Market Report
Petrofac profits rise as CEO returns to full duties
Oil services outfit Petrofac on Thursday said full-year earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 3. 7% to $730m as it announced chief executive Ayman Asfari would resume full duties “with immediate effect”.
FX round-up: Pound edges higher despite Brexit headwinds
Cable saw slight gains on Thursday, against the backdrop of what some analysts described as a more dovish testimony from US central bank chief Jerome Powell.
Friday preview: May set to lay out vision of future trade relationship with EU
Barring any surprises, the spotlight at the end of the week will be on Theresa May as she sets out her cabinet's vision for the UK's future trade relationship with Brussels.
Bonds: Yields slip on less hawkish second take from Fed's Powell
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2. 81% (-5bp) UK: 1. 47% (-3bp) Germany: 0. 64% (-1bp) Spain: 1. 51% (-3bp) France: 0. 91% (-1bp) Italy: 1. 95% (-3bp) Portugal: 1. 95% (-4bp) Greece: 4. 47% (+6bp) Japan: 0. 04% (-1bp).
Commodities: Wheat boosted by arctic blast, aluminium by Trump tariffs
Big gains for soft commodities on the back of the blast of Arctic weather sweeping through Europe helped insulate the entire complex from the impact of strength in the Greenback.
Results round-up
Chemicals business Synthomer said full year underlying profit before tax increased to £130m from £122. 2m after hitting record revenues.
Zanaga share prices flounder after second update deadline missed
Zanaga Iron Ore Company delayed the announcement of its project update on Thursday, causing a drop in share prices of over 10%.
Europe close: Stocks begin month on back foot
European stocks finished lower on the first session the month, with traders trying and digest the potential implication for equities of a modestly more hawkish policy bias from rate-setters in the US and ahead of two key votes at the weekend in Italy and Germany.
London close: FTSE starts March lower as WPP and ex-divs drag
London stocks staggered lower as Thursday's session went on, dragged lower by disappointing results from advertising giant WPP, mixed economic data and a heavyweight group of stocks going ex-dividend.
Indivior launches monthly opioid addiction injection in US
Indivior has launched its new once-a-month version of its opioid addiction treatment in the US amid a Donald Trump's 'war on opioid addiction'.
US open: Stocks mixed as investors await Powell's second testimony this week
Wall Street trading opened on a mixed note on Thursday as investors sifted through a slew of economic data while awaiting new Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s second testimony this week.
US manufacturing sector expands at fastest pace in nearly 14 years - ISM
Growth in the US economy’s manufacturing sector unexpectedly rose in February, according to data from the Institute for Supply Management.
TechFinancials progressing to wind-down non-core assets
Financial trading technology company TechFinancials updated the market on its non-core subsidiaries B. O. TradeFinancials (BOT) and MarketFinancials (MF) on Thursday.
Tim Livesey takes up CEO office at Stratex
Stratex confirmed on Thursday that Tim Livesey has joined its board as chief executive officer, and Dr Bob Foster has resigned from the board.
Accesso Technology teams up with Henry Ford Health System
Leisure, entertainment, cultural and hospitality technology solutions provider accesso Technology Group announced its first healthcare partnership on Thursday - a long-term agreement with Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) for the use of TE2, its digital experience and personalisation platform.
Brave Bison extends agreement with All Nippon Airways
Social video company Brave Bison Group has signed a contract renewal with Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) to develop and produce ANA's second social video marketing campaign, it announced on Thursday.
Director dealings: Wizz Air chief executive dumps nearly £5.5m worth of shares
Vaxco Holdings, a Malta-based holding company associated with Wizz Air chief executive Jozsef Varadi, disposed of 150,000 ordinary shares in the budget airline on Thursday, picking up nearly £5. 5m in the process.
Markit's US manufacturing PMI eases in February
Growth in the US manufacturing sector eased back a touch in February, according to data released on Thursday.
FTSE 250 movers: Merlin Entertainment rallies but Aveva slumps
London’s FTSE 250 was down 0. 7% to 19,541. 61 in afternoon trading on Thursday.
US retailers rethink gun sales policies as Trump backs tighter controls
In the aftermath of the massacre at a Florida high school last month, Donald Trump has backed gun control proposals in opposition to the powerful National Rifle Association and much of his own party.