Market Pulse
U.S. non-farm payroll growth slows to just 175,000 in April
Hiring in the U. S. slowed by noticeably more than expected in April, alongside lower than expected wage growth.
Director dealings: Cohort CEO makes share sale
Cohort revealed on Friday that chief executive Andrew Thomis had disposed of 3,792 ordinary shares in the AIM-listed management consultant.
London close: Stocks rise as US payrolls come in weaker
London markets closed positively on Friday, as investors digested slower-than-expected payrolls growth in the US, while Anglo American jumped amid anticipation of a potential bidding war for the mining giant.
Broker tips: Shell, Standard Chartered, Team 17, AJ Bell
RBC Capital Markets has raised its forecasts for Shell and kept an 'outperform' rating, saying the business was "firing on most cylinders" in the quarter.
US open: Stocks sharply higher following NFP data
Wall Street stocks were firmly in the green early on Friday as market participants digested some key jobs data.
Tekmar sells Subsea Innovation in £1.9m deal
Tekmar Group announced the sale of Subsea Innovation (SIL) to Unique Group on Friday, through its subsidiary Unique System UK, for a total cash consideration of £1. 9m.
US services activity softens in April, ISM says
Services activity in the States shrank unexpectedly at the start of spring, marking the first contraction since December 2022.
FTSE 100 movers: Anglo rallies on Reuters report; IHG slumps
London’s FTSE 100 was up 0. 5% at 8,209. 34 in afternoon trade on Friday.
Accrol agrees to final offer of £130.8m from Navigator Paper
Tissue maker Accrol Group said on Friday that it has agreed to be taken over by Navigator Paper after it made an improved and final offer that values the company at £130. 8m.
TGI Fridays owner Hostmore narrows FY losses
TGI Fridays owner Hostmore said on Friday that it had reduced its annual losses in a "transitional" year.
US pre-open: Futures in the green ahead of April NFP report
Wall Street futures were in the green ahead of the bell on Friday ahead of key jobs data.
London midday: Stocks extend gains as Anglo rallies; payrolls eyed
London stocks had extended gains by midday on Friday, with Anglo American leading the advance amid the prospect of a potential bidding war, as investors eyed the latest US non-farm payrolls report.
Polarean gets new polariser order from Cincinnati Children's
Polarean Imaging announced a new polariser order to replace the research polariser at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on Friday.
Asda refinances £3.2bn of debt
Asda said on Friday that it has successfully refinanced more than £3. 2bn of its debt, pushing out the majority of its maturities into the next decade.
Europa Oil to decline any North Sea licence offer
Europa Oil & Gas said in an update on Friday that it received communication from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) regarding its application for a licence as part of the 33rd UK Offshore Licensing Round.
Physiomics lowers forecasts amid contract delays
Therapeutics and medicine-focussed mathematical modelling and data science company Physiomics said in an update on Friday that, despite a robust pipeline of potential new business, it had experienced delays in signing several large contracts.
Duke Capital invests another £4m in BPVA Ireland
Duke Capital announced a follow-on investment of £4m into its existing capital partner, BPVA Ireland, on Friday.
Time Out opens its eighth market in Porto
Media and hospitality company Time Out Group announced the opening of Time Out Market Porto in Portugal on Friday.
Prospex Energy reports progress at Selva Malvezzi
Prospex Energy updated the market on the Selva Malvezzi production concession in Italy on Friday, following a first-quarter activity report from Po Valley Energy (PVE).
Berenberg raises target price on Standard Chartered
Analysts at Berenberg raised their target price on multinational bank Standard Chartered from 1,050. 0p to 1,100. 0p on Friday after the group's Q1 earnings "validated" management's suggestion that the bank had experienced "an encouraging start" to the year.