Market Pulse
Director dealings: IG Design chief executive cuts stake
IG Design chief executive Paul Fineman divested 2. 08m ordinary shares in the AIM-listed greetings card maker on Wednesday.
Microsoft turns in slightly lower than expected Q4 revenues
Microsoft revealed slightly lower than expected revenues in the fourth quarter of its trading year, sending the stock lower in after-hours trading.
Facebook surges in after-hours following Q4 earnings beat
Social media giant Facebook topped estimates for quarterly revenues and profits after the bell on Wednesday, boosted by solid growth over at Instagram and an increase in advertising revenues.
Tesla beats revenue estimates, falls short on earnings
Tesla shares dropped in extended trading after the firm posted a fourth-quarter profit that fell short of expectations but beat on revenues.
US close: Stocks rally following Powell conference
US stocks closed considerably higher on Wednesday following well-received quarterly numbers from tech giant Apple and chipmaker AMD.
Commodities: WTI, gasoline jump on latest DoE data
Energy was the strongest segment of the commodity market on Wednesday, on the back of the latest official US crude oil inventory figures and later in the session by a large move lower in the Greenback after the US central bank sounded a more dovish than expected note on policy.
Fed says it will be patient and flexible when deciding next moves
Central bankers said on Wednesday that they would be "patient" in future when determining what changes in monetary policy were needed to meet their objectives for growth and inflation, dropping the reference to a "gradual" pace of interest rate hikes.
May heading for showdown as EU sees no change in Brexit deal
UK Prime Minister Theresa May was on a collision course with the EU over her new withdrawal agreement demands as Brussels insisted the deal was not open for renegotiation.
Weekly US crude oil stockpiles rise by less than expected
US crude oil stockpiles increased by less-than-expected last week, held back by another decline in the country's net imports but buoyed by fewer inputs to refineries.
London close: Shares track gains on Wall Street, dip in pound
London stocks jumped on Wednesday, tracking big gains on Wall Street, even as the pound appeared to hold its own despite generally downbeat reactions from analysts to the prior evening's votes in Parliament on the Prime Minister's proposed 'Plan B' for Brexit.
McDonald's tops estimates despite slowdown in the US
McDonald's beat the Street on earnings and revenues for its latest quarter on Wednesday, boosted by solid growth overseas.
Broker tips: National Grid, CVS Group
National Grid looks the most attractive of the utilities stocks listed in London, said Barclays as it initiated coverage on the sector with the view that water companies are "fair value".
Thursday preview: US-China trade talks and BT Group in the spotlight
All eyes on Thursday will be on the ongoing trade talks in Washington between the US and China, even as investors digest the result of the US central bank's policy announcement from the night before and a quarterly update from another tech heavyweight, Microsoft.
National Grid the pick of utilities sector, reckons Barclays
National Grid looks the most attractive of the utilities stocks listed in London, said Barclays as it initiated coverage on the sector with the view that water companies are "fair value".
RBC Capital downgrades CVS after profit warning
RBC Capital Markets downgraded its stance on veterinary services provider CVS Group to 'sector perform' from 'outperform' and slashed the price target to 600p from 1,180p after its profit warning on Tuesday.
US open: Stocks go green following results from Apple and AMD
US stocks opened higher on Wednesday following well-received quarterly numbers from tech giant Apple and chipmaker AMD, and ahead of the latest policy announcement from the Fed and renewed Sino-US trade talks.
Chaarat Gold completes acquisition of Kapan from Polymetal
Chaarat Gold confirmed on Wednesday that it and its subsidiary, Chaarat Gold International (CGIL), have completed the acquisition of Kapan Mining and Processing Company from PMTL Holding, a subsidiary of Polymetal International.
Hummingbird makes it through 'challenging' fourth quarter
African gold producer Hummingbird Resources updated the market on its operations on Wednesday, reporting that 91,620 ounces of gold was poured in 2018, which was at the top end of its revised guidance of between 87,000 oz and 92,000 oz.
Katoro Gold identifies high-priority targets at Haneti Nickel Project
Tanzania-focussed exploration and development company Katoro Gold updated the market on its Haneti Nickel Project on Wednesday, reporting that its review and analysis of all historic work undertaken on the area was now complete.
Cadence Minerals pleased with maiden ore reserves at Yangibana
Cadence Minerals announced on Wednesday that a maiden ore reserves had been declared on its 30% joint venture ground at the Yangibana Rare Earth Project in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.