Market Pulse
ClearStar turns EBITDA positive on 'highest-ever' revenues
Technology and service provider ClearStar expects to EBITDA to have turned positive in its last trading year after recording the group's highest-ever annual revenues.
Eight Peaks takes interest in cybersecurity platform through SOARX investment
Eight Peaks Group has acquired a 25% stake in a software development, integration and distribution company that operates in the cybersecurity space - SOARX - for £0. 13m in cash, it announced on Wednesday.
Xeros inks development agreement with Chinese OEM
Water saving technology outfit Xeros has inked a joint-development agreement with a Chinese domestic washing machine original equipment manufacturer.
Metro Bank shares plunge as growth slows
Metro Bank shares were falling through the floor in early trading on Wednesday, after the company reported underlying profit before tax of £50m for 2018 in a trading update.
Young's adds 15 pubs with Redcomb acquisition
Young & Co. ’s Brewery announced the acquisition of Redcomb Pubs - a company that owns and operates 15 pubs in “prime” locations - for £34m on a cash-free and debt-free basis on Wednesday.
Eve Sleep raises £12m to expand beyond the yellow mattress
Mattress firm Eve Sleep announced a conditional placing of 120,317,323 new ordinary shares at a price of 10p each on Wednesday, to raise about £12m before expenses from existing and new investors.
John Laing hires Luciana Germinario as new CFO
John Laing Group has hired ex Fidelity International executive Luciana Germinario to replace Patrick O'Donnell Bourke as finance director.
Joules interim profits and revenue rise
Clothing retailer Joules posted a rise in first-half profit and revenue on Wednesday despite a challenging backdrop, but margins fell.
EVR to develop new version of MelodyVR for Facebook's Oculus
Virtual reality content producer EVR Holdings announced on Wednesday that its subsidiary MelodyVR has entered into an addendum to its distribution agreement with Facebook Technologies and its Oculus VR division.
WH Smith sales up 6% thanks to solid travel segment performance
WH Smith posted a rise in sales for the 20 weeks to 19 January on Wednesday as a solid performance from the travel business offset lacklustre high street trading.
Wetherspoon profits set to drop as costs rise
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon backed its full-year expectations on Wednesday but said first-half profit will be lower than a year ago due to rising costs.
Sanne CEO calls time but trading remains strong
Financial sector outsourcer Sanne Group reported "strong" trading in the second half of the year and into early 2019 but revealed that its chief executive will retire in four months' time.
London open: Stocks fall amid trade war fears; Burberry in the red
London stocks fell in early trade on Wednesday as concerns about trade tensions between the US and China weighed on sentiment.
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Dyson, rents, Brexit
The scale of no-deal panic gripping major companies has been thrown into sharp focus by a series of damage-limitation announcements, as corporate Britain signalled it is running out of patience with Westminster gridlock. Sir James Dyson, the Brexit-backing billionaire, dealt a further blow to the government by revealing he is shifting his company headquarters to Singapore in a move that drew sharp criticism. – Guardian.
British Land lifts third interim dividend by 3pc
British Land announced its third interim dividend for the quarter ended 31 December on Wednesday, confirming it will distribute 7. 75 per share.
Vodafone and O2 to extend network sharing partnership
Vodafone announced on Wednesday that itself and Telefónica UK, trading as O2, have entered into non-binding heads of terms intended to strengthen their existing network sharing partnership.
London pre-open: Stocks to drop amid trade, growth worries
London stocks were set for a negative open on Wednesday amid worries about global growth and trade tensions between the US and China, with Brexit still firmly in focus.
US close: Markets finish lower as sentiment dips
US stocks finished lower on Tuesday, with worries about a slowdown in China and some dire housing figures taking their toll on sentiment after the first trading day of the truncated week.