Market Pulse
US close: Gains for defensives send Wall Street to fresh record highs
All four of Wall Street´s main stock market indices notched up fresh record highs in a shortened session following the Thanksgiving break, although it was defensive issues that paced the advance.
Pennon Group reports sharp jump in profits before tax
Pennon continued to deliver a good performance in the first half of its financial year at both its water and waste businesses, with costs savings and self-help initiatives falling straight to the bottom line.
Sector movers: Defensives pace gains
Defensive issues and so-called 'bond proxies' performed best at the tail-end of the week, with shares of personal goods and health care equipment companies pacing gains.
Directors dealings: Johnson Matthey finance chief picks up shares
Johnson Matthey´s finance chief bought 2,184 shares of the speciality chemicals maker at an individual price of 3,818p, the company said in a statement.
Europe close: Stocks edge higher in quiet session, Italian lenders lower
European stocks edged lower as oil prices declined in fairly quiet trade, with US markets set to open for just a half day later.
London close: Shares track gains on Wall Street, end higher
Stocks in London finished slightly higher, despite a sharp drop in crude oil futures, as investors focused on a positive start to US trading which saw Wall Street´s main equity gauges set fresh record highs shortly after the opening bell.
RedT releases Gen 2 energy storage machine
RedT energy, the AIM-listed energy storage technology company, has launched its first Gen 2 energy storage machine to its development centre.
Target reports record-breaking Black Friday sales backed by strong TV demand
US retailer Target Corporation announced on Friday that it was set for a record-breaking day in online sales, as televisions and Apple products drove sales.
Investor Wilbur Ross expected to be offered commerce secretary job by Trump
Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross looks set to be offered a job in Donald Trump's administration when he moves into the Oval Office in the new year, as his commerce secretary.
Saudi Arabia will not attend OPEC technical meeting
Saudi Arabia would not attend a technical meeting between the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-member countries, insisting instead on the need to focus on a deal between members of the cartel first.
Week ahead: November US jobs report in focus
The US jobs market was set to come back into focus with the release of the November jobs report on Friday.
GlaxoSmithKline seeks European approval for shingles vaccine
GlaxoSmithKline announced the regulatory submission of a marketing authorisation application to the European Medicines Agency for approval of its candidate shingles vaccine, Shingrix.
US open: Stocks rise after Thanksgiving as Black Friday gets underway
US stocks were in the green as markets reopened for a half day following the Thanksgiving break on Thursday.
Severn Trent: Dee Valley shouldn't sell shares to Ancala after £84m bid
Dee Valley shareholders should take no action in respect of Ancala Fronia’s previous revised bid for the water company, Severn Trent said on Friday.
Wells Fargo makes US court request to throw out account scandal cases
Troubled US bank Wells Fargo has asked a US court to dismiss dozens of cases against it following the fake account scandal which dogged the California-based firm earlier this year.
FCA to encourage annuity customers to shop around
Annuity firms will have to inform their customers how much they could gain from shopping around and switching provider before they buy an annuity under new rules unveiled by the Financial Conduct Authority on Friday.
FTSE 100 movers: Pharmaceuticals on the front foot; Direct Line gives back gains
The FTSE 100 rose 0. 21% to 6,843. 57 in afternoon trade amid thin volumes.
Manx Financial to buy IFA contracts for £1.7m
Manx Financial Group is to buy two independent financial adviser contracts books from its rival in the Isle of Man for £1. 7m.
IronRidge Resources buys Ivory Coast lithium pegmatite sites
AIM-listed explorer IronRidge Resources has bought three highly prospective lithium pegmatite applications in the Ivory Coast, which consolidates its West African portfolio.
Ensor to de-list on AIM in order to liquidate
Building materials company Ensor Holdings is to cease trading on AIM and re-register as a private company, as it seeks to sell its subsidiaries and liquidate.