Market Report
FTSE 100 movers: Housebuilders up on Bellway update; Micro focus hit by downgrade
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 2% to 7,513. 37 in afternoon trade as investors digested the latest data on UK employment and looked ahead to an expected rate rise from the Federal Reserve.
Futura Medical product development continues 'apace'
Transdermal technology-focussed healthcare company Futura Medical was set to hold its annual general meeting on Wednesday, with chairman John Clarke telling the gathered investors that the firm’s development and commercialisation of its product pipeline had continued apace.
US retail sales unexpectedly drop in May
US retail sales unexpectedly fell in May, to their lowest since January 2016, according to data from the Commerce Department.
Pound stutters amid May's DUP talk delays, support for 'soft' Brexit
While Theresa May battles to agree a pact with her Northern Irish kingmakers in order to form a government, fellow senior Conservatives are confident of securing a new 'softer' Brexit approach in forthcoming divorce talks with the European Union.
K3 Capital reports 'strong' performance
Business and company sales specialist K3 Capital Group issued a pre-close trading update ahead of its final results for the year ended 31 May on Wednesday, reporting that “strong performance” had continued across the group, resulting in “significant” revenue growth and strengthening underlying normalised EBITDA when compared to the prior year.
Metminco selling Los Calatos interest to CD Capital for $5m
Metminco announced on Wednesday that it had executed a binding agreement with CD Capital Natural Resources Fund III LP to sell its 49% interest in Los Calatos Holding Limited - owner of the Los Calatos Project in Peru - for approximately $5m cash consideration, net of costs.
London midday: Stocks push up as pound slips after employment data
London stocks had extended gains by midday on Wednesday as the pound ticked down after data revealed that real wages have fallen but unemployment has held steady in the UK.
Minions, Hello Kitty and Barcelona kits under investigation by EU
Barcelona football kits and clothes and accessories branded with Hello Kitty and 'Minions' characters are being investigated by the European Union over possible illegal licensing and distribution practices/.
Comment: Markets price pause after Fed's June hike
Analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya discusses the major drivers for the Fed policy, expectations for 2017 and examining the positive and negative risks on the US dollar.
UK consumer crunch intensifies as earnings growth slows amid inflation spike
The squeeze on UK households is tightening, as wage growth continues to slow amid a spike in inflation, meaning real wages are falling at the fastest pace in three years.
Europe midday: Tech bounce continues ahead of Fed
Gains in technology shares propelled the main European equity gauges higher even as investors waited on Wednesday evening's US central bank policy announcement, with analysts and traders split on whether or not the Federal Reserve would sound a 'dovish' note.
Elliott renews attack on BHP Billiton board
BHP Billiton's new chairman should "review" and "upgrade" the mining group's board of directors, activist investor Elliott Management has demanded, citing the backing of several other major shareholders.
US pre-open: Stocks set for muted open ahead of expected rate hike
US futures pointed to a muted open on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors priced in the second rate hike of the year by the Federal Reserve.
Ofwat fines Thames Water £8.55m for missing leakage targets
Regulator Ofwat has fined Thames Water £8. 55m - the maximum penalty - for failing to meet its commitments to reduce leakage in 2016-2017.
IGas progressing with shale work programme
IGas issued a trading statement for the period from 1 January to 13 June on Wednesday, as investors gathered for the company’s annual general meeting, which was beginning during the morning.
Asia report: Markets lower amid focus on China data, Fed decision
Most markets in Asia were in the red on Wednesday, after the release of Chinese data broadly in line with expectations, and as volumes lowered as investors kept their wallets closed ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on US interest rates.
Eurozone industrial production continues to slow in April
Industrial production within the single currency bloc continued slowing in April, with a slowdown in output of capital goods weighing on growth.
Advanced Oncotherapy adds Jonathan Farr as senior VP
Next-generation proton therapy systems developer Advanced Oncotherapy announced the appointment of Jonathan Farr as senior vice-president of medical physics with immediate effect on Wednesday.
St Ives 'much improved' at start of second half
Marketing services group St Ives updated the market on its current trading on Wednesday, saying that following a challenging first half of the financial year, the first four months of the second half had - as anticipated - delivered a “much improved performance”, though the board’s expectations for the full year remained unchanged.