Latest News
Friday newspaper round-up: StubHub, pandemic jobs scheme, Ofgem
StubHub has been accused of failing to disclose when customers are buying tickets from professional touts, in breach of a legal undertaking given to the consumer watchdog. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requires sites such as Viagogo and StubHub to let customers know when tickets are being sold by professional ticket traders, who dominate resale listings for gigs and other events, leading to fans paying massively inflated prices. - Guardian.
Europe close: Stock markets marked down with world fixated on new Covid-19 variant
It ended up being stock markets that were marked down on Friday following confirmation of a worrisome new Covid-19 in southern Africa.
Week ahead: Covid-19 variants, US non-farm payrolls in the spotlight
The market spotlight over the coming week is likely to be firmly on the news-flow surrounding the new Covid-19 variant and any measures to supress it or avoid another repetition.
London close: Stocks sink on fears of new Covid variant
London’s equity markets closed well below the waterline on Friday, with travel shares under the cosh as investors were spooked by a new Covid variant found in South Africa.
Weekly review
The FTSE 100 ended the week 179. 54 points lower, closing at 7,044. 03 on Friday.
Director dealings: Lombard Odier raises stake in Seeing Machines
Seeing Machines revealed on Friday that non-executive director Michael Brown had raised his stake in the AIM-listed technology firm by 8. 18m new ordinary shares via his interest in Lombard Odier Asset Management.
New Covid variant triggers alarm bells around the world
Authorities in the UK and many other European countries moved quickly to cut travel links with South Africa and several other countries in southern Africa following the detection of a new variant of Covid-19 with a large number of mutations on the so-called 'spike' protein.
Deutsche Bank lowers target price on IQE
Analysts at Deutsche Bank lowered their target price on semiconductor manufacturer IQE from 60. 0p to 50. 0p on Friday following the group's "disappointing" fourth-quarter trading update.
Broker tips: IQE, Forterra
Analysts at Deutsche Bank lowered their target price on semiconductor manufacturer IQE from 60. 0p to 50. 0p on Friday following the group's "disappointing" fourth-quarter trading update.
FTSE 250 movers: Travel stocks battered; Games Workshop rallies
London’s FTSE 250 was down 2. 6% at 22,679. 59 in afternoon trade on Friday amid concerns about the new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa.
Two rigs arrive for drilling at Caracal Gold's Kilimapesa project
East Africa-focussed Caracal Gold announced the arrival of its two drill rigs on-site ahead of its diamond and reverse circulation drilling programmes on Friday.
FTSE 100 movers: Travel stocks take a beating; Ocado shines
London’s FTSE 100 was down 3. 2% at 7,076. 83 in afternoon trade on Friday amid worries about the new Covid variant found in South Africa.
US open: Stocks sharply lower amid fears regarding new Covid-19 variant
Wall Street stocks were firmly in the red early on Friday as traders returned from Thursday's Thanksgiving Day break to concerns regarding a new and virulent strain of Covid-19 found in South Africa.
Vijay Thakrar to replace McCall as Alumasc chair
Sustainable building product company Alumasc announced on Friday that Vijay Thakrar would take up the role of non-executive chairman from 1 January, following the retirement of John McCall as chairman and non-executive director on 31 December.
Merck&Co. says oral Covid-19 treatment cuts risk of hospitalisation or death by 30%
Merck&Co. and development partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced that their experimental oral treatment against Covid-19 reduced the risk of hospitalisation or death by nearly one third.
CMA secures 'improved' pledge from Google on ad competition concerns
The Competition and Markets Authority announced on Friday that it had secured “improved commitments” from Alphabet subsidiary Google on its proposals to remove third-party cookies and other functions from its Chrome browser software.
UK car production slumps to 55-year low in October
UK car manufacturing fell 41. 4% year-on-year in October, with just 64,729 vehicles rolling off production lines, making it the industry's worst October since 1956.
Lidl UK boss heading to Germany
Supermarket chain Lidl announced on Friday that Christian Härtnagel will step down as chief executive of the company’s UK operations to take up the same role in Germany.
Berenberg lowers target price on Forterra
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target price on construction firm Forterra from 300. 0p to 280. 0p on Friday, citing "limited" near-term organic upside.
Eqtec inks gasification collaboration deal with Wood
Waste-to-energy gasification technology company Eqtec has signed a collaboration deal with energy consulting and engineering company Wood, it announced on Friday.