Market Pulse
Rio Tinto settles with FCA over Mozambique impairment, faces US fraud claims
Rio Tinto was slapped with a £27. 4m fine by the City watchdog for failings in its financial reporting process relating to the disastrous $3. 7bn purchase of coal mining assets in Mozambique, an issue that US regulators have also now begun to investigate.
IP Group takeover of Touchstone goes unconditional
IP Group updated the market again on its takeover offer for Touchstone Innovations on Wednesday, confirming that as at 1300 BST on Tuesday, it had received valid acceptances of its offer in respect of 155,859,312 Touchstone shares, representing 96. 6844% of Touchstone’s issued share capital.
Nostrum flags delay to GTU3 completion
Independent oil and gas company Nostrum Oil & Gas updated the market on the progress of GTU3 on Wednesday, reporting that due to the delayed delivery of some specially designed valves required for the tie-in of GTU3 with GTU1 and GTU2, it would not be possible to bring gas into GTU3 in 2017.
Reckitt Benckiser cuts full year guidance, makes further pharma provision
After bearing the brunt of a "soft" third quarter Reckitt Benckiser has downgraded its full year guidance, with the Vanish-to-Durex maker confident that it can overcome the continued challenging market.
Rathbone Brothers funds under management rise in third quarter
FTSE 250 wealth manager Rathbone Brothers reported a jump in assets in the third quarter on Wednesday as inflows grew.
Spectris completes acquisition of Omnicon
Spectris has completed the acquisition of privately-held US company The Omnicon Group, for an initial consideration of $29m.
London pre-open: Stocks seen higher ahead of unemployment, wages data
London stocks were set for a positive open on Wednesday as investors eyed the release of the latest UK wages and unemployment data.
AstraZeneca granted priority review from FDA for Lynparza in metastatic breast cancer
AstraZeneca said on Wednesday that it and Merck & Co have been granted priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration for a supplemental new drug application for the use of Lynparza (olaparib) tablets in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have been previously treated with chemotherapy.
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Sainsbury's, Rio Tinto, Monarch
Sainsbury’s is axing 2,000 store and back office roles as the supermarket chain looks to slash costs by £500m amid an intensifying price war with Aldi and Lidl. The retailer is restructuring its HR departments, getting rid of 1,400 store-based clerks and another 600 staff based in the back offices that serve the chain as well as Argos and Sainsbury’s bank. - Guardian.
US close: Markets finish higher amid busy earnings season
US markets finished in the green on Tuesday, with the Dow closing just short of the 23,000 mark which it breached for the first time ever earlier in the session, amid a busy third quarter earnings season on Wall Street.