Market Pulse
Decline in UK consumer spending continues - Visa
The latest spending data from Visa UK showed a continued decline in household expenditure throughout September, the fourth fall in the past five months.
London close: Stocks edge higher amid political uncertainty
London stocks edged a touch higher on Friday, underpinned by a weaker pound, even as a surprise drop in US unemployment failed to stoke new gains on Wall Street.
Barratt Developments 'the cheapest housebuilder' for Credit Suisse
Barratt Developments shares were upgraded to ‘outperform’ by Credit Suisse on the back of the housebuilder's renewed focus on profit margins.
Marks & Spencer second quarter sales to fall, Deutsche maintains 'hold'
Marks & Spencer will report a fall in second quarter sales, Deutsche Bank forecast on Friday ahead of the retailer's half-year results on 8 November.
Dunedin to realise Alpha investment after AIM flotation
Investment trust Dunedin Enterprise announced on Friday that Alpha Financial Markets Consulting, in which it made a £8m investment in back in February 2016, had finalised terms for its conditional placing and proposed admission to the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
SolGold reports on drilling progress
SolGold updated the market on the drilling results of holes 23R-D1 and 24-D1R on Friday, as well as the progress of drilling at Cascabel, the company's 85%-owned copper-gold porphyry project in Ecuador.
Vietnam Infrastructure shares cancelled ahead of winding-up vote
Investment vehicle Vietnam Infrastructure announced on Friday that trading in the company's shares on AIM was suspended with effect from 0730 BST, pending the result of the extraordinary general meeting to be held at 1430 BST on 9 October, in accordance with its timetable previously announced on 25 August.
Beximco Pharmaceuticals could acquire majority of Nuvista
Generic pharmaceutical products manufacturer Beximco Pharmaceuticals announced on Friday that it entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding, under which it may acquire a majority shareholding of 85. 22% in Bangladesh-based hormones and steroid drugs specialist Nuvista Pharma.
RWS Holdings enjoys 'best year ever'
Intellectual property support services provider RWS Holdings updated the market on its trading for the year to 30 September on Friday, ahead of the announcement of its full year results, which is expected on 6 December.
UK productivity falls further to eat into Chancellor's buffer
Already low British productivity is worsening, official figures showed on Friday, which is expected to lead to reduced growth forecasts and limit.
FTSE 250 movers: Entertainment One boosted by JPM note; Renishaw hit by downgrade
London's FTSE 250 was up 0. 3% to 20,155. 61 in afternoon trade on Friday as investors digested the latest non-farm payrolls report.
US open: Stocks in the red after strong jobs report for September
Wall Street was trading on a slightly mixed note but off its session lows following an unexpectedly sharp drop in the country's jobless rate alongside a sharp pick-up in earnings growth.
GlobalData chief selling 1.4m shares in placing
GlobalData announced on Friday that it has been advised by its chief executive Mike Danson that, in response to demand from investors, he intended to sell approximately 1. 4 million ordinary shares in the company via an accelerated bookbuild placing to institutional investors at a price of 540p per share.
Chemring receives cash advance related to ammunition contract
Chemring said on Friday that it has received the cash advance payment and export licenses associated with the $30m contract to supply 40mm ammunition to an international customer.
Mirada wins new five-year contract with Bolivian pay TV operator
AIM-listed Mirada has announced a new five-year contract for its Iris multiscreen solution with Bolivian pay TV operator and broadband services provider, Digital TV Cable.
Duke Royalty enters into second financing deal with Lynx Equity UK
Duke Royalty announced on Friday that it has entered into its second royalty financing agreement with Lynx Equity UK.
Europe midday: Drop is US jobless rate pushes stocks into the red
Stocks have been pushed into the red by US data showing a big drop in the country's unemployment rate alongside a big acceleration in the pace of wage gains which has sent government debt yields higher on both sides of the Atlantic.
Medaphor finalises Intelligent Ultrasound acquisition
Welsh ultrasound software and simulation company Medaphor announced on Friday that it had completed the previously announced acquisition of Oxford-based firm Intelligent Ultrasound (IUL) after its admission of 57,477,285 new ordinary shares raised £5. 5m.
Asiamet makes 'excellent progress' on feasibility study
AIM-listed copper and gold exploration junior Asiamet Resources said on Friday that it had continued to make "excellent progress" on its feasibility study at Beruang Kanan Main (BKM) in Indonesia.
CQS grows net asset value on the back of 'more sanguine' markets
Closed-end investment company CQS New City High Yield Fund Limited said on Friday that it had grown its net asset value (NAV) 16. 13% in the year ended 30 June 2017 as markets gradually became "more sanguine" towards concerns that had muted its investment returns in the previous year.