Market Pulse
US close: Dow closes lower as government shutdown drags on
Wall Street stocks turned in a mixed performance on Thursday as investors thumbed through even more earnings reports.
Peel Hunt pumps the brakes on Auto Trader as new car sales hit the skids
Auto Trader shares were down on Thursday following a cut to 'add' by analysts over at Peel Hunt.
Commodities: US energy futures gain after latest DoE inventory numbers
Rising energy futures in the States buoyed the entire complex on Thursday, despite a good bid in the US dollar.
Friday preview: German business confidence and Vodafone in the spotlight
Barring surprises on international trade or Brexit, financial markets' focus at the end of the week is likely to be on Europe.
Airbus criticises 'disgraceful' Brexit process and threatens to leave UK
Airbus's CEO said the government’s handling of the Brexit process was a “disgrace” and threatened to move wing production from the UK if it resulted in no deal.
Europe close: Stocks recover as euro slips on back of more dovish ECB
Germany's Chancellor may want a more 'normal' monetary policy, but according to analysts commenting on the European Central Bank Governing Council's policy meeting on Thursday, she will have to wait.
London close: Blue chips dither but mid caps climb
London's blue chip stocks shivered below the waterline on Thursday as there was insufficient encouragement was to be found in either of the market's ongoing concerns around Brexit and US-China trade.
Weekly US crude oil stockpiles jump amid surge in net imports, DoE says
US crude oil stockpiles jumped again last week, partly on the back of a surge in the country's net imports.
Director dealings: Vietnam Holding director lowers stake
Vietnam Holding director Hiroshi Funaki's outfit Discover Investment Capital sold 869,867 ordinary shares in the AIM-listed investment fund as part of a tender offer on Thursday.
Fevertree fizzes higher as full-year sales impress
Posh mixers maker Fevertree Drinks said on Thursday that it expects full-year revenue to have risen 39% as sales in the US took off.
IAG to sell Norwegian Air stake
British Airways owner IAG has pulled out of the race to buy budget long-haul carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle.
Daily Mail online sales accelerate
Daily Mail & General Trust's television and online advertising divisions helped offset dwindling newspaper sales in its last trading quarter.
FTSE 100 movers: Ashtead boosted by US peer, Reckitt wrecked by downgrade
London's FTSE 100 was down 0. 3% to 6,824. 18 in afternoon trade on Thursday, with Reckitt and Vodafone pacing the decline.
First patient dosed in latest ReNeuron study of CTX cell therapy
Cell-based therapeutics developer ReNeuron Group announced on Thursday that the first patient has been treated in the US Phase IIb clinical study of its ‘CTX’ cell therapy candidate for stroke disability.
Redburn downgrades Crest Nicholson after 'torrid' 2018
Redburn cut its stance on Crest Nicholson to 'neutral' from 'buy' on Thursday as part of a broader note on UK housebuilders.
BlueRock operations at Kareevlei Diamond Mine temporarily suspended
BlueRock Diamonds, which owns and operates the Kareevlei Diamond Mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa, announced the temporary suspension of operations there on Thursday.
InfraStrata raises £1.5m to continue development at Islandmagee
Natural gas storage development company InfraStrata announced on Thursday that it has raised £1. 5m before expenses, through a placing of 125 million new ordinary shares at an issue price of 1. 2p each.
Europe midday: Stocks mixed after 'dovish' ECB
Stocks are mixed after the European Central Bank shifted its balance of risks to the downside, cautioning that there was a long list of potential risk factors to mind.
Feedback pleased with first-half progress
Specialist medical imaging technology company Feedback issued its unaudited half-year results for the six months ended 30 November on Thursday, reporting a 22% increase in invoiced sales year-on-year to £0. 27m, due to new sales progress.
Nautilus Marine Services ups efforts to offload Colombian assets
Nautilus Marine Services announced on Thursday that it intended to increase its efforts toward the near-term divestiture of its oil and gas assets located in Colombia, in response to “escalating interest” it reported from multiple parties during late 2018.