Market Report
Europe close: Markets slip as uncertainty around Brexit ramps up
European stocks limped into the weekend, weighed down by an overnight drop in the price of oil and with investors carefully monitoring events ahead of the UK elections.
Director dealings: DMGT trio buy after results disappointment
Daily Mail and General Trust chairman Lord Rothermere and his new CEO and CFO bought £0. 3m of shares on Friday, following disappointing interim results the day before.
London close: Sterling slump after surprise election poll result shoves FTSE higher
Stocks in London got an unexpected shove higher on Friday as a new election poll revealed a narrowing Tory lead over Labour, causing sterling to sour and helping the FTSE advance.
FX round-up: Sterling takes big slides lower on UK election uncertainty
Sterling took big slides lower on most major crosses Friday as political uncertainty surrounding the upcoming UK general election sparked a wave of selling.
Avingtrans' Hayward Tyler takeover talks extended until June
Talks about a potential takeover of Hayward Tyler by Avingtrans will continue after the pair further pushed back the official deadline.
Results round-up
First quarter sales from The Restaurant Group have improved significantly from the end of last year, but are still in decline and are expected to benefit from less helpful conditions as the year goes on.
Restaurant Group rebounds as concessions serve up strong first quarter
First quarter sales from The Restaurant Group have improved significantly from the end of last year, but are still in decline and are not expected to benefit from less helpful conditions as the year goes on.
Caspian Sunrise flags progress on merger
Central Asian oil and gas company Caspian Sunrise confirmed on Friday that the company expected all conditions for the merger and the associated capitalisation of the $10. 1m Vertom loan would be concluded by 1 June.
Deltex launches first ODM system for veterinary use
Oesophageal doppler monitoring company Deltex Medical Group announced the launch of its first ODM system designed specifically for veterinary use on Friday, which it said had generated £15,000 on release from the first sale of a system to an unnamed, “leading” continental Europe veterinary university.
Week ahead: Election polls, US jobs data in focus
In all likelihood, the market spotlight next week will be on the poll results in the run-up to the 8 June elections which may stoke heavy volatility in foreign exchange markets.
Acacia Mining fights back against Tanzania discrepancy claims
Firing back a response to Tanzanian accusations that it under-declared gold exports, Acacia Mining has called for an independent review and said "we are considering all of our options".
FTSE 250 movers: Restaurant Group gains on update; Petrofac slumps again
London's FTSE 250 was up 0. 2% to 20,012. 52 in afternoon trade, breaching the 20,000 mark for the first time ever.
Commodities: Crude rises, but may well face choppy trading ahead
At face value crude oil futures appeared to be doing well on Friday afternoon, but the modest rises in both WTI and Brent are off the back of yesterday's Opec-driven plunge and may well foreshadow choppy sessions ahead.
MYCELX confirms contract win with new SABIC affiliate customer
Clean water technology company MYCELX Technologies announced a contract win with a new SABIC affiliate customer on Friday.
US open: Stocks flat as investors mull economic data
Wall Street's main market gauges are slightly lower heading into the Memorial Day weekend following the release of mixed economic data.
FTSE 100 movers: Informa gains on Q1; RBS hit by court case news
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 5% to 7,551. 20 in afternoon trade, hitting a new record on Friday as the pound lost ground after the latest poll showed the Tory lead over Labour narrowing.
US consumer sentiment ticks up in May
Consumer sentiment in the US improved a touch in May from the month before, although not as much as initially estimated, according to final figures from the University of Michigan.
Europe midday: Oil price drop, currency volatility dampens sentiment
European stocks are under pressure heading into the end of the week, weighed down by an overnight drop in the price of oil and with investors carefully monitoring events ahead of the UK elections.
Plastics Capital raises £3.7m in placing
Niche plastics products group Plastics Capital announced a conditional placing to raise approximately £3. 74m before expenses on Friday, by way of a placing of 3,194,445 new ordinary shares at 117p per placing share.
SafeCharge partners with Chase for US payments
Payments technology company SafeCharge announced a partnership to process payments in the United States through Chase on Friday.