Market Pulse
US close: Stocks finish higher ahead of Apple results
Stocks in the US finished higher on Tuesday, ahead of the eagerly awaited quarterly results from technology giant Apple which were due out after the close and key risk events scheduled for later in the week.
FX round-up: Sterling rises after manufacturing data, ahead of Fed
Sterling returned a mostly positive performance after its long May Day bank holiday, and got a boost early on from better than expected UK manufacturing data amid caution ahead of tomorrow's US Federal Reserve interest rate decision.
Sector movers: Soft Chinese data weighs on miners, oil service stocks lower
Soft data out of China's manufacturing sector weighed on the price of copper, sparking further selling across the mining sector.
Europe close: Stocks hold near multi-year highs after economic data
Europe's main equity indices continued to build on their most recent multi-year highs on Tuesday, buoyed by strong manufacturing and employment data in the single currency bloc.
Results round-up
Shire, which completed its $32bn merger with Baxalta last June, reported a 109% surge in revenues for the first quarter as it said it was on course to achieve its full-year guidance.
Broker tips: N Brown, Lloyds
N Brown's full-year results showed progress with the plan to transform the clothes retailer into an online heavyweight, said HSBC, upgrading the shares to a 'buy' rating.
US open: Stock flat ahead of Apple results
Investors were still playing it safe ahead of the eagerly awaited quarterly results from technology giant Apple which were due out after the close and key risk events scheduled for later in the week.
Commodities: Crude lower as markets anticipate inventories data, Fed rate call
Crude-oil futures were lower on Tuesday afternoon as markets anticipated two sets of US inventories data due this week, and the US Federal Reserve's interest-rate call on Wednesday.
Ineos evacuates Grangemouth petrochemicals plant after gas leak reports
A petrochemicals plant in Scotland's Grangemouth owned by Ineos has been closed down with staff evacuated after a reported gas leak.
FTSE 250 movers: Ocado surges on M&S tie-up report; Just Eat slips
London's FTSE 250 was up 0. 8% to 19,779. 52 in afternoon trade.
FTSE 100 movers: Shire gains on update; miners drop
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 6% to 7,245. 05 in afternoon trade as investors digested upbeat UK manufacturing data.
Getech wins order from Oil and Gas Authority
Getech issued an update to the market on Tuesday, after an announcement from the Oil and Gas Authority that - as part of the authority’s “ongoing commitment” to encourage activity in underexplored areas of the UK Continental Shelf, it was purchasing a “comprehensive suite” of datasets and other information sources.
Wednesday preview: Sainsbury's and Imperial report, FOMC likely to be 'boring'
Wednesday's main event will be the statement from the US Federal Reserve, while the undercard will include data on UK construction data and euro-zone gross domestic product, plus results from the likes of Sainsbury's and Imperial Brands.
Angus Energy receives approval to move forward with Lidsey-X2
Angus Energy announced on Tuesday that, following West Sussex County Council approval, it had now also received permission from the Environment Agency to drill the Lidsey-X2 horizontal production well at its Lidsey production oil field, license PL 241.
Bacanora Minerals issues shares to battery chemical trader Hanwa
Lithium exploration and development company Bacanora Minerals announced the issue of 12,333,261 new common shares of no par value to Hanwa on Tuesday, which it described as “a leading Japan-based global trading company” and one of the larger traders of battery chemicals in the Asian region.
Like-for-like revenue surges for PPHE Hotel Group
Europe-focussed full-service upscale and lifestyle hotel owner, developer and operator PPHE Hotel Group announced its trading update for the three months to 31 March on Tuesday, reporting that on a like-for-like basis, revenue increased by 17. 0% to £53. 3m, driven by a marked recovery in the leisure segment in London, the opening of the extension of Park Plaza London Riverbank, improved trading in Germany and a currency exchange rate benefit.
Just Eat Q1 revenue jumps 46%
Online food delivery company Just Eat reported a 46% jump in first-quarter revenues and reiterated its full-year guidance.
Shire first-quarter revenue rises, reiterates 2017 guidance
Shire, which completed its $32bn merger with Baxalta last June, reported a 109% surge in revenues for the first quarter as it said it was on course to achieve its full-year guidance.
N Brown looks a less risky 'buy', HSBC says
N Brown's full year results showed progress with the plan to transform the clothes retailer into an online heavyweight, said HSBC, upgrading the shares to a 'buy' rating.
Alitalia to start bankruptcy proceedings
Italian airline Alitalia said on Tuesday that it will formally request to enter bankruptcy proceedings after its employees opposed a restructuring plan.