Market Pulse
Frasers launches bid to take over Norway's XXL
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group said on Friday that it was launching a voluntary offer for all the shares in Norwegian sporting goods retailer XXL that it does not already own at 10 Norwegian kroner per share.
James Halstead trades in line with management expectations
Floorings business James Halstead said on Friday that trading in the current financial year was on track to meet internal expectations of "continued progress".
Quiz shares slump as group warns of potential need for further funding
Clothing business Quiz warned on Friday that it may require additional funding as decreased footfall weighed on sales in the three months ended 30 November.
Rockfire Resources raises £0.66m in placing, proposes retail offer
Metals and critical minerals explorer Rockfire Resources has raised £0. 66m, it announced on Friday, to fund the development of its Molaoi project in Greece and support the company’s working capital requirements.
London open: Stocks steady ahead of payrolls; Direct Line jumps
London stocks were steady in early trade on Friday as investors mulled the latest UK house price data and looked ahead to the release of the US non-farm payrolls report, with deal news in focus as Direct Line agreed to be taken over by Aviva.
Berkeley Group profits fall as it lays out strategy
Berkeley Group reported a pre-tax profit of £275. 1m for the six months ended 31 October on Friday, a 7. 7% decline compared to the prior year.
UK house prices hit record high in November - Halifax
UK house prices rose in November for the fifth month in a row to hit a record high of £298,083, according to figures released on Friday by Halifax.
London pre-open: Stocks seen down ahead of payrolls
London stocks were set to fall at the open on Friday as investors mulled the latest UK house price data and looked ahead to the release of the all-important US non-farm payrolls report.
Friday newspaper round-up: Boeing, Boohoo, nuclear power stations
Ten years ago, marketing executives at Britain’s biggest supermarket had a brainwave: might slashing the price of basic vegetables tempt shoppers to do their Christmas shop with them? Tesco, under chief executive Dave Lewis, was trying to revive a business reeling after falling sales, five profit warnings and an accounting scandal. That promotion in December 2014, dubbed its Festive Five, offered bags of carrots, potatoes, brussels sprouts, parsnips and a cauliflower for 49p each.