Weekly review
The FTSE 100 ended the week down 23.44 points to 6,996.26 points.
Equity view
International Consolidated Airlines Group posted its group consolidated results for the nine months to 30 September on Friday, with third quarter operating profit €1. 21bn before exceptional items, down from €1. 25bn a year ago.
Royal Bank of Scotland swung to a loss in the third quarter, as it took a hit from litigation and restructuring costs.
Chemicals company Elementis’ sales for speciality products rose in the third quarter but the chromium business remained “challenging”, while overall earnings for the year are anticipated to be in line with market expectations.
Telecommunications provider BT Group announced its results for the second quarter and half year to 30 September on Thursday, with reported revenue up 35% for the quarter, and growth in underlying revenue - excluding transit adjusted for the acquisition of EE - up 1. 1%.
Barclays reported a rise in third-quarter pre-tax profit as it benefited form a strong performance in its fixed trading division.
Textile service company Berendsen’s quarterly revenue rose, but continued operational issues resulted in higher costs.
Department store chain Debenhams posted a small increase in underlying full-year pre-tax profit on Thursday, but reported profit fell and the company said the trading environment in the second half was more challenging.
Automotive distributor and retailer Inchcape third quarter revenues increased as it benefitted from the weak pound.
Moneysupermarket.com Group announced the appointment of Mark Lewis as chief executive officer on Thursday, succeeding Peter Plumb who had indicated in August that he will step down on or before the group's annual general meeting in May next year.
Kaz Minerals reported a rise in copper cathode equivalent output for the third quarter thanks to stronger production in the East Region, Bozymchak and Aktogay.
Ladbrokes and Coral will be able to complete their merger "in the very near future" after the competition regulator gave its final approval on Wednesday.
Plane-maker Boeing reported a significant rise in its quarterly earnings on Wednesday before the bell, easily exceeding estimates given by analysts ahead of the report.
Carpetright defied expectations that it would warn on profits on Tuesday, instead admitting that while gross margins will be hit by the weak pound it remains confident of hitting full year profit targets.
Whitbread sprinkled a 5% dividend hike on a strong set of interim results, but investors overlooked acceleration at the Premier Inn hotels arm to focus on a dip in profits from Costa coffee shops.
Glencore hit a 15-month high on Tuesday after news emerged that it had agreed a much improved coal deal with an important Japanese buyer.
Shares in AIM-listed value retailer Shoe Zone rose over 15% on Monday as it reported that its full year revenue is expected to increase, while it closes loss making stores.
Oil services engineer Wood Group has won a five-year contract extension to provide services on the Hibernia oil field offshore Newfoundland.
Randgold Resources updated the market on its owned-and-operated Tongon gold mine in Côte d'Ivoire on Monday, saying it continued to “highlight exciting possibilities” for further investment in the country.
Softer conditions in the wireless and satellite communications (satcom) markets have led Cobham to issue a profit warning.
Economic news
Rising inflation due to a weak pound and concerns about Brexit have taken their toll on consumer morale in Britain, a GfK survey said on Friday. The GfK consumer confidence index fell to -3 in October from -1 the previous month.
Consumer confidence has wavered due to fears finances will be squeezed post Brexit, according to a survey by YouGov and the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR). The consumer confidence index fell to 109.3 in October from 111.5 in the previous month.
The UK economy grew more than expected in the third quarter, according to the first official data covering a full quarter since the Brexit vote.
London house prices are expected to decline next year as Prime Minister Theresa May plans to trigger Article 50 of the formal Brexit process, according to a top economics consultancy, Cebr said.
The number of traditional retailers in Britain are declining at the fastest rate in four years with 2,656 closures in the first six months of the year, according to a report by PwC and the Local Data company (LDC).
Industrial orders in the UK fell sharply in October, with most manufacturers stating that Sterling's fall since the referendum had a negative net impact on business, despite which business optimism staged a big recovery over the past three months.
International events
Consumer confidence in the US fell back to its levels of last September and of September 2014, with one in five persons anticipating an economic downturn sometime over the next five years.
Economic growth in the States accelerated more than expected in the third quarter as foreign trade and inventory accumulation made up for a slowdown in households´ spending and in business investment. US GDP rose 2.9% compared to forecasts of 2.6% and the previous quarter’s 1.4% growth.
US orders for goods made to last more than three years turned lower in September, with fewer Defence orders acting as the main drag.
US pending home sales jumped more than expected last month thanks to a robust increase in the West and a healthy push higher in the South, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell less than expected last week, according to data released by the Labor Department.
The US trade deficit in goods declined by $3. 1bn in September from the month before to reach $56.1bn, according to preliminary data from the US Census Bureau.
US manufacturing activity expanded further in October, signalling a solid upturn in overall business conditions.