Market Report
Deflation risks have definitely gone away, ECB's Draghi says
Rate-setters at the European Central Bank are more confident that inflation is headed back towards their targetted level.
Auto Trader revs up dividend, shares fall on softer advertising warning
Auto Trader Group more than tripled its dividend as revenue and earnings beat expectations for its full-year performance, with the new year forecast to see greater used car sales volumes and improving margins but a slowing in display advertising growth.
Final election polls show widening Tory lead, but survey doubts remain
As Britain heads to the voting booths, most opinion polls showed a solid lead for the Conservative party as the recent narrowing over Labour eased, though doubts remain over the accuracy of such surveys after major misfires in recent years.
JP Morgan says share price drop in RPC Group unwarranted
JP Morgan said investors risked overlooking the merits of RPC Group's 'equity story' amid the din of the negative share price reaction to the company's fiscal year 2017 results.
Feedback signs exclusive distributor arrangement with Korea ISG
Cambridge Computed Imaging, a subsidiary of AIM-listed medical imaging software company Feedback, has signed an exclusive distributor arrangement with Seoul-based Korea ISG for the sales and distribution of its TexRAD texture analysis software.
London midday: Stocks dip as UK election voting gets underway
London stocks were a touch weaker by midday on Thursday as Britons headed to the polls to vote in the snap general election called by PM Theresa May in a bid to strengthen her mandate ahead of Brexit negotiations.
Coral Products reports 'much improved performance'
Coral Products issued an update on Thursday, saying that its actions announced in November and December last year to “address poor trading performance” at its subsidiary, Coral Products Mouldings, had resulted in a “much improved performance” in that division for the remainder of the financial year to 30 April.
Berenberg upgrades Mothercare, expects sentiment to improve
Analysts at Berenberg upgraded their recommendation on shares of Mothercare from 'sell' to 'hold' after its UK arm moved past breakeven and ahead of an expected boost to its foreign operations from a weaker pound.
ECB removes reference to lower rates, more QE possible
The European Central Bank left all its key interest rates unchanged, as expected.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals to sell iNova for $930m
Valeant Pharmaceuticals has agreed to sell its iNova Pharmaceuticals business to a company jointly owned by funds advised and managed by Pacific Equity Partners and The Carlyle Group for $930m in cash.
Rentokil Initial JV with Germany's Haniel gets EC clearance
Rentokil Initial's joint venture with Germany's Haniel has been given unconditional clearance by the European Commission.
Rockhopper Exploration sells Italian portfolio to Northern Petroleum
Rockhopper Exploration has streamlined its Italian portfolio by agreeing to sell a portfolio of non-core onshore assets to AIM-listed Northern Petroleum, which includes one gas-producing field and five other concessions.
Europe midday: Banks pace gains after strong GDP data
Shares pushed higher on the back of gains in banks and miners following better-than-expected data out of the single currency bloc and China.
Euro area growth picks up more than expected in first quarter
Economic activity in the Eurozone accelerated unexpectedly at the start of 2017.
Demand for Chinese exports holds up better-than-expected in May
Foreign demand for Chinese exports held up better than expected last month as did domestic appetite for wares from abroad, although some economists believed strength in imports was unlikely to be sustained.
Asia report: Markets mostly higher ahead of global risk events
Markets in Asia were mostly higher on Thursday ahead of a number of risky events through the rest of the global day, with the UK general election and the latest ECB meeting happening in Europe, and James Comey set to testify in front of a Senate committee on the Trump-Russia scandal in the US.
TUI left frustrated as Etihad walks away from talks
TUI Group has been left hanging after United Arab Emirates based Etihad Aviation walked away from talks about a potential joint venture between the German aviation subsidiary TUI fly and Niki.
IWG rallies on bid speculation
Shares in office space provider IWG, formerly Regus, were on the front foot on Thursday amid speculation it might be taken over.
Bellzone successfully renegotiates Kalia Mine convention
Bellzone Mining announced on Thursday that negotiations, including approval for the ferronickel project, had concluded “satisfactorily” after it confirmed negotiations were underway to update and amend the 2010 mining convention for the Kalia Mine on 29 March.
US pre-open: Stocks seen touch higher as Comey testimony eyed
US futures suggested a marginally firmer open on Wall Street on Thursday as investors looked to key events, including the testimony of former FBI boss James Comey and a general election in the UK.