Market Report
US close: Stocks close mostly lower as Trump takes aim at Federal Reserve again
Wall Street stocks turned in a mixed performance on Thursday, with persistent tensions between the US and China and Donald Trump's criticism of Federal Reserve policy remaining in focus.
G4S examines spin-off of Cash Solutions business
G4S has begun the process to spin off its cash logisitcs business, which it thinks could crease "substantial" value for shareholders.
Europe close: Italy holds onto gains, others do not
Outside of Italy, most of Europe's main stock benchmarks failed to hold onto early gains as growth expectations for Germany were curtailed and European Central Bank confirmed the end of its quantitative easing programme.
London close: Stocks end flat as May seeks EU assurances; retailers slump
London stocks ended Thursday’s session broadly steady as initial relief over Theresa May's confidence vote victory gave way to concerns about how she's going to get her Brexit deal through parliament.
FTSE 250 movers: Sports Direct dives, Superdry bounces
London's FTSE 250 was down 0. 53% at 17,894. 21 in afternoon trade on Thursday, led lower by Sports Direct, Spire Healthcare and Ultra Electronics.
Director dealings: IWG founder ups stake
IWG chief executive Mark Dixon purchased 2. 57m ordinary shares in the FTSE 250-listed facility management and support services outfit on Thursday.
Time Out to open London market at Waterloo station
Media and entertainment business Time Out Group has signed a conditional lease agreement to open a new Time Out Market in its home city of London, it announced on Thursday, with planning already granted.
Broker tips: Marshalls, Sports Direct, Ultra Electronics
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity upped their target price on British stone and concrete manufacturer Marshalls on Thursday, seeing benefits from its "relatively sizeable" acquisition of Edenhall.
Peel Hunt downgrades Sports Direct after interims
Peel Hunt downgraded its stance on Sports Direct to ‘hold’ from ‘add’ on Thursday and cut the price target to 260p from 450p following the retailer’s interim results.
FTSE 100 movers: Tui trots higher on results; retailers under the cosh
London’s FTSE 100 was flat at 6,878. 25 in afternoon trade on Thursday as investors continued to fret about how Theresa May will get her Brexit deal through parliament.
Erris Resources upbeat despite disappointment at two projects
Europe-focussed mineral exploration company Erris Resources updated the market on the Centerra-funded exploration programmes in Sweden on Thursday, reporting that at the Brännberg Project, a total of 14 holes totalling 2,681. 7m were drilled between July and September, with full results received during November into early December.
US open: Stocks record small gains despite ongoing geopolitical tensions
Stocks opened slightly higher on Wall Street on Thursday, despite persistent tensions between the US and China and ongoing infighting amongst the members of the Conservative party across the pond.
Virgin Galactic sends first commercial pilots to space
Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is taking the lead in the race to take paying passengers into space as it prepares to carry out its first test flight with commercial pilots on Thursday.
Integumen teams up with Rinocloud to develop 'Labskin-on-a-Chip'
Integumen announced a cross-platform biophysics agreement with artificial intelligence (AI) developer Rinocloud on Thursday, in association with Cork Institute of Technology's Nimbus embedded systems research institute and its Cappa Photonics Laboratory, to develop ‘Labskin-On-A-Chip’ (LOAC) technology.
US import prices fall more than twice as quickly than expected in November
US import prices slid last month more than twice as quickly than most analysts had been anticipating.
Europe midday: Stocks little changed after IFO takes axe to GDP forecasts
Stocks on the Continent are little changed, failing to participate in the gains seen overseas after one of the most prestigious research institutes on the Continent took an axe to its forecasts for German economic growth for this year and next.
ECB will reinvest proceeds from APP past date of first rate hike
Rate-setters at the European Central Bank stayed put on interest rates but tweaked their so-called 'forward guidance' as regards the reinvestment of the proceeds from its asset purchase programme.
Canaccord ups target price on Marshalls following acquisition
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity upped their target price on British stone and concrete manufacturer Marshalls on Thursday, seeing benefits from its "relatively sizeable" acquisition of Edenhall.
Asia report: Markets rise as China looks to ease trade tension
Markets in Asia finished higher on Thursday, led by a surge in positive sentiment in China, which was egged on by a solid finish on Wall Street overnight.
General Electric launches $1.2bn IoT business
General Electric has announced the launch of a $1. 2bn Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) software business.