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London midday: Stocks tread water ahead of payrolls
London stocks had flattened out by midday on Friday as investors eyed the latest US non-farm payrolls report, although housebuilders were still sharply higher after a well-received update from Barratt Developments.
Europe midday: Shares rise on US stimulus optimism
European shares extended gains by lunch on Friday as upbeat corporate news and a clearer picture of the US political landscape cheered investors.
Retail sales plunge in post-Christmas trading - BDO survey
Like-for-like UK retail sales plunged in the first week after Christmas as the Covid-19 lockdown thwarted plans for January sales in stores, a survey showed.
Commerzbank writes of €1.5bn of goodwill
Commerzbank is heading for a bigger annual loss than expected after the German lender wrote off €1. 5bn (£1. 4bn) of goodwill and increased risk provisions linked to the Covid-19 crisis.
88 Energy named as high bidder on Alaska tract
88 Energy updated the market on its projects on the North Slope of Alaska on Friday, reporting that via its wholly-owned subsidiary Regenerate Alaska, it was named high bidder on tract 29 in the 2021 Coastal Plain Lease Sale.
Eurozone November unemployment falls despite tougher Covid rules
Euro zone unemployment unexpectedly fell in November, casting aside renewed lockdowns ahead of Christmas break, according to data released on Friday by the European Union’s statistics office Eurostat.
Asia report: Markets mostly higher, Covid-19 cases surge in Tokyo
Most markets in Asia finished higher on Friday, as investors continued to monitor the global Covid-19 situation, with a state of emergency being declared in Japan’s capital amid surging cases.
RBC Capital upgrades Energean to ‘outperform’
RBC Capital Markets upgraded Energean on Friday to ‘outperform’ from ‘sector perform’ and hiked the price target to 1,075p from 800p.
Reach FY profits to top expectations on record digital revenues
Newspaper publisher Reach said on Friday that full-year underlying operating profits for 2020 would be ahead of market expectations thanks to record digital revenues.
M&S festive sales hit by 'on-off' Covid restrictions; warns on Brexit impact
Food and clothing retailer Marks & Spencer reported a fall third quarter revenue as it warned the latest UK Covid lockdown would hit sales and the Brexit trade deal “significantly impact” some of its European operations.
Tekmar's Pipeshield signs £4m quay contract
Tekmar shares jumped after its Pipeshield business signed a contract worth more than £4m for a major quay development project.
Credit Suisse sets aside $850m for mortgage securities
Credit Suisse said it would post a fourth-quarter loss after the Swiss bank set aside an extra $850m (£625m) for litigation linked to residential mortgage-backed securities stretching back to the financial crisis.
Immedia raises £3m via placing and subscription
Multi-media content and digital solutions supplier Immedia has conditionally raised £3. 0m by way of a placing and subscription of new ordinary shares.
Europe open: Markets higher as electronics spark investor sentiment
European stocks rose on Friday as electronics stocks drove sentiment after positive earnings updates from chipmakers and a strong US session overnight.
Echo Energy signs Bolivian cooperation deal with GTL International
Latin America-focussed Echo Energy has signed a cooperation agreement with GTL International, it announced on Friday, which is a majority-owned subsidiary of Bolivian company UruboCorp focussed on energy production and supply in Bolivia, and with interests in both the hydrocarbon and renewables sectors.
Asos to pour £90m into Staffordshire fulfilment centre
Online fashion retailer Asos plans to invest £90. 0m in a new fulfilment centre in Staffordshire and as it aims to create 2,000 jobs at the site over the next three years.
Baron Oil upbeat on latest evaluation at Chuditch
South east Asia, Latin America and UK-focussed oil and gas exploration company Baron Oil updated the market on the Chuditch production sharing contract in Timor-Leste on Friday.
Eqtec signs memorandum with Nobilis for projects in Greece
Waste-to-energy gasification technology company Eqtec announced on Friday that, together with its German engineering, procurement and construction partner ewerGy, it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nobilis Pro Energy.
German industrial production slows but beats forecasts
German industrial production slowed but beat expectations in November as manufacturing of consumer goods fell, official figures showed.
Tremor reports record revenue and profit growth in H2
Advertising technologies group Tremor International said on Friday that it had registered record revenue and profit growth in the second half of 2020.