Market Pulse
Europe midday: Stocks waiver ahead of key central bank decisions
Stocks on the Continent are under selling pressure as investors digest the heavy losses seen on Wall Street last Friday.
Verona Pharma initiates Phase 2 study of RPL554
Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Verona Pharma announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, efficacy and safety of a dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulation of ‘RPL554’, in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), on Monday.
AppScatter snaps up digital security outfit Abilott
Mobile app management platform AppScatter has inked an agreement to acquire digital security outfit Abilott for as much as £2. 24m.
Safestyle losses widen following 'significant increase' in staffing
PVCu manufacturer Safestyle has seen a significant increase in its contracted workforce since inking a commercial agreement with an individual involved in its dispute with NIAMAC Developments back in October.
Government targets gig economy workers with rights overhaul
The government introduced a package of workplace reforms aimed at workers on zero-hour contracts, agency employees or "gig economy" workers on Monday, in an attempt to woo voters who are "just about managing".
RBC Capital starts 'fairly valued' Kaz Minerals at 'sector perform'
RBC Capital Markets initiated coverage of copper miner Kaz Minerals at 'sector perform' with a 590p price target, as it said the stock looks fairly valued.
US pre-open: Stocks seen muted as investors eye Fed announcement
US stocks looked set for a muted open on Monday as investors eyed the latest policy announcement from the Federal Reserve this week amid expectations of a 25 basis points rate hike.
London midday: Stocks maintain losses as retailers slump on Asos warning
London stocks were still in the red by midday on Monday, with retailers pacing the decline as a shock profit warning from Asos suggested that online players were not immune to the struggles of their bricks-and-mortar rivals.
Asia report: Most markets higher ahead of Fed meeting
Most markets in Asia finished in positive territory on Monday, as traders got the last of their Christmas shopping done and began to look ahead at forecasts for 2019.
StanChart agrees terms for spin-off of private equity business
Standard Chartered said on Monday that it has agreed the terms for the spin-out of its private equity division and sale of the majority of its private equity investment portfolio, from which it expects to take a restructuring charge of about $160m.
Acacia Mining slumps as it denies SFO investigation
Acacia Mining kicked the week off on the back foot after saying on Friday that it was not aware that the Serious Fraud Office was investigating the company.
88 Energy secures all but one major permit at Alaskan asset
Exploration firm 88 Energy has been granted all but one major permit for its Winx-1 exploration drill on the North Slope of Alaska, with the group expecting to receive approval for its drilling permit in January 2019.
Chancellor takes £12bn hit to deficit from student loan changes
A change in the way of accounting for student loans will add more than £12bn to the government’s annual deficit and could wipe out the Chancellor's recent budget windfall.
Asos tumbles as it cuts guidance on weak November, discounting
Shares in online fashion retailer Asos tumbled on Monday as it joined in the retail gloom, downgrading its guidance for the year as weaker trading in November and heavy discounting took their toll.
AO gets Mobile Phones acquisition over the line
AO World finally completed the acquisition of Mobile Phones Direct on Monday after struggling to get through for several weeks.
House prices suffer biggest two-month drop since 2012 - Rightmove
House prices fell again in December, making the drop over the last two months the biggest since 2012, according to Rightmove.
Eurasia Mining to get exploration license for West Kytlim Flanks
Palladium, platinum, iridium, rhodium and gold producing company Eurasia Mining announced on Monday that it has been officially informed that it would be granted an additional 71. 1 square kilometre exploration license at its West Kytlim Open Pit Mine, in production in Russia’s Ural Mountains.
Dairy Farm buys rest of Philippines chemist chain Rose Pharmacy
Dairy Farm International Holdings confirmed the completion of its acquisition of the remaining 51% interest in Philippines chemist chain Rose Pharmacy from BRG Realty Corporation - a company owned by the Lim Family, who founded Rose Pharmacy - on Monday.
Plexus coughs up £0.74m for minority share in KMS
Oil and gas engineering services business Plexus Holdings has made an investment of £0. 74m to acquire a 49% interest in independent precision engineering business KMS, it announced on Monday.
Summit Therapeutics proposes $25m fundraiser
Antibiotics developer Summit Therapeutics has entered into a securities purchase agreement for the sale of $25m worth of its US-listed shares in order to extend its cash runway through to January 2020.