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London close: FTSE 100 notches up new record high
London's top-flight index carved out a new all-time high after it was reported that the US labor market created far more jobs at the start of 2023 than anyone had dared imagine.
US services sector activity rebounds in January
Activity in the US services sector rebounded sharply at the beginning of the year, led by a surge in new orders, the results of a closely followed survey revealed.
FTSE 100 movers: Shell rallies again; housebuilders head lower
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 9% at 7,893. 62 in afternoon trade on Friday as investors mulled a much stronger than expected US non-farm payrolls report.
Broker tips: IWG, Direct Line, B&M, Marks & Spencer
Deutsche Bank adjusted its ratings on a number of retailers on Friday, as it noted that the European general retail sector ended 2022 on a "surprisingly good" note.
US open: Stocks lower as traders digest NFP data
Wall Street futures were in the red early on Friday as traders digested some key labour data.
US non-farm payrolls jump by 517,000 in January
Hiring in the US shot higher at the start of 2023.
FTSE 250 movers: Asos out of fashion, IWG down on downgrade
FTSE 250: 20,546. 57, -0. 33% at 1400 GMT.
Petro Matad raises $6m in discounted placing
Mongolian exploration and production company Petro Matad slumped on Friday after raising $6m in a discounted placing and subscription.
Barclays downgrades IWG and Direct Line Insurance
Analysts at Barclays downgraded insurance firm IWG to 'equal weight' on Friday.
US pre-open: Stock futures in the red ahead of NFP data
Wall Street futures were in the red ahead of the bell on Friday as traders look ahead to some key labour data.
FCA blocks thousands of misleading ads
The financial regulator blocked more than 8,500 adverts last year, as it looked to crack down on misleading promotions and social media influencers.
London midday: Stocks tick higher ahead of payrolls
London stocks had ticked a little higher by midday on Friday as investors mulled the latest reading on the UK services sector and looked ahead to the release of the non-farm payrolls report.
Europe midday: Shares pare losses on EZ PMI data, Zur Rose Swiss unit deal
European shares pared losses on Friday as the eurozone economy grew in January for the first time since June 2022 after sentiment had been dented at the open by softer earnings from US tech giants, while a surge in Zur Rose stock also provided a lift.
Avation H1 revenues down amid airline sector recovery
Aircraft leasing firm Avation said on Friday that interim revenues had fallen as the airline sector continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nanoco confirms $150m Samsung settlement, shares plunge
Shares in Nanoco Group tumbled on Friday after the London-listed tech firm confirmed it had struck a $150m settlement with Samsung.
Yellow Cake launches 15m share placing
Uranium group Yellow Cake announced a placing of 15. 0m new ordinary shares with existing and new institutional investors at a fixed price of £4. 12 per share via an accelerated bookbuild.
UK service sector starts year on back foot
The UK service sector continued to struggle last month, a closely-watched survey showed on Friday, as weaker demand pushed output to a two-year low.
Eurozone economy grows for first time since June 2022
The eurozone economy grew in January for the first time since June 2022, according to a survey released on Friday.
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies fall, pending the US jobs report
The cryptocurrency market falls once again. Bitcoin (BTC) has dropped more than 1. 5% in the last 24 hours and is below $23,500 after reaching over $24,000 previously. For its part, Ethereum (ETH) also falls, by 1. 8%, and tries to maintain the $1,600 level.
Ofcom rules BT's Openreach price plan not anti-competitive
Ofcom said on Friday it was minded to back BT Group’s planned Openreach wholesale prices, arguing they were not anti-competitive.