Market Pulse
Bayer and Monsanto move closer to a deal
Bayer and Monsanto came closer to agreeing a combination of their two businesses on Tuesday evening.
FTSE 100 movers: Old Mutual slumps on rand slide; WPP jumps on results
London’s FTSE 100 index was down 0. 3% to 6,848. 32 in afternoon trading.
Metal Tiger increases shareholding in Red Rock Resources
Mineral project investor Metal Tiger has increased its shareholding in gold and iron ore explorer Red Rock Resources in a bid to capitalise on the recovering resource sector.
WPP interim headline profit and revenue beat expectations
Shares in WPP rallied on Wednesday after the advertising giant reported better-than-expected headline pre-tax profit, revenue and organic sales growth for the first half.
Xaar eyes growth in second half as R&D begins to pay off
While Xaar confirmed sales and profits were down in the first half of the year, the injket printhead specialist said its investment in new technology over the last few years should soon start to bear fruit.
Rent increases by 2.4% in the past year, says ONS
Private rents across the UK increased by 2. 4% in the past year and outpaced the growth in real wages, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
CloudBuy to build online marketplace for FSB
AIM-listed CloudBuy, a provider of cloud-based e-commerce marketplaces, has signed a five-year contract with business services provider FSB to deliver a new online marketplace for its members.
Paddy Power Betfair speeds to interim gallop after slow start
Maiden interim results from Paddy Power Betfair showed the merged bookmaker sped up to a gallop in the second quarter, with the online arm whipping profits higher.
Express Inc tumbles as Q2 falls short of expectations
Shares in Express Inc tumbled in pre-market trade after the US retailer’s second-quarter results fell short of analysts’ expectations.
Europe midday: Stocks edge higher but basic resources drop
European stocks edged tentatively higher on Wednesday, but gains were limited amid weakness in the basic resources sector and lower oil prices.
Businesses retain staff despite drop in confidence post Brexit
Businesses seem to have shrugged off Brexit uncertainty with 64% of firms retaining staff, according to a survey on Wednesday.
London midday: Stocks fall as miners slump after Glencore results
London stocks fell on Wednesday as disappointing half year results from Glencore dragged mining shares lower.
US pre-open: Stocks set for muted start
US futures pointed to a broadly flat open on Wall Street as investors continued to eye Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s speech at the end of the week, with existing home sales data on tap.
OneSavings Bank surges as interim profits grow faster than expected
Half-year profits from OneSavings Bank were higher than the market expected despite management significantly boosting liquidity ahead of the Brexit referendum.
Owen Smith to fight to keep Britain in EU
Labour leadership contender Owen Smith said he will “fight tooth and nail” to keep the UK in the European Union, as he distances himself from Jeremy Corbyn.
London mortgage lending falls as rest of UK market grows, CML data shows
Mortgage lending fell in London in the second quarter of the year amid a growing market in the rest of the UK regions, according to data from lenders.
Asia: Stocks mixed as oil prices drop, traders await Jackson Hole
Asian stocks were mixed on Wednesday as oil prices fell and traders awaited comments from Federal Reserve officials.
Costain H1 profit up, hikes dividend by 15%
Construction and engineering group Costain reported a rise in first-half pre-tax profit as revenue grew and the order book remained at a record level.
UK house purchase approvals fall to 18-month low, BBA says
Mortgage approvals for house purchases in the UK fell to an 18-month low, according to the British Bankers Association (BBA), though maintained the level of borrowing remained buoyant in the month after the Brexit vote.
Candover Investments net assets per share drop in first half
Candover Investments reported a drop in its net assets per share in the first half of the year.