AJ Bell directors raise £25.7m after selling 1.6% stake

AJ Bell was in the red on Wednesday after directors at the investment platform sold just over 6. 2 million shares in the company.

Europe open: Markets rise on tariff delay rumours; Fed announcement eyed

European stocks were higher on Wednesday morning amid reports that the US will push back planned tariffs on Chinese imports.

Sopheon contract opportunities delayed until 2020

Software and services provider Sopheon said it still expects a heavier second half weighting to its annual performance, even as certain contract opportunities expected for the fourth quarter got pushed out to 2020.

IG Group appoints Openreach's McTighe as chairman

IG Group on Wednesday announced that former Betfair and Ofcom director Robert Michael McTighe will take over from Jonathan Moulds as chairman on 3 February 2020.

London open: Stocks edge higher as sterling falls after YouGov poll

London stocks edged higher in early trade on Wednesday, with sterling under pressure as the latest election poll revealed a narrowing of the Tory lead.

Stagecoach interims lower as co-founder Souter steps down

Transport operator Stagecoach on Wednesday reported lower interim profits as poor weather and the loss of rail franchises took their toll while chairman Brian Souter said he was stepping down.

Saga appoints former Superdry boss as new CEO

Saga, which specialises in products for the over-50s, said on Wednesday that it has appointed Euan Sutherland as its new chief executive officer with effect from 6 January.

Riverstone sells assets to Talos Energy, Stagecoach profits fall after loss of rail franchises

Wednesday newspaper round-up: British pubs, Thomas Cook, Lloyds Banking Group

The decline of the British pub may be at an end, according to official figures showing that the number of pubs has increased for the first time this decade. The UK ended March 2019 with 39,135 pubs, 320 more than a year earlier, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). It is the first net increase since 2010. The rise marked a dramatic turnaround compared with the previous nine years, during which the UK pub network declined by an average of 732 each year, comparable data showed.

London pre-open: Stocks to edge up as election looms

London stocks were set to edge higher at the open on Wednesday, with traders likely to err on the side of caution a day ahead of the general election.

Riverstone sells Gulf of Mexico assets

Energy investor Riverstone said it was selling all offshore Gulf of Mexico assets owned by affiliates of Castex Energy to Talos Energy for an undisclosed sum.