Market Pulse
CRH nine-month sales up 6%, on track for FY earnings
Building materials group CRH reported a 6% rise in cumulative sales in the first nine months of the year and said it continues to expect earnings for the year to be in excess of €3bn.
London pre-open: Stocks seen higher ahead of UK retail sales, Yellen speech
Stocks in London were set to open higher on Thursday as investors eyed UK retail sales data and a speech by Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen.
AstraZeneca completes licensing deal with Allergan
AstraZeneca announced the completion of the licensing agreement between MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, and Allergan, for the global rights to MEDI2070 on Thursday.
Thursday newspaper round-up: £100bn Brexit hole, RBS, Virgin Money
Philip Hammond will admit to the largest deterioration in British public finances since 2011 in next week’s Autumn Statement when the official forecast will show the UK faces a £100bn bill for Brexit within five years. Slower growth and lower-than-expected investment will hit tax revenues hard, the official forecasts will show, supporting the Treasury’s pre-referendum warnings that the long-term economic costs of Brexit are high. – Financial Times.
Rio Tinto sacks two directors over Guinea payment controversy
Rio Tinto has terminated the contracts of two directors after an internal review into a controversial $10. 5m payment made to a consultant concerning the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea.
US close: Stocks lose as Trump rally runs out of steam
A week after Donald Trump's unexpected election victory sent US stocks on a contrarian seven-day surge, the steam finally ran out on Wednesday as banks wobbled and the dollar notched up a 14-year high.