Market Pulse
FCA fines tally falls to 15-year low
The number of fines imposed by the Financial Conduct Authority in 2017 has fallen to the lowest since 2002 when modern regulation of the City was in its infancy.
US close: Markets lower, Dow breaks winning streak
Wall Street’s main indices gave up earlier gains to close lower on Thursday, as healthcare, materials and telecoms stocks dragged investor sentiment down late in the session.
Friday preview: EU council summit conclusion, SThree and Trinity Mirror updates
The conclusion of the EU Council summit will be the main focus for markets on Friday, with no FTSE 350 companies expected to report results.
Walt Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets in $52.4bn deal, including Sky stake
Walt Disney has announced an agreement to buy the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox in a deal worth around $52. 4bn, including a 39% stake in UK broadcaster Sky.
Scotland introduces income tax raise for top earners
The Scottish government has announced it will increase the tax paid by the country’s highest earners, as it bids to raise extra money to fund wage increases in the public sector.
London close: Footsie lower as traders test Sterling upside
London stocks finished lower on Thursday as the Bank of England stood pat on monetary policy, as widely expected, but amid dovishness across the Pond and on the other side of the Channel which resulted in a stronger Sterling.
BoE expects gradual and limited policy tightening over medium-term
The Bank of England kept policy on hold by a unanimous vote as had been widely-anticipated given previous guidance for a very gradual pace of tightening over the medium-term.
ECB keeps all rates unchanged, confirms guidance on asset purchases
The European Central Bank has opted to keep all its main policy rates unchanged, with policy-makers reiterating that they expect to keep all their key rates as they are until well past the end of the ECB's net asset purchase programme.
China tweaks lending rates after Fed decision
China's central bank tweaked two of its policy rates in what some analysts said was a bid to relieve pressure on the country's currency.
Google trends reveal the most searched terms of 2017
Bitcoin, the increasingly popular cryptocurrency has dominated Google’s top searches this year.
Zotefoams investing £12m in Croydon facility
Cellular materials technology company Zotefoams announced that it will invest approximately £12m to increase capacity at its Croydon site.
BT to benefit from catalysts in new year - UBS
BT Group shares could benefit from a series of potential catalysts in coming months, believes UBS, including good news on its pension deficit and about its Openreach arm.
Europe midday: Stocks slip ahead of ECB
Stocks are holding lower, tracking a mixed close on Wall Street overnight and on the back of a mixed batch of economic data out of China overnight and a tweak in monetary policy by the People's Bank of China - a timely reminder perhaps of the potential ripple effects of US policy decisions and vice-versa.
Magnolia pleased with initial production at Gilchrist
US-focussed oil and gas exploration and production company Magnolia Petroleum announced on Thursday that the initial production rates for the Gilchrist 2016 1-36H well in Oklahoma had significantly exceeded its projections, producing 652 barrels of oil per day (bopd), with a volumetric flow rate of 1,178 Mcfd - or 770 barrels of oil equivalent per day - with an associated flowing tubing pressure of 120 psi.
Brave Bison extends video deal with Royal Dutch Shell
Social video company Brave Bison has entered into a two-year extension of its commercial partnership with Royal Dutch Shell, it announced on Thursday.
US pre-open: Stocks to nudge up ahead of retail sales; Walt Disney announces 21st Century deal
US futures pointed to a marginally firmer open on Wall Street on Thursday as investors eyed the release of key retail sales data.
Avation enters $100m aircraft revolving credit facility agreement
Avation has entered into a secured aircraft revolving facility agreement with an unnamed “leading” international bank, it announced on Thursday.
London midday: Stocks maintain slight losses as BoE stands pat
London stocks were still slightly weaker by midday on Thursday as the Bank of England stood pat on monetary policy, as widely expected.
Asia report: Markets lower as Hong Kong, Beijing move interest rates higher
Markets in Asia finished lower on Thursday, as both the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the People’s Bank of China raised rates in the wake of the latest rate increase from the US Federal Reserve.
Bonds: Euro area periphery risk spreads jump
These were the movements in some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields: US: 2. 34% (-6bp)UK: 1. 22% (-0bp)Germany: 0. 31% (+0bp)France: 0. 66% (+2bp)Italy: 1. 80% (+9bp)Spain: 1. 50% (+4bp)Greece: 4. 26% (-12bp) Portugal: 1. 88% (+4bp)Japan: 0,05% (+0bp) .