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Wednesday newspaper round-up: Average UK pay, Brexit, Pendragon
Annual pay growth stalled at 4% in May, leaving most workers with a rise in earnings worth less than half the 9% increase in prices. Figures from XpertHR, a pay and personnel data publisher, said employer pay deals for the three months to May failed to increase on April’s median 4%, undermining concerns that workers would push for inflation-busting rises in earnings that could start a wage-price spiral. - Guardian.
US close: Stocks fall as fears of recession grow
Wall Street trading finished weaker on Wednesday, as market participants digested comments made by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell in front of Congress.
Europe close: Stocks end lower on recession concerns
European shares turned sharply lower on Wednesday after two days of gains, as a fall in oil and metal prices and another rise in UK inflation hit investor sentiment.
London close: Stocks finish lower on renewed growth concerns
London stocks were still in negative territory at the close on Wednesday, after data showed that UK inflation hit a fresh 40-year high in May as energy and food prices continued to surge.
Fed strongly committed to returning inflation to 2.0 per cent, Powell says
The head of the US central bank said the Federal Reserve was "strongly committed" to reining in inflation and believed that further rate increases would be "appropriate" and that policy decisions would be made meeting by meeting.
Sector movers: Recession fears hit commodity stocks, life insurers
Global recession fears led to selling on the FTSE 350 on Wednesday although the lack of any more hawkish than expected remarks out of the head of the Federal Reserve in testimony before Congress helped to stem losses.
Thursday preview: Global manufacturing and services PMIs, weekly US jobless claims in focus
Investors' focus on Thursday will be on the release of a raft of purchasing managers' surveys of activity in manufacturing and services in the UK, euro area and US.
JP Morgan says combination of Tullow and Capricorn can add scale and unlock growth
Analysts at JP Morgan resumed their coverage of shares of Tullow Oil at 'overweight' following a period of 'restriction' after the announcement of the outfit's merger with Capricorn.
Broker tips: NatWest, B&M Value, Anglo Pacific
Jeffries has upgraded its rating on NatWest Group from 'hold' to 'buy' on Wednesday on the back of rising interest rates.
Director dealings: Eurocell chair-designate buys £0.17m of shares
Eurocell was on the list of director buys on Wednesday, after its chair-designate spent more than £0. 17m on shares.
US open: Dow heads south as eyes turn to Powell testimony
Wall Street trading got off to a mixed start on Wednesday as market participants digested comments made by Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell in front of Congress.
Shore Cap reintroduces 'hold' rating on B&M
Shore Capital has reintroduced B&M European Value Retail’s ‘hold’ rating ahead of an expected "muted" quarterly trading update.
JD Sports doubles profit, but warns on growth this year
UK retailer JD Sports Fashion more than doubled annual profits and said trading in the current year to date was up 5% as demand for sportswear continued after the Covid pandemic, but warned that growth would be held back by inflationary headwinds.
Royal Mail shares fall as postal workers ballot for strike action over pay
Shares in UK letter and parcel carrier Royal Mail fell more than 5% on Wednesday after the union representing staff said they would ballot for industrial action over pay.
FTSE 250 movers: Micro Focus tanks on profit warning
The FTSE 250 was down 1. 59% at 18,647. 09 at 1400 BST.
FTSE 100 movers: Ocado tanks; JD Sports rallies on results
London’s FTSE 100 was down 1. 4% at 7,055. 05 in afternoon trade on Wednesday as investors digested the latest inflation data.
Strong production for Wentworth Resources continues into 2022
Tanzania-focussed natural gas producer Wentworth Resources updated the market on its operations on Wednesday, reporting that along with its joint venture partners it was continuing to realise strong production rates throughout 2022, after record production in 2021.
Up to 90% of 'cryptos' will not survive the Bitcoin bear market, which ones will remain?
The future of cryptocurrencies looks uncertain after the recent wave of selling in Bitcoin and other tokens. Although some experts believe that the market has begun to form a floor, others warn that the decline may be greater, so cryptoasset owners and investors may be concerned about the stability of digital tokens. In fact, observers warn that the current situation will kill a huge number of 'altcoins' and projects, which will not survive the 'cryptocrash'.
Record demand continues for Churchill China products
Hospitality ceramics producer Churchill China said in an update on Wednesday that the record demand it reported in its preliminary results in April had continued.
Trident Royalties confident after 'transformational' year
Mining royalty and streaming company Trident Royalties issued a positive trading update on Wednesday, after a “transformational year” in 2021.