Market Pulse
US open: Stocks mostly down as 'cult' stock Nvidia misses on revenue, again
US stocks opened mostly down on Friday as investors mulled over the latest developments in Sino-US relations, while disappointing earnings from chip maker Nvidia weighed on sentiment.
UK banks lose two-thirds of branches in past 30 years - Which?
UK banks have shed two-thirds of their branch network in the past 30 years, instead ploughing millions into the Post Office to serve people’s basic banking needs, a new study from Which? has revealed.
US industrial production rises in October, boosted by output of business equipment
US industrial production edged higher last month on the back of sharp increases in the output of business equipment and construction.
Pennon's Viridor ups stake in UK waste-to-power plant
Pennon said on Friday that its waste recycling business, Viridor, has upped its stake in UK waste-to-power plant the Runcorn I Energy Recovery Facility for £54. 5m.
Alpha Real Estate Trust's net asset value grows on German acquisition
AIM-listed trust Alpha Real Estate saw its net asset value grow across the first half of its trading year, leading it to up its interim dividend by 50%.
ECB's Draghi confident, but argues for patience and persistence
Outgoing European Central Bank President, Mario Draghi, sounded a confident note on the outlook for the euro area economy, describing a recent slowdown as a 'soft patch', but said policymakers needed to be "patient and persistent" in providing monetary stimulus.
Empyrean raises £1m via placement
AIM-listed oil and gas development company Empyrean Energy issued 10. 28m new ordinary shares at a price of 10p each on Friday, raising £1. 02m in the process.
Karelian losses widen as work begins at Lahtojoki asset
AIM-listed explorer Karelian Diamonds saw losses widen throughout its "year of exploration success".
Hipgnosis acquires Despacito songwriter's catalogue
Hipgnosis Songs Fund has acquired the music catalogue of Jason Boyd, an American songwriter and producer better known by his stage name Poo Bear.
Asia report: Markets mixed as sentiment takes a Brexit-fuelled dive
Markets in Asia finished in a mixed state on Friday, with sentiment taking a hit from ongoing political turmoil in the UK, as a number of ministers resigned from Theresa May’s government in the wake of the UK striking a Brexit agreement with the European Union.
RBS cleared from FSB list of global systemically important banks
RBS has dropped out of the Financial Stability Board's list of global systemically important banks, which should translate into lower funding costs for the lender.
Blackberry to buy AI and cybersecurity group Cylance for $1.4bn
Blackberry has agreed to buy artificial intelligence and cybersecurity company Cylance for $1. 4bn in cash.
Parkmead revenue surges on Nertherlands gas production
Independent energy group Parkmead reported a 70% increase in full-year revenue on Friday as its gross profit more than trebled thanks to enhanced gas production in the Netherlands.
Europe midday: Stocks dip amid Brexit uncertainty, despite 'dovish' Draghi
Investors are exercising caution going into the weekend, given the risk that a no-confidence vote against the British Prime Minister might materialise and with sentiment further dampened by poor quarterly results from US tech giant Nvidia overnight.
US pre-open: Stocks seen lower as investors mull Sino-US relations, earnings
US stocks looked poised for a weaker open on Friday as investors mulled over the latest developments in Sino-US relations, with chip makers likely to see some pressure following disappointing earnings from Nvidia.
London midday: Stocks turn lower as pound claws back losses
London stocks had fallen into the red by midday on Friday, with the pound clawing back some of the previous session's losses as investors kept up with the latest twists and turns in the Brexit saga.
EE and Virgin Media fined for overcharging customers who left contract early
Ofcom has levied £13. 3m in fines against EE and Virgin Media, it announced on Friday, for overcharging phone and broadband customers who wished to leave their contracts early.
Trakm8 warns on profits after dismal first half
Telematics and data insight provider Trakm8 Holdings issued its unaudited results for the six months ended 30 September on Friday, reporting a 38% decline in group revenue year-on-year to £8. 84m.
Metal Tiger and MOD go ahead with new joint venture
Metal Tiger said on Friday that, further to its announcements on 18 July and 1 November, both MOD Resources and itself had agreed to waive the only remaining condition precedent to enable completion of the sale of Metal Tiger’s interest in the T3 Project.
Aston Martin Lagonda impresses Deusche and Cazenove
A day after Aston Martin Lagonda's first trading update after floating in London last month, the upmarket carmaker received positive write-ups from analysts at Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Cazenove.