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SoftBank in talks to buy UK’s Graphcore - report
Japan’s SoftBank is reportedly in talks to buy Graphcore, a struggling British semiconductor start-up once valued at $2. 8bn.
OSB Q1 performance 'stable', reiterates FY guidance
Lending and retail savings group OSB said on Wednesday that its Q1 financial and operational performance was "stable", with underlying net interest margins on track to meet full-year guidance.
Workspace poaches Capital & Regional boss as new CEO
Office provider Workspace has appointed Capital & Regional boss Lawrence Hutchings as its chief executive designate to replace its current CEO who announced his retirement in January.
London open: Stocks gain as Informa, Wetherspoons rally
London stocks rose in early trade on Wednesday, helped along by solid performances from the likes of Informa and Wetherspoons, as investors eyed this week’s Bank of England policy announcement.
Europe open: Shares rise amid corporate results, German data
European shares rose at the open on Wednesday amid another dump of corporate earnings and a smaller-than-expected fall in German industrial output.
Direct Line Q1 premiums up on price hikes
UK insurer Direct Line on Wednesday reported a large rise in first-quarter written premiums as it hammered consumers with price hikes.
Boohoo full-year losses widen amid 'challenging' trading conditions
Fast-fashion retailer Boohoo reported a widening of its full-year losses on Wednesday in "challenging" trading conditions, as it was hit by inflation and weaker demand.
German industrial production falls less than expected
Industrial output in Germany fell in March, according to data released on Wednesday by the Federal Statistical Office, Destatis, though it wasn't as big a drop as expected after figures for the previous month were revised lower.
Informa expands share buyback programme, Renishaw reports mixed markets
London open The FTSE 100 is expected to open 18 points higher on Wednesday, having closed up 1. 22% on Tuesday at 8,313. 67.
JD Wetherspoon sees FY profits at top of market forecast
Pub group JD Wetherspoon said on Wednesday that full-year profits were set to be towards the top of market expectations as it reported a jump in third-quarter sales, boosted by sales of traditional ales and Guinness.
Renishaw lowers upper end of FY revenue, profit guidance
Technical instruments maker Renishaw on Wednesday lowered the upper end of full-year guidance amid what it described as “mixed” markets as earnings fell over the first nine months of its financial year.
London pre-open: FTSE seen up as attention turns to BoE
London stocks were set for more gains on Wednesday as investors looked ahead to this week’s policy announcement from the Bank of England.
Informa ups buyback after strong start to 2024
B2B events, publishing and data group Informa has lifted its share buyback programme by 50% after announcing a strong operating performance for the first four months of the year, with revenues, profits and cash flow expected to reach the upper end of guidance.
Wednesday newspaper round-up: E-gates, Mike Ashley, Brexit
More than 800,000 people in Europe and the US appear to have been duped into sharing card details and other sensitive personal data with a vast network of fake online designer shops apparently operated from China. An international investigation by the Guardian, Die Zeit and Le Monde gives a rare inside look at the mechanics of what the UK’s Chartered Trading Standards Institute has described as one of the largest scams of its kind, with 76,000 fake websites created.
US close: Dow Jones delivers fifth-straight daily gain
Major indices turned in a mixed performance on Tuesday as the blue-chip Dow Jones registered its fifth positive session in a row.