Market Report
US GDP grows more quickly than expected in the first quarter
America's economy grew more quickly than expected at the start of the year amid a large increase in investment, revised data showed.
RBS shareholders refuse to accept settlement
Royal Bank of Scotland was further frustrated in its attempts to settle with a shareholder action group claiming compensation over its 2008 rights issue, following several delays to the start of its High Court trial.
Premaitha's IONA test validated on Thermo Fisher instrument range
International molecular diagnostics group Premaitha Health announced on Friday that the IONA test, the company's CE-IVD non-invasive prenatal test, had been validated for use on Thermo Fisher Scientific's Ion S5 range of instruments.
Friday broker round-up
GlaxoSmithKline: Berenberg upgrades to Buy with a target price of 1885p.
London midday: Stocks edge higher as pound drops after election poll gap narrows
London stocks had edged higher by midday, boosted by a weaker pound as the first poll since the Manchester bomb attack showed the Tory lead over Labour narrowing.
Informa impresses with 'strong' exhibitions and 'steady' remainder
Full year numbers from Informa are looking increasingly assured after the first quarter of the year, thanks to strong trading at its exhibitions arm, "steady" trading from events, business and academic publishing and a faster integration of last years £1. 2bn acquisition of Penton.
Conservative lead slashed to five points in latest poll
Theresa May's Conservative party has seen its lead over Labour cut to five points, according to the latest poll carried out by YouGov for The Times.
Asia report: Markets mixed after OPEC output cut extension
Asian markets ended mixed on Friday, with traders having a muted reaction to the news that oil producers had agreed to extend output cuts by nine months at an OPEC meeting in Vienna.
Petrofac falls again after RBC downgrades on contract implications from SFO probe
Petrofac shares lost further ground on Friday after RBC Capital Markets downgraded its recommendation and hacked its target price down due to the implications of a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.
US pre-open: Stocks to nudge lower ahead of GDP data
US futures pointed to a marginally weaker open on Wall Street on Friday as investors eyed the release of some key US economic growth data ahead of the long weekend.
Jefferies slashes Acacia target price as sees low chance of solution
Jefferies slashed its target price on Acacia Mining by 41% to 265p after a Tanzanian presidential committee accused the miner of under-reporting gold contained in 277 containers for export.
Cash shell Orogen looking to buy Thread 35
Recently-formed AIM Rule 15 cash shell seeking a reverse takeover, Orogen, announced on Friday that it had agreed heads of terms with Thread 35 to acquire Thread's entire issued share capital, subject to certain conditions and due diligence.
NAHL sets up alternative business structure with Redde unit
Legal services-focussed consumer marketing business NAHL Group announced on Friday that, following the granting of an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) licence by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, it had now signed an agreement with NewLaw - a wholly owned subsidiary of Redde.
Scientific Digital Imaging ending year in line with expectations
Scientific and technology products manufacturer Scientific Digital Imaging updated the market on its trading for the 12 months to 30 April on Friday.
London open: Stocks flat, pound loses ground as Tory lead over Labour narrows
London stocks were steady in early trade while the pound lost ground as the first poll since the Manchester bomb attack showed the Tory lead over Labour narrowing.
Spirax-Sarco to buy US electrical products provider Chromalox for $415m
Spirax-Sarco Engineering has agreed to buy US-based electrical products provider Chromalox from Irving Place Capital for a cash-free, debt-free consideration of $415m (£319m).
Anglo African considering next moves at Tilapia
Independent oil and gas developer Anglo African Oil & Gas announced on Friday that testing of the R2 reservoir in well TLP-102 had confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons and pressure within the reservoir.
Oakley Capital completes acquisition of TechInsights majority stake
Oakley Capital Investments announced on Friday that the Oakley Capital Private Equity III fund had now completed the acquisition of a majority stake in TechInsights.
JPMorgan upgrades Restaurant Group, says shares are too cheap
JPMorgan Cazenove upgraded Restaurant Group to 'overweight' from 'neutral' and lifted the price target to 380p from 340p following the company's first-quarter update on Friday, as it now sees upside to the share price.
Experian drops on Deutsche Bank downgrade
Credit checking agency Experian was under the cosh on Friday as Deutsche Bank downgraded the stock to 'sell' from 'hold' and cut the price target to 1,460p from 1,560p.