Market Report
US open: Stocks look to Fedspeak for guidance past June after jobs data
The main Wall Street gauges are mixed despite the release of what some economists labelled a "solid" jobs report for the month of April, with investors steeling themselves for a raft of speeches from multiple Federal Reserve officials scheduled for later in the day.
FX round-up: GBP mixed, USD down after US payrolls and ahead of France vote
Britain's Brexit-weakened currency produced a mixed Friday performance after US non-farm payrolls (NFP) data, with markets already looking ahead to the second round of France's presidential election over the weekend.
Europe close: Investors head confidently into French elections, analysts wary
Investors appeared to throw caution to the wind heading into Sunday's French presidential elections amid polls showing centrist-reformist candidate Emmanuele Macron had managed to widen his lead over far-right rival Marine Le Pen to 24 percentage points.
FTSE 250 movers: Inmarsat and Morgan AM a drag on mid-caps
London's mid-cap index did not benefit quite as much as its larger sibling from the strong US jobs report on Friday afternoon.
London close: FTSE 100 shrugs off sterling strength, falling metals' prices to gain
UK blue-chips shrugged off sterling strength and falling industrial metals' prices to enjoy a moderately higher close on Friday, helped by impressive gains in Pearson, International Consolidated Airlines and Marks & Spencer.
Fed's Fischer argues against foisting policy rule on US central bank
The US central bank's second-highest ranking official argued against the use of "simple" mathematical rules when deciding on monetary policy.
US nonfarm payrolls top expectations, unemployment rate ticks lower
The US created more jobs than expected in April while the jobless rate unexpectedly declined, according to the latest release from the Labor Department.
S&P affirms Italy's BBB- long-term debt rating, outlook stable
Standard&Poor's reiterated its rating on Italy's long-term debt on expectations for continued growth, reforms and a stable debt load.
Tullow Oil outlook upgraded by S&P
Tullow Oil's improved credit outlook has been hailed by agency S&P after the debt-laden oil producer's recent fundraising.
Amur Minerals begins 2017 drill programme early
Eastern Russia-focussed nickel-copper sulphide mineral exploration and resource development company Amur Minerals Corporation announced on Friday that it had initiated its 2017 drill programme at its wholly-owned Kun-Manie nickel copper sulphide project, located in the Russian Far East.
John Lewis of Hungerford turnover falls, though same-store sales improve
John Lewis of Hungerford posted its interim results for the six months to 28 February on Friday, reporting total turnover of £3. 57m, down from £3. 61m in the same period a year ago.
Commodities: Crude finds some respite amid global economy concerns
Beleaguered crude-oil futures found some respite on Friday afternoon against a curtain of concerns surrounding the health of the global economy.
FTSE 100 movers: Pearson surges on restructuring; Barclays drops on downgrade
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 6% to 7,287. 40 in afternoon trade as investors digested a better-than-expected US non-farm payrolls report and encouraging news from Pearson.
ValiRx losses widen as it continues drug development
Cancer therapeutics and diagnostics-focussed life sciences company ValiRx issued its final results for the year to 31 December 2016 on Friday, with its losses widening as it ramped up testing and trials of its products in development.
Marks & Spencer surges after Archie Norman appointed as chairman
Marks and Spencer Group has appointed Archie Norman as chairman to take over from Robert Swannell at the start of September.
ReNeuron presenting new data on Friday
Cell-based therapeutics developer ReNeuron Group announced on Friday that it would be presenting new data relating to the characterisation and scale-up of its CTX cell-derived exosome therapy candidates at a leading scientific conference in London, also on Friday.
Debenhams shares shrug off cyber attack
Debenhams shares rose higher on Friday in spite of reports that hackers had stolen personal and financial data from around 26,000 customers.
US April jobs report - Analysts react
"The Fed is a lock to raise rates at its June meeting. The unemployment rate continues to fall below its long-run estimate and is placing upward pressure on wages – an acceleration in wages could be close. The Fed is firmly on a policy normalization track and wants to get rates up to more normal levels, especially given prospects for fiscal reform and its potential to boost the economy. " - Roiana Reid at Berenberg Capital Markets.
Tories seen romping home with 160 seat majority in election
Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives are predicted to romp home with a 160 seat majority in the country's general election in early June, according to political spread betting markets.
GSK reports 'significant improvement' in asthma control in Salford study
A new asthma drug combination from GlaxoSmithKline has helped sufferers better control the condition in a huge study carried out around Manchester and Salford over the last twelve months.