Latest News
Thursday preview: ECB speakers, BAE Systems in focus
Financial markets' focus will shift towards this side of the Pond on Thursday as two top European Central Bank officials take to the podium against a backdrop of rising government bond yields.
ExxonMobil to sell UK assets to HitecVision in $1bn deal
ExxonMobil announced on Wednesday it would sell its non-operating interest in its UK and North Sea exploration and production assets to private-equity fund HitecVision in a deal worth over $1bn.
Europe close: Stocks move higher after stronger-than-expected German GDP
European shares finished higher on Wednesday as stronger-than-expected German economic growth drove gains, investor sentiment was still tempered by inflationary fears.
London close: Stocks higher as travel and leisure stocks rise further
London stocks finished in the green on Wednesday as sterling was mixed, with results from the likes of Reckitt Benckiser and Lloyds in focus.
Broker tips: ITM Power, Netcall, Greencore, InterContinental Hotels
JP Morgan Cazenove has initiated coverage of renewable energy specialist ITM Power with an 'overweight' rating.
Director dealings: Stenprop CEO ups stake via Saruga interest
Stenprop revealed on Wednesday that chief executive Paul Arenson had purchased 1. 0m ordinary shares in the London-listed industrial property company via his interest in Saruga Investments.
Biden to sign executive order to address global semiconductor chip shortage
President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order on Wednesday to address a global semiconductor chip shortage that has automakers around the world, including those in the US, forced to cut production.
FTSE 250 movers: Hammerson heads higher; Upper Crust owner SSP slides
London’s FTSE 250 was up 1% at 21,266. 26 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
MicroStrategy buys over $1bn worth of bitcoin
MicroStrategy announced on Wednesday the purchase of just over $1bn worth of additional bitcoin.
Jangada sells two million shares in ValOre Metals
Natural resources company Jangada Mines has sold two million of its common shares in ValOre Metals at a price of 30 Canadian cents per share, it announced on Wednesday, providing it with gross proceeds of CAD 0. 6m (£0. 34m).
Joby to go public in $6.6bn merger with blank-check firm
Joby Aviation, the 12-year-old electric air taxi startup will go public in a $6. 6bn reverse merger with blank check company Reinvent Technology Partners.
Lekoil challenges validity of agreement termination letter
Nigeria and West Africa-focussed gas exploration and production company Lekoil announced on Wednesday that Mayfair Assets and Trusts, in which it has a 90% economic interest, had received a letter from Optimum Petroleum Development Company, the operator of the OPL 310 licence, proposing to terminate the cost and revenue sharing agreement on the licence.
US open: Stocks head south, rising Treasury yields remain in focus
Wall Street stocks were in the red early on Wednesday as rising government bond yields continued to draw investor attention.
Echo lays out plans to debottleneck pipelines at Santa Cruz Sur
Latin America-focussed upstream oil and gas company Echo Energy updated the market on operations at its Santa Cruz Sur assets, onshore Argentina on Wednesday, reporting that following continued improvements in market conditions, it had agreed with the Santa Cruz Sur partners to capital expenditure to upgrade and debottleneck the existing liquids pipelines in the assets.
Johnson and Johnson vaccine appears to be 'safe and effective'
Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine got a boost on Wednesday in the form a positive evaluation from America's Food and Drug Administration.
FTSE 100 movers: IAG flies higher; Vodafone slumps
London’s FTSE 100 was up 0. 1% at 6,634. 83 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Haydale Graphene revenues fall in first half
Advanced materials company Haydale Graphene reported a 5% fall in group revenues in its interim results on Wednesday, to £1. 28m.
Jefferies starts Gamesys, 888 at 'buy'
Jefferies initiated coverage of Gamesys and 888 with a ‘buy’ rating on Wednesday as it took a look at the gaming sector.
UK retail footfall to surge in April as non-essential stores, hospitality reopen
Footfall across all UK retail destinations is set to surge once non-essential stores and outdoor hospitality reopens in April, according to retail analysts Springboard.