Market Report
London midday: Stock gains cut as oil prices tank; payrolls eyed
London's FTSE 100 was easing back from a fresh intraday high by midday on Friday, with weaker oil prices offsetting a stronger-than-expected reading on the UK construction sector, as investors eyed the release of the latest non-farm payrolls report.
Cohort subsidiary awarded another two MoD contracts
Independent technology group Cohort announced on Friday that its subsidiary Marlborough Communications (MCL) was awarded two contracts by the Ministry of Defence to supply and support hearing protection systems and communication ancillaries for land, maritime and air applications, worth a combined £5. 5m.
Atalaya to study possible expansion at Proyecto Riotinto
European mining and development company Atalaya Mining announced on Friday that the board of directors had approved a study to demonstrate the feasibility of increasing the mining and processing capacity beyond the current 9. 5Mtpa to a maximum of 15. 0Mtpa at Proyecto Riotinto.
Vipera signs multi-country payments deal with Bankart
Mobile financial services and digital customer engagement solutions provider Vipera announced a multi-year agreement with payment processor Bankart on Friday, providing ATM, point-of-sale, card and Single Euro Payments Area processing services to 26 banks and other financial institutions in five countries in south eastern Europe.
As Easyjet recovery takes off over summer, HSBC ups target
With the low cost airline industry improving structurally, HSBC upped its price target on Easyjet as it expects evidence of the airline’s recovery to mount through the summer.
Asia report: Markets finish higher after positive US jobs data
Markets in Asia finished mostly higher on Friday, with traders turning their attention stateside as stronger payroll statistics offset the effect of the US withdrawal from the Paris Accord climate agreement at the behest of Donald Trump.
Europe midday: Shares advance as investors continue to search for yield
European stocks were continuing their move higher, tracking the fresh record highs notched up overnight by the main Wall Street gauges as investors continued to search for yield against a backdrop of improving macro data, according to strategists.
CPS charges Conservative MP Mackinlay over election expenses offences
Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay and two party workers have been charged over allegedly overspending on expenses in the last general election.
Greka Drilling secures $2.5m loan
AIM-listed unconventional oil and gas driller Greka Drilling has secured a $2. 5m loan, which will be used to pay creditors and for working capital purposes.
Google plans to build new 'landscraper' London HQ
US tech giant Google has submitted plans to construct a new 92,000 square-metre London headquarters near King’s Cross station.
Photo-Me expecting serious lift in profit
Instant-service equipment group Photo-Me updated the market on its trading for the year to 30 April on Friday, ahead of its final results which would be published on 27 June.
Draper Esprit raises another £100m
High-growth digital technology venture capital firm Draper Esprit announced on Friday that gross proceeds of approximately £100m had been raised at an issue price of 324p per share, by way of the conditional placing of 25,912,346 new ordinary shares and a subscription of 4,951,851 new ordinary shares.
US pre-open: Stocks to make more gains as investors eye payrolls
US stocks looked set to build on the gains they made in the previous session on Friday amid growing expectations that the latest non-farm payrolls report will cement the case for a Fed rate hike.
WYG awarded three contracts in UK, Africa
Global project management and technical consultancy WYG announced on Friday that it was recently awarded two major new framework contracts with UK government agencies, and a significant new contract in Africa in its international development market.
Fashion store sales drag down high street sales - BDO
Like-for-like retail sales on Britain's high streets were down 1. 3% in May, according to a survey published on Friday.
US, Brazil and North Sea 'benefitting most' from Opec cuts
A possible new trend of oil being supplied to Asia from the US, Brazil and the North Sea has been identified, as the Opec production cuts alters global oil flows.
Inmarsat dashes takeover rumours with contract announcements
Dashing hopes of takeover talks that had emerged earlier in the week, Inmarsat published two announcements on Friday, but these were to reveal two new satellite contracts.
UK construction activity surprisingly surges to 17-month high
UK construction activity improved much more than expected in May, according a Markit survey published on Friday.
B&M European shares fall as Arora family sells major stake
B&M European Value Retail chief executive Simon Arora's family investment vehicle and a private equity backer have together offloaded £454. 3m worth of shares in the discount chain.