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House market weakens as Brexit fears bite - RICS
The UK housing market got off to a weak start in 2019, with enquiries, sales and new instructions all down, as Brexit uncertainty continued to take its toll.
AB Dynamics loses Hart
AB Dynamics said on Wednesday that Robert Hart has decided to step down as chief financial officer.
Levi Strauss buttons up for IPO
Levi Strauss on Wednesday filed documents ahead of a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange, with the jeans maker returning to public markets after more than 30 years of private ownership.
Whitbread bumps up share buyback and hotel expansion plan
Premier Inn owner Whitbread will use the proceeds of its sale of Costa Coffee to back an extra £2bn of shares.
Wednesday broker round-up
Workspace Group: Berenberg downgrades to hold with a target price of 900p.
Thursday preview: Brexit debate, AstraZeneca, Micro Focus
MPs are expected to hold a passionate Valentine's Day debate on Brexit, while investors will first be perusing report cards from the likes of AstraZeneca, Ashmore, Indivior, Lancashire, Micro Focus and Moneysupermarket.
London close: Stocks rise as trade truce hopes boost sentiment
London stocks ended Wednesday's session with solid gains, with sentiment underpinned by hopes of an extension to the Sino-US trade truce, as investors digested news that UK inflation fell to a two-year low last month.
Europe close: Stocks end up amid Sino-US trade hopes; industrial data misses forecasts
European stocks ended in the green on Wednesday amid hopes of an extension to the Sino-US trade truce, although there was some bad news on the macro front as eurozone industrial production figures disappointed.
Broker tips: Derwent, Great Portland, Rolls Royce
Analysts at Berenberg initiated coverage on real estate firms Derwent and Great Portland at 'sell' on Wednesday as part of a note on the broader sector.
Spain could face early elections as Catalan secessionists reject budgets
Spanish President Pedro Sánchez will announce on Friday whether the country is headed for early general elections after the government’s proposed budget draft was rejected by parliament on Wednesday.
FTSE 100 movers: Smurfit shoots higher on results; Tui drops again
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 8% to 7,188. 88 in afternoon trade on Wednesday, with investors buoyed by hopes of an extension to the trade truce between the US and China.
Director dealings: Gordon Dadds co-founder lowers stake
Gordon Dadds co-founder Simon Howard disposed of 80,000 ordinary shares in the AIM-listed legal and professional services firm on Wednesday.
Anglo African Oil & Gas earmarks April for new well production
Anglo African Oil & Gas on Wednesday reported that production is scheduled to commence in April at its TLP-103C well, at the Tilapia licence in the Republic of the Congo.
UK used car sales down 2.1% in 2018 - SMMT
UK used car annual sales fell 2. 1% to 7. 9m sales, with 167,980 fewer cars changing owner compared to 2017, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said on Wednesday.
FTSE 250 movers: Galliford Try builds, Just Eat cools off
London’s FTSE 250 climbed 0. 85% to 18,984. 09 on Wednesday, with Galliford Try surging as it reported a 4% increase in first-half pre-exceptional pre-tax profit and said full-year turnout is expected at the upper end of analysts' current range.
WYG warns on profits as Brexit uncertainty dents UK consultancy business
Shares in AIM-listed professional services company WYG tanked on Wednesday as it warned that full-year operating profit will be "materially" below current market expectations as its UK consultancy business takes a hit from Brexit-related uncertainty.
Malvern revenues soar as Manchester proves a winner
Global learning and skills development firm Malvern International saw revenues nearly double in its last trading year, driven by a strong showing by its newly integrated Communicate English language school in Manchester.
US open: Stocks go green after promising signs in US-China trade talks
Wall Street trading started on a positive note on Wednesday, with investors hopeful of a trade truce extension between the US and China after Donald Trump said he would let the deal deadline slide if both parties were making headway.
Minister supports measures to balance news publishing market
The culture secretary has urged the UK competition authorities to study the digital advertising sector for evidence illegal dominance by tech giants, and has pledged to look at creating tax reliefs for online news publishers.
Credit Suisse upgrades Rolls-Royce as Trent 1000 issues on the mend
Rolls-Royce got a boost on Wednesday as Credit Suisse upped its stance on the stock to 'outperform' from 'neutral' and hiked the price target to 1,065p from 900p as it said issues with the Trent 1000 engine seem to be on the mend.