Market Pulse
London close: FTSE up as Lloyds, Barratt lead blue chips higher
Shares in London ended Wednesday on a mixed note after confirmation the UK saw better than expected economic growth at the end of 2016, with blue chips benefiting from a softer sterling.
FX round-up: Sterling, dollar lower as markets anticipate FOMC minutes
Sterling was mostly lower Wednesday as mixed UK economic data reinvigorated Brexit nerves in the market, with investors' attentions now on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes due out at 19:00 GMT.
Europe close: Shares end on mixed note
European equity markets were little changed on Wednesday as investors digested news that the eurozone has escaped deflation, while the euro weakened.
Bonds: French-German yield spread widens, Greek bonds jump
This is how the yields on some of the most widely-followed 10-year sovereign government bonds behaved:.
Commodities: Crude falls as concerns of lingering global glut come to the fore
Crude futures pushed lower Wednesday as some in the market took a view that the global supply glut of the black liquid is set to last a lot longer.
ITM Power opens hydrogen station at Shell services
Energy storage and clean fuel company ITM Power announced the official opening of the first hydrogen station to be situated on a forecourt in the UK, alongside Shell, on Wednesday.
US open: Stocks little changed ahead of FOMC minutes
US stocks opened lower on Wednesday ahead of the publication of the minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting as the main indices struggled to build on record closes in the previous session.
Small cap news round-up
International renewable energy, forestry management and timber processing business Active Energy provided an operations and trading update on Wednesday, on its three “standalone but complementary” divisions AEG CoalSwitch, AEG TimberLands and AEG WoodFibre.
JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley approached for Saudi Aramco IPO - reports
Saudi Aramco's attempt to bring about the world's largest initial public offering could be assisted by US investment banks JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley, according to reports on Wednesday.
Taihua repurchases 7pc of share capital
Taihua announced the results of its tender offer on Wednesday, which was set out in the shareholder circular published on 6 February and which closed at 1300 GMT on 20 February.
US existing home sales rise more than expected in January
Sales of US existing homes rose more than expected in January, to a 10-year high, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.
Qatar oil minister says OPEC deal had 'remarkable impact' on falling prices - report
The OPEC's agreement to cut global oil production, which has led to a recovery in prices, and "return the market to balance", Qatar's energy minister said in a speech in London on Wednesday.
FTSE 250 movers: UBM gains on results but Serco tanks
London’s FTSE 250 was down 0. 5% to 18,672. 02 in afternoon trade as investors sifted through a raft of corporate news and digested a better-than-expected reading on UK economic growth in the fourth quarter.
Active Energy upbeat on CoalSwitch prospects
International renewable energy, forestry management and timber processing business Active Energy provided an operations and trading update on Wednesday, on its three “standalone but complementary” divisions AEG CoalSwitch, AEG TimberLands and AEG WoodFibre.
Bushveld Minerals to help change ownership of Vametco partner
Bushveld Minerals said it had agreed to help change the ownership of a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partner as part of its planned acquisition of Vametco.
Results round-up: Lloyds Bank, Barratt, Serco, Weir
Lloyds Bank more than doubled full year pre-tax profits to £4. 2bn from £1. 6bn in 2015 as it announced a special 0. 5p-a-share dividend.
Gooch & Housego sees FY in line, buys US-based StringRay Optics
Gooch & Housego said it expects full-year trading to be in line with management’s expectations, as it announced an acquisition.
Unilever to conduct review after Kraft Heinz offer rejection
Consumer goods giant Unilever said it is conducting a comprehensive review of options available “to accelerate delivery of value" for the benefit of its shareholders, just days after it rejected an offer from US rival Kraft Heinz.
OneView Group wins key contract with Discount Tire Corp
Shares in OneView Group surged by almost two-thirds as it won a multi-million dollar annual cloud-based hosting deal with Discount Tire Corp, the world's largest independent tyre and wheel retailer.
Globalworth Real Estate Investments to buy Romanian car warehouse for €42.5m
AIM-listed Globalworth Real Estate Investments is to buy an automobile warehouse in Romania for about €42. 5m (£35. 9m), subject to regulatory approval.