Market Pulse
FTSE 100 movers: Housebuilders rally; Travis Perkins drops on warning
London’s FTSE 100 was flat at 7,001. 06 in afternoon trade.
Tern puts another £2m into Device Authority
Cloud and internet of things specialist Tern announced on Wednesday that it has invested £2m in Device Authority, as the lead investor in a £2. 5m funding round.
Investec eyes special dividend potential at United Utilities, Pennon
Eyeing significant undervaluation in the utilities sector, Investec slapped 'buy' recommendations on United Utilities, upgraded from 'sell', and Pennon from 'hold'.
Results round-up
IT infrastructure products and services provider Softcat reported strong revenue and profit growth for the 12 months to 31 July, in its full-year results on Wednesday, with revenue improving 12. 8% to £672. 4m.
Sanderson gains new customers despite Brexit fears
Sanderson, the AIM-listed software and IT services business, have recorded an increase in sales from new customers despite uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
Director dealings: S&U deputy chair buys ahead of dividend
Motor finance and specialist lender S&U's deputy chairman Graham Coombs bought £150,000 shares a few days before the cut-off date for its recently increased dividend.
Secure Trust Bank appoints Lord Forsyth as chairman
Lord Forsyth was appointed chairman of AIM-listed Secure Trust Bank after Sir Henry Angest stepped down on Wednesday after 35 years.
Halliburton ekes out Q3 profit thanks to cost management
Oilfield services provider Halliburton posted an unexpected profit in its third quarter earnings report on Wednesday, driven by higher capacity utilisation in North America and effective cost and working capital management.
Taptica lands deal with China app giant Codoon
End-to-end mobile advertising platform Taptica announced on Wednesday that it has been appointed as exclusive mobile advertising partner by Codoon, China's largest sports events and social service platform, to drive qualified user installs of its Runtopia app in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and elsewhere.
Saudi Arabia close to raising record amount for emerging market debt sale
Saudi Arabia was near to closing the largest-ever debt sale by an emerging market sovereign.
BT's pension deficit swells to £14.2bn, UBS says
Warning that BT Group's pension deficit has probably widened significantly, UBS cut its price target on the telecoms group and held its 'neutral' rating.
Household finances wane as inflation worries rise
UK household finances slumped to a five-month low in October, with rising inflation seen as the most likely cause.
Plutus PowerGen agrees to develop a 100MW gas-powered energy portfolio
AIM-listed Plutus PowerGen, which constructs and operates flexible power projects, agreed to develop a 100 megawatt gas-powered energy generation portfolio with a specialist energy company.
Barratt Developments exec suspended after arrest
Housebuilder Barratt Developments has suspended its regional managing director for London, Alastair Baird, after he was arrested over possible misconduct in awarding certain contracts.
Credit Suisse sees opportunity in construction and pharmaceuticals after US elections
Bond markets and non-residential construction stocks had not yet priced-in the potential risks surrounding the results of the upcoming US elections, strategists at Credit Suisse said.
Dirty production of NHS drugs fuelling rise of superbugs, says BIJ
Dirty production methods at pharmaceutical plants in India that are supplying the NHS with drugs are fuelling the rise of superbugs, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ).
MX Oil starting to benefit from Nigeria investment
Oil and gas investing company MX Oil announced on Wednesday that PR Oil and Gas has now received $1. 2m from the sale of the first production of oil from the Aje Field.
Inspiration Healthcare to close factory and shuffle offices
Inspiration Healthcare Group announced the conclusion of a strategic review undertaken by the board on Wednesday, in relation to its operations following the reverse takeover of Inditherm in June 2015.
StatPro Group trading in line with expectations as it expands cloud platform
Cloud-based software provider StatPro Group said it has been trading in line with expectations as it expanded its data platform product.
Bond International board recommends approval of Constellation offer
Bond International Software announced on Wednesday that it, together with its advisers, have considered the terms of the final increased cash offer of 121p per Bond share to be made by Constellation UK.