Market Pulse
Workspace Group gets planning permission for Hackney redevelopment
FTSE 250 listed property investment trust Workspace Group has been granted planning permission for the Mare Street Studios redevelopment in north east London.
UK industrial production unexpectedly drops in August
UK industrial production unexpectedly declined in August, while manufacturing production rose less than expected, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
UK house prices slow in three months to September, Halifax reveals
UK house price growth eased in the three months to September, adding to signs the housing market is slowing after the EU referendum in June, according to Halifax on Friday.
Sterling drops like a stone
Sterling dropped like a stone during Asian trading hours, mimicking the volatility seen in the South African rand and New Zealand dollar at the start of the year, with traders possibly trying to front-run further weakness, especially as Westminster and the European Union staked out their initial bargaining positions.
Brammer shares plummet as company 'lacks focus'
Industrial supplies and services distributor Brammer issued an update on its trading and financial position on Friday, reporting group sales per working day at constant currency as down 2% in the third quarter.
Nanoco shares fall it defers licence fee revenue
Cadmium-free quantum dot and nanomaterial developer Nanoco Group announced an update on the timing of revenue recognition of July licence agreements on Friday.
Sepura shares rise on major contract win
Critical communications solutions provider Sepura announced on Friday that it has been selected by a large, unidentified continental European public safety organisation to provide 19,000 SC20 series hand-portable radios.
Sound Energy drills new Tendrara hole to almost 3,500 metres
Europe and Africa-focused upstream gas company Sound Energy announced on Friday that TE-7, the second well at its Tendrara licence, onshore Morocco, has now been successfully drilled to total measured depth of 3,459 metres corresponding to a vertical depth of 2,611 metres.
XP Power's Q3 revenue rises due to increased component orders
XP Power, a manufacturer of power control components to the electronics industry, increased third quarter revenues while trading in line with expectations for the full-year.
AstraZeneca to divest US rights to nasal spray to J&J affiliate
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca agreed to divest rights outside the US of its nasal spray to Johnson & Johnson affiliate CilagGmbH International for $330m in order to concentrate on respiratory treatments.
Europe open: Stocks in the red ahead of payrolls; pound in focus
European stocks fell in early trade as investors awaited the release of the nonfarm payrolls report and following a ‘flash crash’ in the pound in Asian trading.
BofA Merrill Lynch downgrades easyJet to 'neutral'
Bank of America Merrill Lynch downgraded low-cost carrier easyJet to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’ and cut the price target to 1,050p from 1,300p given the increasing lack of visibility on pricing.
European Wealth to buy book of business from Towry Asset Management
AIM-listed European Wealth has agreed to buy certain assets of Towry Asset Management for up to £1m.
Barclays starts DS Smith at 'overweight'
Barclays initiated coverage of corrugated packaging manufacturer DS Smith at ‘overweight’ with a 465p price target.
UBS downgrades Hays on valuation
UBS downgraded Hays to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’ saying the risk/reward is now more balanced, but lifted the price target to 140p from 130p as it upped estimates slightly due to FX.
Vodafone acquires raft of spectrum in India
Vodafone announced on Friday that its subsidiary, Vodafone India, has acquired spectrum in all its key telecom circles in the latest spectrum auction for a total cost of INR 202. 8bn.
US close: Markets flat as investors await nonfarm payrolls
US stocks finished virtually flat on Thursday, as investors kept their wallets firmly shut ahead of Friday’s non-farm payrolls report.
Electra Partners sells Vidal Group to M3 Inc
Electra Partners’ portfolio company AXIO Group has received a binding offer from M3 Inc. to purchase Vidal Group, a European provider of reference drug information for healthcare professionals, for €100m.
London pre-open: Stocks set for positive start after pound crashes
Stocks in London were set for a higher open on Friday after the pound crashed to near parity against the euro and 1. 12 against the dollar in Asian trade, with exporters on the index likely to be benefit from a weaker sterling.