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Europe open: Shares take a breath ahead of BoE call on rates
European stocks opened lower after hitting fresh highs on Wednesday as investors turned their attention to a rate decision from the Bank of England.
London open: Stocks nudge up ahead of BoE announcement
London stocks nudged up in early trade on Thursday, with all eyes on the Bank of England policy announcement amid hopes of a summer rate cut.
Blackstone leads Hipgnosis race as Concord says bid is final
Private equity giant Blackstone appeared to have emerged as the winner in the race to buy troubled music rights owner Hipgnosis Songs Fund after Apollo-backed Concord said it's latest $1. 25-a-share offer was final.
Synthomer first-quarter trading in line
Chemicals company Synthomer said on Thursday that first-quarter trading was in line with its expectations at the start of the year and that it continues to expect to make some earnings progress in 2024.
3i Group reports 'strong' results in challenging year
3i Group reported a ‘strong’ set of results in what it described as a challenging year on Thursday, with a total return of £3. 84bn, representing a 23% return on opening shareholders' funds.
BAE holds guidance, sees boost from global tensions
Weapons maker BAE Systems held annual guidance and said global geopolitical tensions should boost orders as countries increased defence spending.
China imports smash forecasts as exports also rise
China’s exports rose 1. 5% in April, while imports surged 8. 4%, beating forecasts, according to data released by the customs agency on Thursday.
Balfour Beatty makes progress on several major projects, retains guidance
Balfour Beatty has reiterated its guidance for profit growth in 2024 after an in-line performance from the infrastructure group since the start of the year.
Apax Partners sells 27m shares in Baltic Classifieds in placing
Apax Partners has sold 27m shares in Baltic Classifieds in a placing, according to a filing by Merrill Lynch International.
Watches of Switzerland buys Roberto Coin Inc for $130m
Watches of Switzerland Group said it had bought Roberto Coin Inc for $130m as it looks to expand into the luxury jewellery market.
Wood Group Q1 EBITDA rises but revenues fall
Wood Group posted a rise in first-quarter EBITDA but a drop in revenue on Thursday, a day after saying it had rejected a £1. 4bn takeover proposal from Dubai-based Sidara.
FX movements wipe $1bn off Airtel's top line
Africa-focused telecoms group Airtel was hit hard by a drop in the Nigerian naira in the year to 31 March, with a $549m negative FX headwind pushing it into the red on a pre-tax basis and taking more than $1bn off the top line.
London pre-open: Stocks seen up ahead of BoE announcement
London stocks looked set for more gains on Thursday ahead of the Bank of England’s latest policy decision, having scaled new highs a day earlier.
3i Group announces solid full-year results, Airtel hit hard by naira devaluation
London open The FTSE 100 is expected to open 27 points higher on Thursday, having closed up 0. 49% on Wednesday at 8,354. 05.
IMI Q1 revenues rise 4%; FY guidance held
Specialist engineering firm IMI on Thursday said trading remained in line with expectations as first-quarter revenue rose 4% year on year.
Thursday newspaper round-up: Tax rises, smart meters, Selfridges
The next government will be forced to hit voters with post-election tax rises and delay net zero investment unless it is prepared to rip up Treasury rules for managing the state finances, a leading thinktank has said. The National Institute for Economic and Social Research (Niesr) called for a radical overhaul of the self-imposed constraints imposed on government borrowing and debt as it warned that persistently weak growth and lower inflation would make hitting the rules more difficult.