Market Pulse
Tata workers to stage first UK steel strike in over 40 years
Trade union Unite announced on Friday that around 1,500 Tata workers based in Port Talbot and Llanwern would start an all-out indefinite strike, starting on 8 July.
Director dealings: Ferguson director invests, PensionBee board members place shares
Ferguson and PensionBee were among the companies announcing significant transactions by directors on Friday.
London close: Stocks fall as UK service sector slows
London stocks ended the week on a negative note after data revealed an unexpected slowdown in the UK service sector's growth for June.
FTSE 100 movers: Water companies rally; B&M hit by downgrade
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0. 4% at 8,243. 87 in afternoon trade on Friday.
StanChart planning to set up crypto trading desk - report
Standard Chartered is reportedly setting up a trading desk for Bitcoin and Ether, making it one of the first global banks to enter spot cryptocurrency trading.
JLEN Environmental reports resilient full-year performance
JLEN Environmental Assets Group reported a resilient financial performance for the year ended 31 March on Friday.
Rockhopper receives first funds from Ombrina Mare arbitration
Rockhopper Exploration announced the receipt of the first tranche of funds from the monetisation of its Ombrina Mare arbitration award on Friday.
London midday: Stocks fall as investors mull services data
London stocks had fallen into the red by midday on Friday as data showed that growth in the UK service sector unexpectedly slowed in June as uncertainty around the election weighed on business.
Strategic Minerals swings to full-year pre-tax loss
Strategic Minerals reported a challenging year in its final results on Friday, marked by significant financial and operational hurdles.
Jaywing draws second tranche of working capital loan
Marketing and data science company Jaywing updated the market on its loan facility on Friday.
Tertiary Minerals says Konkola West drilling slower than expected
Tertiary Minerals updated the market on its drilling activities at the Konkola West Copper Project on Friday.
Pennant International reports record gross profit margin
Pennant International reported a successful return to operating profit in its final results on Friday, achieving a record gross profit margin.
Ondine Biomedical's Steriwave added to NHS Supply Chain
Life science company Ondine Biomedical announced on Friday that its ‘Steriwave’ nasal photodisinfection treatment was now available through the NHS Supply Chain.
JPMorgan lifts BAE Systems price target, points to ‘exciting’ list of potential new contracts
JPMorgan Cazenove lifted its price target on BAE Systems on Friday to 1,500p from 1,400p as it pointed to an exciting list of potential new contracts.
Touchstone acquisition of Trinity clears a regulatory hurdle
Trinity Exploration and Touchstone Exploration updated the market on Friday, on the regulatory conditions for the recommended all-share acquisition of Trinity by Touchstone.
Asia report: Most markets fall as inflation accelerates in Japan
Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell on Friday after Japan's core inflation rate for May came in cooler than expected at 2. 5%, below forecasts, putting pressure on the country’s plans to raise interest rates.
Morgan Stanley downgrades B&M to ‘underweight’
Morgan Stanley downgraded B&M European Value Retail on Friday to ‘underweight’ from ‘equalweight’ as it said like-for-like growth is slowing and it expects margins to contract year-over-year in FY25, which is a worse outlook than UK retail peers.
Braveheart swings to loss in 'challenging' year
Shares in Braveheart Investment Group were in the red on Friday morning, after it reported a significant shift in its financial performance in its final results.
Compass to repurchase up to $250m worth of shares
Compass Group announced an agreement to repurchase up to $250m (£196. 7m) of its ordinary shares on Friday.
JPMorgan upgrades Severn Trent, United Utilities
JPMorgan Cazenove upgraded Severn Trent and United Utilities on Friday and placed both on ‘positive catalyst watch’ as it turned more positive on the UK water sector for the first time since it turned cautious in 2022.