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Weekly review
The FTSE 100 ended the week up 261. 61 points, or 3. 2%, closing at 8,433. 76 on Friday.
Europe close: London, Paris and Frankfurt hit new highs as stocks rise
Europe stocks rose strongly again on Friday, with the Stoxx 600 setting yet another record high as benchmark indices in London, Paris and Frankfurt all finished at fresh peaks.
Fed members continue to push back against rate-cut hopes
Federal Reserve policymakers are continuing to push back against expectations for significant interest-rate cuts this year, with governor Michelle Bowman asking for patience before any policy easing takes place.
London close: Stocks rise further as UK exits recession
London stocks finished the trading week on a positive note on Friday, driven by gains in the mining sector, following the release of data indicating the UK's exit from recession.
US open: Dow continues to rally, Nasdaq heads south
Wall Street stocks were mostly in the green early on Friday, with the blue-chip Dow Jones on track for an eighth-straight winning session.
FTSE 100 movers: CRH rallies; Rightmove in the red
London’s FTSE 100 was up 0. 7% at 8,436 in afternoon trade on Friday.
US consumer sentiment at six-month low as outlook weakens
Consumer sentiment in the United States dropped to a six-month low in May, according to a closely watched survey from the University of Michigan, falling much more than economists were expecting.
Motors.co.uk said to be circling Cazoo Group
Privately owned used-car platform Motors. co. uk is reportedly circling Cazoo Group, which is on the brink of administration.
Honda guides to profit decline this year as sales stall
Japanese carmaker Honda said that annual profits are expected to fall after a huge jump in the year just gone, with currency movements and rising costs estimated to weigh on the bottom line.
US pre-open: Dow Jones on track for eighth-straight winning session
Wall Street futures were in the green ahead of the bell on Friday as the blue-chip Dow Jones was on track for an eighth-straight winning session.
Novavax signs $1.2bn Covid-19 licensing deal with Sanofi, shares rocket
Shares of US biotech firm Novavax rocketed on Friday after it signed a $1. 2bn licensing agreement with French pharmaceutical group Sanofi to commercialise its Covid-19 vaccine from next year.
JPMorgan still positive on UK banks despite potential rate cuts
JPMorgan has said that dovish comments from the Bank of England this week don't alter its constructive view on UK banking stocks, even if interest rates do fall more sharply than markets are currently pricing in.
IAG sees strong summer demand as Q1 profits take off
British Airways owner IAG said it was "well positioned" for the summer after posting a huge rise in first quarter profit on the back of strong leisure travel demand, especially over the Easter holidays.
Artemis raises AUD 2.9m to fund further exploration
Artemis Resources announced on Friday that it has successfully secured firm commitments for a capital raising of AUD 2. 87m (£1. 51m), priced at AUD 0. 01275 per share, with significant support reported from both sophisticated and institutional investors.
London midday: Stocks extend gains as miners rally; GDP in focus
London stocks had extended gains by midday on Friday, with miners pacing the advance, as data showed the UK is no longer in recession.
Europe midday: Stoxx scales new heights as UK GDP growth lifts sentiment
European shares hit fresh record highs on Friday as news that the UK had officially exited recession in the first quarter boosted sentiment.
Berenberg hikes target price on John Wood
Analysts at Berenberg raised their target price on engineering and consulting business John Wood Group from 150. 0p to 220. 0p on Friday following the group's first-quarter trading statement that came hot on the heels of news that it had rejected a takeover bid at 205. 0p per share.
Polarean shares jump on MRI system order
Advanced MRI technology specialist Polarean Imaging shares were surging on Friday, after receiving its second de novo order for a new Xenon MRI System from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital.
Ascent upbeat on progress as Lisbon Valley gas and helium investment
Ascent Resources updated the market on operations in its investment into GNG Partners, the owner of the 60 million standard cubic feet Lisbon Valley gas and helium processing plant in Utah, on Friday.