Market Pulse
Director dealings: Cake Box, QinetiQ chief executives disclose deals
Two director dealings disclosed to the market on Thursday involved the chief executives of Cake Box Holdings and QinetiQ Group.
London close: Stocks mixed ahead of key UK, US data
London stocks ended Thursday's trading session with a mixed performance as market participants awaited crucial US inflation data and UK GDP figures set to be released later in the week.
Polar Capital assets under management rise
Polar Capital announced 14% growth in assets under management (AuM) for the financial year ended 31 March on Thursday, to £21. 9bn.
Berenberg downgrades Anglo American, Rio Tinto
Berenberg downgraded Anglo American and Rio Tinto on Thursday as it took a look at metals and mining companies.
Advanced Medical Solutions takeover of Peters gets French approval
Advanced Medical Solutions announced on Thursday that it has received regulatory approval for its acquisition of Peters Surgical.
James Latham revenue falls amid weaker markets
James Latham reported a revenue decline of 10. 2% for the financial year ended 31 March on Thursday, to £366. 5m, down from £408. 4m the prior year.
FTSE 100 movers: DS Smith rallies as Suzano abandons IP pursuit; GSK tumbles
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0. 2% at 8,211. 88 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Harworth Group selling Leeds site to Microsoft for £106.6m
Harworth Group announced on Thursday that it has exchanged contracts for the conditional sale of 48 acres of land at its Skelton Grange site in Leeds for £106. 6m.
Regional REIT raising £110.5m to reduce loan-to-value
Regional REIT announced a fully-underwritten capital raising of £110. 5m on Thursday, to help eliminate its short-term liabilities and pay down bank facilities.
Petra targets lower operating costs, appoints new CFO
Petra Diamonds updated the market on its strategic developments on Thursday, as well as the appointment of a new chief financial officer in Johan Snyman, effective 1 October.
Sanderson Design tumbles on profit warning
Sanderson Design tumbled on Thursday as it warned on profits, citing deteriorating trading conditions in the UK.
Riksbank stands pat on rates, signals up to three more cuts this year
Sweden’s central bank held its key interest rate at 3. 75% on Thursday, as widely expected, and said that monetary policy should be adjusted "gradually".
BP implements hiring freeze, refocuses on oil and gas
BP has implemented a hiring freeze and halted new offshore wind projects, it was reported on Thursday, as part of a strategic shift under new chief executive officer Murray Auchincloss.
London midday: Stocks dip as investors eye key US, UK data releases
London stocks were a little weaker by midday on Thursday as investors eyed the release of US growth figures later in the day, and a key US inflation reading and UK GDP at the end of the week.
Foresight Group reports rise in full-year revenue, earnings
Foresight Group reported robust financial results for the year ended 31 March on Thursday, with significant growth in revenue and earnings.
Next 15 full-year performance likely to be second-half weighted
Shares in tech and data-focussed consultancy Next 15 Group were sliding on Thursday morning, after the company cautioned in a trading update that its revenue performance for the year was likely to be second-half weighted.
Mears Group lifts first-half profit projections
Mears Group announced a robust trading performance in its first half on Thursday, with profit before tax expected to exceed both the previous year’s figures and the board’s initial projections.
Serica maintains full-year production guidance
Serica Energy maintained its production guidance in an update on Thursday, targeting between 41,000 and 46,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day for 2024.
Asia report: Markets slide as yen weakens further against the dollar
Asia-Pacific markets saw a notable decline on Thursday, influenced by the Japanese yen weakening to a near 38-year low against the dollar.
Halfords full-year profits slump
Halfords posted a slump in full-year profits on Thursday as it pointed to weak consumer confidence.