Market Pulse
FTSE 250 movers: DFS gains but Card Factory slumps
London’s FTSE 250 index was up 0. 4% to 17,764. 75 in afternoon trade.
Economists now see shallow recession in back-half of 2016
Economists now believed the UK economy would register a slight contraction in the third quarter and fourth quarters of 2016, after sharply lowering their forecasts in the wake of the referendum vote, a Reuters poll revealed.
EU competition regulators open probe into Dow DuPont merger
European antitrust regulators have opened an "in-depth probe" into the proposed merger of US companies Dow and DuPont for its potential to reduce competition in areas such as crop protection, seeds and certain petrochemicals.
Signs of higher inflation ahead in US import price data for July
Imports prices edged higher unexpectedly in the US for a fifth-month running in July, buoyed by the cost for non-fuel purchases overseas.
China Africa Resources in the dark as shares spike
Shares in China Africa Resources soared to their highest in over a year on Thursday before the company said it was unaware of a specific reason.
Losses widen in first half at Stratex International
Gold and base metals exploration and development company Stratex International announced its unaudited interim results for the six months to 30 June on Thursday, with an operating loss of £1. 19m.
Allergan to buy ForSight VISION5
Dublin-based pharmaceutical company Allergan has agreed to buy eye care company ForSight VISION5 for $95m.
US initial jobless claims nudge lower
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell pretty much in line with expectations last week, according to the Labour Department.
BT, Openreach should split, says ex-business minister Anna Soubry
BT, which had been criticised for providing low levels of superfast broadband access, should split from Openreach, according to a former government minister.
UK consumer confidence falls slightly in August, says Thomson Reuters/Ipsos
Consumer morale fell slightly in August in part due to the Brexit result, according to a survey on Thursday.
Management Resource Solution gobbles up SubZero Group
Management Resource Solution announced on Thursday that it has entered into an exclusive agreement to acquire the core assets of the SubZero Group for a total consideration of AUD 6. 12m.
James Fisher buys Hughes Marine
James Fisher has acquired Hughes Marine Engineering – the holding company of Hughes Sub Suface Engineering – for an initial cash consideration of £9m, with future consideration of up to £1m subject to certain profit targets being met by February 2017.
Paternoster Resources bits off chunk of Palemos
Paternoster Resources announced on Thursday that it has acquired 375 million shares in Polemos at a price of 0. 04p per share from existing shareholders, for an aggregate consideration of £0. 15m.
Canaccord downgrades Entertainment One after it rejects ITV bid
Canaccord Genuity lifted its price target on Entertainment One to 236p from 225p and cut the recommendation to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ after it rejected a preliminary approach from ITV valuing the stock at 236p per share.
Europe midday: Stocks push higher as oil steadies
European stocks edged higher on Thursday as oil prices recovered and investors continued to sift through earnings.
Secure Property receives fee from Nestle over terminated rent
South Eastern European focused property and investment company Secure Property Development and Investment announced on Thursday that it has received a mutually agreed €1. 39m fee from Nestle Romania, in settlement of the early termination of its rental contract for the company's Innovations Logistics Park in Bucharest.
Google venture capital exec Bill Maris stands down
Bill Maris, the founder of Google’s venture capital arm quit on Thursday, in the latest string of departures from the company.
London midday: FTSE falls on ex-dividend stocks
London stocks fell on Thursday as raft of FTSE-listed companies went ex-dividend.
Aldermore generates more loans and profits in first half
Aldermore grew lending and profits by double-digits in the first half of the year and said its UK focus meant it has seen “no direct impact” yet on its business from the EU Referendum.
Asia report: Markets mixed as New Zealand cuts interest rates
Markets in Asia ended mixed on Thursday, after US stocks closed lower overnight and as investors awaited a raft of data from China on Friday.