in billings to its App Store developers in July.
Revenue improves at Portmeirion Group, but profits slide
Portmeirion Group announced its performance for the six months to 30 June on Thursday, with revenue of £28. 5m up by 2% on the £27. 9m a year ago.
Merck raises boosts full-year sales target
German pharmaceutical group Merck raised its yearly forecast on Thursday following a strong performance from its healthcare unit in the second quarter.
Zamano to focus on bolt-on acquisitions
AIM-listed Zamano said on Thursday that it will look to make bolt-on acquisitions as it repositions the business into higher added-value, growth orientated activities.
Mineral & Financial Investment completes £0.5m placing
Mineral & Financial Investment announced on Thursday that it has successfully completed, subject to admission, a placing to raise approximately £0. 475m from the issue of 10 million new ordinary shares of 1. 0p each, at a price of 4. 75p per share.
Matchtech sees full year in line with expectations
Matchtech said on Thursday that profit for the year was likely to be in line with its previous expectations, adding that it has not yet seen any impact from the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
ServicePower Technologies trades in line in first half
Mobile workforce management software company ServicePower Technologies posted an update on trading for the six months to 30 June on Thursday, and said trading was in line with management expectations with “positive momentum at the end of the period”.
Europe midday: Stocks in the black as BoE cuts interest rates
European stocks edged higher as investors digested news that the Bank of England has cut interest rates for the first time since 2009.
Fall in Eurozone retail sales slows in July, Markit says
Euro area retail sales continued to shrink in July, led by a sharp contraction in Italy, the results of a widely-followed survey revealed.
Asia report: Markets higher despite stronger yen
Markets in Asia finished higher on Thursday, with Japanese shares advancing after a stronger yen led to a choppy start.