Market Pulse
Atrato Onsite to sell solar portfolio, seek voluntary liquidation
Atrato Onsite Energy announced on Thursday that it has agreed to sell its entire portfolio of solar assets for £218. 7m to a joint venture between Brookfield and RAIM Apollo.
Eurozone PPI growth beats forecasts in August
Industrial output in the eurozone rose more than expected in August, according to data released by Eurostat on Thursday.
Asia report: Regional markets mixed on another quiet day
Asia-Pacific markets finished with a mixed performance on Thursday, with notable divergence across the region.
UK business activity growth eases; prices charged inflation slows
Business activity growth eased to a three-month low in September, according to a survey released on Thursday, but prices charged inflation slowed.
Galliford Try posts strong set of results, launches share buyback
Galliford Try reported a strong set of full-year financial results on Thursday, with revenue rising 27. 2% to £1. 77bn, and operating profit before amortisation increasing 35. 2% to £29. 6m.
Jefferies downgrades Aston Martin to ‘hold’
Jefferies downgraded its stance on Aston Martin Lagonda on Thursday to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ and cut the price target to 120p from 250p as it said it struggles to see a scenario that does not require new equity.
Berenberg lowers target price on Johnson Matthey
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target on chemicals firm Johnson Matthey from 1,800. 0p to 1,650. 0p on Thursday but acknowledged management has avoided missteps and "righted the ship" following the announcement of the company's exit from battery materials.
Spirax FY outlook unchanged, FX headwinds slightly stronger than expected
Thermal energy and fluid technology solutions group Spirax said on Thursday that its full-year outlook remained unchanged but warned of modest impacts stemming from potentially stronger-than-expected FX headwinds.
Telecom Plus flags continued robust growth in first half
Telecom Plus reported continued robust growth in customer numbers in a first-half update on Thursday, with a rise of 67,000 customers in the six months ended 30 September.
London open: Stocks gain as sterling hit by Bailey comments
London stocks rose in early trade on Thursday, benefiting from a weaker pound and rate cut hopes, but investors remained cautious overall amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Molten Ventures acquires majority secondary position in Connect Ventures first fund
Venture capital firm Molten Ventures said on Thursday that it has acquired a majority secondary position in the first fund of Connect Ventures, a 2012 Vintage Fund containing a portfolio of eight minority positions in businesses across Europe.
British Land raises £301m in placing for retail parks acquisition
British Land said on Thursday that it had raised £301m in an equity placing to help fund the acquisition of a portfolio of seven "high quality" retail parks.
Pound drops as BoE’s Bailey says rate cuts could become ‘more aggressive’
Sterling took a hit on Thursday after Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey told the Guardian that the central bank could become a "bit more aggressive" in cutting interest rates as long as news on inflation continued to be good.
London pre-open: Stocks to nudge up as sterling hit by Bailey comments
London stocks were set to nudge up at the open on Thursday, benefiting from a weaker pound, as investors remained cautious amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Bank payments, GB News, OpenAI
Sellafield will have to pay almost £400,000 after it pleaded guilty to criminal charges over years of cybersecurity failings at Britain’s most hazardous nuclear site. The vast nuclear waste dump in Cumbria left information that could threaten national security exposed for four years, according to the industry regulator, which brought the charges. It was also found that 75% of its computer servers were vulnerable to cyber-attack. – Guardian.