Market Report
Europe and US drive growth at Walker Greenbank
Luxury interior furnishings group Walker Greenbank was holding its annual general meeting on Wednesday morning, with Terry Stannard set to update shareholders on the progress made by the business so far this year.
Whitbread sales froth up at Costa and Premier in first quarter
Whitbread booked in a strong start to its new financial year, with revenues at its Premier Inn hotels accelerating and Costa coffee shops sales returning to like-for-like growth.
Europe open: Banks, Big Oil lead losses
Losses for Big Oil and banks were dragging European stocks lower at the start of trading.
Berkeley Group hoists profits 53pc, remains confident despite headwinds
Housebuilder Berkeley Group lifted annual pre-tax profits 53% and while it warned the business was facing "a number of headwinds and a period of prolonged uncertainty" around its core London housing market, it had £2. 7bn of forward sales booked and remained confident of delivering its profits guidance for the next four years.
WH Ireland upbeat on trading performance
WH Ireland issued a trading update for the six months to 31 May on Wednesday, along with a change of its accounting reference period.
FTSE 100 movers: Commodity price drop hits miners, Big Oil
Miners were by far the weakest corner of the market on Tuesday amid broad-based declines in bulk metal prices, albeit with no obvious catalyst apparent.
New Shire ADHD treatment gets FDA green light
Shire announced on Wednesday that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mydayis - mixed salts of a single-entity amphetamine product - as a once-daily treatment comprised of three different types of drug-releasing beads for patients 13 years and older with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Centrica to sell two power stations for £318m
British Gas parent Centrica has agreed to sell its operational Langage and South Humber Park combined cycle gas turbine power stations to EP UK Investments for £318m in cash.
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Uber, Gemfields, Barclays boss, GVC
Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick resigned from his position as chief executive of the $68bn ride-hailing app on Tuesday, following a tumultuous six months of scandal. Kalanick stepped down in the face of pressure from five of Uber’s largest investors, according to the New York Times, which first reported Kalanick’s exit. – Guardian.
London pre-open: Stocks seen weaker as investors eye Queen's Speech
London stocks were set for a weaker open on Wednesday, taking their cue from a downbeat session on Wall Street after oil prices slid to nine-month lows, as investors awaited the Queen's Speech later in the day.