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EU takes control of Brexit date as May flounders at summit
Theresa May lost control of the Brexit departure date on Thursday as EU leaders agreed a short postponement despite an appeal for a three month delay from the British prime minister.
Director dealings: Capita finance chief buys-in
Capita's finance chief, Patrick Butcher, picked up a large batch of stock in the troubled outsourcer on Thursday.
London close: Stocks finish on a mixed note amid pound weakness
London stocks finished on a mixed note on Thursday, with some investors visibly more nervous as they moved to discount increased risks of a hard Brexit.
Biogen dives after canning Alzheimer's drug trials
Biogen shares plummeted on Thursday after the company confirmed that it will cease clinical trials for aducanumab, the experimental Alzheimer’s disease treatment it developed alongside its Nikkei 225-listed Japanese partner Eisai.
Sector movers: Fed talks lift gold higher, Persimmon hits housebuilders
Metals and miners fuelled the gains on Thursday, while electronic engineers, housebuilders and banks were notably in the red.
Apple rallies on Needham upgrade to 'strong buy'
Apple shares rallied on Thursday as Needham upped its stance on the tech giant's shares to 'strong buy' from 'buy ahead of its press event next week and bumped up the target price to $225 from $180, arguing that the company's "ecosystem" has value upside.
Europe close: Stocks end mostly lower as investors mull Fed, banks slump
European stocks ended Thursday's session mostly lower as investors digested a more dovish than expected policy announcement from the Fed, with banks under pressure.
Europe midday: Investor sentiment dampened by Brexit uncertainty
Stocks on the Continent were trading mostly lower with the market spotlight firmly on the UK as investors gear up for what might be a wholly 'hard' exit of Britain from the European Union at the end of next week.
Persimmon addresses snags with 1.5pc homebuyer's retention
Persimmon announced on Thursday that it would become the first major UK housebuilder to adopt a policy of providing a homebuyer's retention, by writing into its standard contract that 1. 5% of the total home value - equating to around 6% of the build fabric costs - could be withheld by the buyer's solicitor until any faults identified at the point of key release were resolved.
FTSE 250 movers: Renishaw rocked, Hunting gushes higher
London's FTSE 250 was 0. 42% lower at 19,306. 99 in afternoon trading on Thursday, as Renishaw led the index lower.
FTSE 100 movers: Miners shine as copper rallies; RBS goes ex-div
London's FTSE 100 was up 1% at 7,363. 81 in afternoon trade on Thursday, with miners on the rise.
JPMorgan Cazenove downgrades Lookers amid cost inflation woes
JPMorgan Cazenove downgraded its recommendation on car dealership Lookers to 'neutral' from 'overweight' and cut the price target to 98p from 129 on Thursday, highlighting the problem of cost inflation.
LPA Group expecting more active second half after quiet start to year
LED lighting and electrical connecter manufacturer LPA Group confirmed that its year had started quietly on Thursday, following delays to some of the major rail projects it was involved in, including London’s Crossrail.
Berenberg downgrades Bodycote to 'hold' on valuation grounds
Berenberg downgraded Bodycote shares to 'hold' from 'buy' on Thursday on valuation grounds.
PV Crystalox Solar mulls cash return to shareholders as operations wind down
Photovoltaic supplier PV Crystalox Solar reported a significant drop in revenues in its final results on Thursday, to €6. 3m, compared to €26. 4m in 2017.
Sector movers: Fed talks lifts gold higher, hits banks
Metals and miners fuelled the gains on Thursday, while electronic engineers, real estate and banks were notably in the red.
Sportech narrows statutory loss as it seeks to expand in US
Betting technology provider Sportech reported a 3. 9% fall in revenue in its final results on Thursday, to £63. 7m.
Business and unions call for May to change course on Brexit
Britain's employers and unions have called on Theresa May to abandon her uncompromising stance and seek consensus to avoid a “reckless” no-deal Brexit, while European Union leaders convened to decide on her request for an extension.
Sports Direct tries again with Debenhams EGM demand
Sports Direct's Mike Ashley has for the second time requisitioned a general meeting of Debenhams as his first effort was declared null and void.
SafeStyle profits slip amid 'disruption' from new competitor
Safestyle on Thursday reported that it swung to a loss in 2018 as the business incurred litigation costs and "an unprecedented period of disruption and change" resulted in a drop in revenue.