Market Pulse
US close: Stocks end at fresh records as retailers impress
US stocks closed at all-time highs on Tuesday, with retailers providing some cheer after well-received earnings, as investors digested the latest comments by Federal Reserve officials.
FX round-up: Sterling ahead as BoE policymakers show little interest in rate hike
Sterling firmed on most key crosses Tuesday, shrugging off some earlier softness as Bank of England (BoE) policymakers showed little appetite for lifting interest rates any time soon.
Restaurant Brands to buy Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for $1.8bn
Restaurant Brands International announced it would buy Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for $1. 8bn in cash.
London close: FTSE ends mixed with HSBC, Mediclinic weighing on blue chips
London shares were a little mixed at the closing bell, with blue chips led down by the out-of-favour stocks HSBC and Mediclinic on unwelcome news-flow against a backdrop of a weaker sterling.
Europe close: Stocks jump on strong manufacturing, service sector PMIs
European stocks were trading higher on Tuesday on the back of encouraging eurozone economic data, while HSBC was among the day’s biggest fallers after the bank reported a bigger-than-expected fall in profit.
Fed's Kashkari strikes dovish note
A top US rate-setter struck a dovish note on Tuesday, saying there was room for a tighter jobs market.
European Commission president Juncker warns UK of pricy Brexit
The UK will have to pick up a hefty bill at the conclusion of Brexit negotiations, according to European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.
Commodities: Crude soars as Opec official signals potential for more measures to curb glut
Crude-oil futures raced ahead Tuesday as a key Opec official said more measures may be needed to curb a persistent global glut of the black liquid, while a stronger dollar weighed on gold.
Green REIT sees net asset value rise in half-year
Green REIT announced its results for the six months to 31 December on Tuesday, with a 4. 2% increase in EPRA net asset value to 158. 2 euro cents per share before payment of the FY 2016 dividend in November, or a 1. 1% net increase to 153. 5 cents per share post dividend.
BoE's Haldane warns market of rate-hike expectation dangers
Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane warned that a spike in market expectations for a central bank interest-rate hike may harm the UK economy, against the already challenging Brexit backdrop, and sees inflation above 2% for three years.
Sector movers: Vodafone paces gains in Mobile telecoms on merger speculation
HSBC and Wood Group sent their respective sectors lower on Tuesday, weighing on the entire Footsie.
Verizon and Yahoo agree $350m price cut for acquisition deal
Verizon Communications has secured a $350m discount on its deal to buy Yahoo's core internet business, following the disclosure of two massive data breaches involving the latter's account users.
US open: Stocks open at record highs as investors eye Fed speeches
Following the Presidents Day holiday, US stocks opened at record highs on Tuesday buoyed by retail stocks, while the dollar strengthened as investors eyed key economic data and speeches by Federal Reserve presidents.
UIL swings to capital returns in latter half of 2016
UIL posted its unaudited statement of results for the six months to 31 December on Tuesday, reporting a revenue return per ordinary share of 2. 76p, slipping from 2. 91p year-on-year.
Small cap news round-up
Europa Oil and Gas AIM-quoted Europa Oil and Gas is to sell 10% of its stake in two Lincolnshire licences to Upland Resources.
Macron´s lead holds at 16 points in latest Opinionway poll
Emmanuel Macron and Francois Fillon gained slightly in Opinionway´s latest daily poll of voting intentions, while Marine Le Pen slipped.
Europa Oil & Gas to sell 10% of its stake in Lincolnshire licences
AIM-quoted Europa Oil and Gas is to sell 10% of its stake in two Lincolnshire licences to Upland Resources.
US private sector growth slows in February
Markit’s flash US composite output index – which measures activity in the services and manufacturing sectors – fell to 54. 3 in February from 55. 8 the previous month.
Alumasc confirms significant new contract for Levolux
Premium building products, systems and solutions group Alumasc announced on Tuesday that, since the publication of its interim results on 31 January, Levolux secured three contracts to supply bespoke balcony and balustrading systems in the UK.
Utilitywise in line with expectations although corporate division slows
AIM-listed Utilitywise performed in line with expectations in the first half of the year, although the business utility specialist endured a slowdown in the corporate division.