Market Overview
Market buzz: US imposes new metals tariffs, Euro inflation perks up
1528: Basque nationalist PNV party has reportedly said it will back no-confidence vote against Spanish PM.
Market buzz: Rise in Brent gives BP, Shell a lift
1700:Close The Footsie finished the session comfortably higher, as a rebound in Italian stocks helped steady traders' frayed nerves, at least for the moment.
Market buzz: Italy eyes July/August elections, Dixons profits slump 'fixable'
1700:Close Some investors took profits - albeit moderately - in stocks, even as others headed for the relative safety of Gilts in the wake of the latest political news out of Italy.
Market buzz: Stocks hold higher going into long weekend
1514: Spanish PM says he will not call early elections (despite the high political cost in terms of plummeting levels or approval in the polls).
Market buzz: Reports say US-N.Korea summit called off
1609: Markets are in 'risk-off' mode following the announcement from the White House, with the 10-year US Treasury note yield down by four basis points at 2. 96%.
Market buzz: Pound plunges further on weak CPI, Barclays mulling mergers?
1635: Close Lots of moving pieces, too many perhaps. US dollar strength was the 'name of the game' on Wednesday, as the US President sounded a downbeat note overnight on the prospects for the China trade talks and the upcoming (but perhaps not) summit with North Korea.
Market buzz: Italy BTPs headed for 'junk'?, Inmarsat and Halfords slip
1611: Tesco's new UK chief has decided to close the group's online general merchandise business, Tesco Direct. Charles Wilson, who joined as part of the Booker takeover, said the move was “an essential step towards establishing a more sustainable non-food offer. ”.
Market buzz: Glencore drops on SFO report, how much further will dollar rally?
1641: The FTSE 100 ends down on the day at 7,778. 79 but 54. 54 points higher over the week.
Market buzz: Ocado surge 'inflicts pain' on shorts, Footsie hits record close
1704: Not often we have volcano news, but reports from Hawaii say the Kilauea volcano has erupted from its summit, sending a dusty plume of ash about 30,000 feet into the sky.
Market buzz: New calls for Big Four break-up, Grayling to confirm East Coast rail deal
1600: Shares of Smurfit Kappa are down after US rival International Paper says it will not go "hostile" in its attempts to take over the company.
Market buzz: Pound unimpressed by labour data, warning over Italian 'Varoufakis'
1635: Close Taylor Wimpey provided the biggest boost to the Footsie on Tuesday after unveiling plans to hike its dividend payout.
Market buzz: Bookies' Supreme Court gamble pays-off, IWG flies on takeover talks
1630:Close Shares of bookmakers fared best after the US Supreme Court handed down a ruling allowing New Jersey and other states to legalise sports bets.
Market buzz: Severn Trent down and ITV up as analysts opine
1226: The FTSE 100 is being held down by a stronger pound, down very slightly just past midday. Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, notes that the pound is helping miners while healthcare is under pressure ahead of a President Trump speech on the matter.
Market buzz: BT fails to inspire, Carney says economy will pick back up
1655:Close UK economy will pick back-up, not "rocket back up", driven by exporters and investment, Carney tells the BBC.
Market buzz: FTSE breaches 7600, Greggs and Burberry dumped
1550: Front month Brent crude oil futures are rising 2. 729% to $76. 95 a barrel on the NYMEX, helped by the latest US DoE data showing a 2. 2m barrel drop in oil inventories for over the latest week. Domestic US oil ouput was higher again last week, according to the DoE, rising by 84,000 barrels a day to 10. 703m b/d.
Market buzz: Oil tumbles on reports of Trump's Iran decision, Sorrell speaks
1706: FTSE 100 telecoms giant Vodafone is nearing a deal to acquire German and eastern European assets from Virgin Media owner Liberty Global in a near-£16bn deal, the FT is reporting.