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US ramps up pressure on UK ahead of Huawei decision
The US is continuing to pressure the UK on its decision on whether to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei to be involved in the development of its 5G network.
UK high street ends dire year on back foot - BRC
The British high street endured its worst year on record in 2019, the British Retail Consortium said on Thursday, as political turmoil weighed on consumer confidence and dented festive demand.
US close: Nasdaq clinches record close despite lingering geopolitical tensions
US stocks closed higher on Wednesday despite news that Iran had fired rockets at two Iraqi bases hosting American troops, albeit without killing any servicemen.
Thursday preview: China CPI, Fed speak in focus
The market spotlight is set to shift eastwards on Thursday, with a report on Chinese consumer prices in December due out overnight.
Barclays shareholders urge lender to stop financing fossil fuels
Barclays is being urged by a group of 11 institutional investors and over 100 individual shareholders to stop offering loans and financing to fossil fuel companies as part of the first ever shareholder climate resolution.
Berenberg ups target price on Chemring
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price on aerospace and defence firm Chemring from 200p to 235p on Wednesday, stating the group's recent full-year results had provided further evidence of the "improving quality and momentum" of the business.
RBC slashes target price for Genel Energy on Mideast tensions
RBC Capital slashed its target price shares of Kurdistan-focused Genel Energy on the back of the heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Europe close: Stocks rally as Mideast tensions fail to spill over
Stocks across the Continent overcame an early bout of selling on Wednesday, after Iran apparently chose not to ratchet up tensions with Washington even further with its retaliatory strikes against US bases in Iraq overnight, with America following suit.
London close: Stocks off lows despite tensions in Middle East
Equity markets finished on a mixed note on Wednesday as Iran's retaliation in its escalating confrontation with the US did not claim the lives of any more American or Iraqi servicemen, with Washington limiting its response to additional economic sanctions.
Trump to impose more sanctions on Iran in response to missile strikes
Trump said on Wednesday that the US will impose additional economic sanctions on Iran in response to attacks overnight on two US military bases in Iraq.
Broker tips: Chemring, Imperial Brands
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price on aerospace and defence firm Chemring from 200p to 235p on Wednesday, stating the group's recent full-year results had provided further evidence of the "improving quality and momentum" of the business.
Director dealings: Hvivo director ups stake
Hvivo revealed on Wednesday that non-executive director James Winschel had purchased 30,602 ordinary shares in the AIM-listed biotechnology firm.
Walgreens Boots' earnings fall short of estimates
Pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance's earnings fell short of Wall Street's expectations on Wednesday, sending shares lower at the bell.
Ted Baker's lenders hire advisers to review business's prospects
Ted Baker’s lenders, Barclays and RBS among them, have hired restructuring advisers from FTI Consulting to carry out a review of the retailer's prospects, reported Sky on Wednesday.
Bank of America downgrades Spectris due to macro headwinds, trims target
Spectris was more cyclical than most investors might think, analysts at Bank of America cautioned as they downgraded their recommendation on the shares in anticipation of a slowdown in demand in the company's end markets over the first half of 2020.
US open: Stocks record early gains as investors shrug off retaliatory strike by Iran
US stocks opened slightly higher on Wednesday despite news that Iran had fired rockets at two Iraqi bases hosting American troops, albeit without killing any servicemen.
Lok'nStore makes progress with several new stores
Self storage company Lok'nStore updated the market on its pipeline of new landmark stores on Wednesday, reporting that it exchanged contracts with Lidl subject to planning on the shared use of its freehold site in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.
Rotork knocked lower by double downgrade out of Bank of America
Shares of high-flier Rotork were knocked lower by a double downgrade from one of Wall Street's largest brokers.
OptiBiotix Health reports successful results from hypertension study
Life sciences business OptiBiotix Health announced on Wednesday that its fully-owned subsidiary ProBiotix Health, in partnership with Nutrilinea, has completed a successful human study for a new food supplement formulation containing ‘LPLDL’, and showed that the product could reduce high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Midatech shares surge on success of latest MTD201 study
Biotechnology research and development company Midatech Pharma announced positive headline results from ‘study 102’ on Wednesday, which it said met its primary endpoints to confirm similar pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of octreotide for subcutaneous and intramuscular routes of administration.