Market Pulse
FTSE 100 movers: Unilever and WPP lead retreat as sector growth disappoints
The FTSE 100 retreated 0. 29% in afternoon trading on Thursday as equity markets were seen affected by disappointing retail data.
Friday preview: UK public finances; results from IHG, Acacia, Renishaw
UK public finances will come under the microscope on Friday 20 October, while later on US Fed Chair Janet Yellen speaks and there are results from InterContinental Hotels, Acacia Mining and Renishaw.
Apple shares fall after Watch connection issues in China
Shares of US tech giant Apple were suffering their biggest decline in the last month after Wall Street opened on Thursday amidst reports that the Apple Watch was suffering from service issues in China.
US open: Wall Street dips on anniversary of 1987 Black Monday crash
Wall Street's main averages came under selling pressure as traders booked some profits on the 30th anniversary of the 1987 Black Monday US stock market crash that saw the S&P 500 plummet 20% in a single session.
Acacia Mining parent agrees deal with Tanzania government
Acacia Mining parent Barrick Gold has agreed for the Tanzanian government to take a 16% stake in the London-listed company's three mines in the country and to share revenues, which looks like resolving a months-long dispute.
SigmaRoc gobbles up Topcrete and Allen Concrete
Buy-and-build construction materials group SigmaRoc announced the acquisition of Topcrete and its wholly owned subsidiary Allen Concrete on Thursday, for an initial cash consideration of £9m and a deferred conditional cash consideration of £3. 5m, subject to certain adjustments in respect of completion accounts.
Keywords Studios acquires development service provider d3t
Video games industry technical services provider Keywords Studios announced on Thursday that it has acquired d3t for a total consideration of £3m from the founders Jamie Campbell and Stephen Powell, and “others”.
FTSE 250 movers: N Brown lifted by upgrade; IWG tanks on warning
London’s FTSE 250 was down 0. 8% to 20,093. 25 in afternoon trade on Thursday as investors digested the latest UK retail sales data.
Plexus sells wellhead equipment arm to TechnipFMC
Oil and gas engineering services business Plexus Holdings announced the sale of its wellhead exploration equipment and services business for Jack-Up applications to FMC Technologies, a subsidiary of TechnipFMC, on Thursday.
CentralNic pens deal with KSregistry, confirms delay to SK-NIC acquisition
Domain name sales company CentralNic Group said on Thursday that it has agreed with Germany's KSregistry for its wholesale division to provide its services for 14 top-level domain extensions currently managed by Open Registry, which KSregistry recently acquired from Group NCC.
Carnival Corporation hikes quarterly dividend
Carnival Corporation has increased its quarterly dividend for the second time this year as management expressed confidence in earnings growth and cash flows.
Genel Energy upbeat on production at Kurdish assets
Genel Energy updated the market on its trading and operations for the third quarter on Thursday, reporting that net production in the period averaged 33,810 barrels of oil per day, with production for the nine months ending September 2017 averaging 36,030 bopd.
Revenues showing 'good progress', says Zytronic
Zytronic issued a pre-close statement ahead of the announcement of the group's results for the year to 30 September on Thursday, which it expected to take place in December.
Philly Fed manufacturing index hits five-month high in October
Manufacturing conditions in the Philadelphia region unexpectedly improved in October, according to a survey released on Thursday.
US initial jobless claims drop to lowest since 1973
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week, according to data from the Labor Department.
HomeServe raises £125m to fund acquisition of US-based Dominion
HomeServe has raised gross proceeds of around £125m through the placing of 15. 2m shares at 820p each to fund the agreed acquisition of some of the trade and assets of the home assistance cover business of US-based Dominion, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dominion Energy, which it said will accelerate the growth of its North American business.
Vectura confirms launch of Seebri Neohaler in the US
FTSE 250 inhaler maker Vectura said on Thursday that Sunovion, the US licensee of the group's partner Novartis, has launched the twice-daily long acting muscarinic inhibitor Seebri Neohaler in the US.
NEX Group hit by RBC Capital downgrade
NEX Group was under the cosh after RBC Capital Markets cut the stock to ‘underperform’ from ‘sector perform’.
HSBC upgrades N Brown after share pullback
N Brown is starting to deliver on its transformation plan and after an undeserved pullback in the shares after this month's interim results, HSBC upgraded the shares to a 'buy' rating from 'hold'.
Europe midday: Stocks lower as Catalan leader plays 'cat and mouse' with Madrid
A stronger euro despite the continuing political stand-off in Spain is weighing on stocks, even as investors wait on the results of the summit of European Union heads of state later in the day.