Market Pulse
FX round-up: Sterling hit by weak data, US dollar strength
Sterling was under pressure on Monday, dragged lower by a spate of weak data out of the UK even as the US currency found a bid against the other majors ahead of a key week for US-China trade talks.
Commodities: Futures slip as Chinese investors return from their break
Commodities started the week on a downbeat note, with investors treading cautiously ahead of the second round of US-China trade talks that had kicked-off earlier on Monday, in Beijing.
US close: Dow closes lower, stretching losses into fourth straight session
US stocks turned in a mixed performance on Monday as investors continued to eye trade relations between the US and China and considered the prospect of yet another government shutdown due to Trump's insistence that his border wall be funded.
Berenberg slashes target for Metro Bank, but upgrades to 'hold'
Analysts at Berenberg upgraded shares of British challenger bank Metro Bank to 'hold' from their previous 'sell' rating on Monday, explaining that while near-term pressure might continue, the stock was now "fairly valued".
Sector movers: Retailers add more unlikely gains
Retailers provided perhaps a surprising thrust on Monday, with only four sectors in negative territory.
London close: Softer pound helps stocks shake-off weak economic data
London stocks finished the Monday session higher as downbeat UK growth figures knocked the pound off its perch.
Savannah Resources reveals 'impressive' mineralisation at Portuguese lithium project
Savannah Resources climbed on Monday after confirming the continuity of lithium mineralisation at its Mina do Barroso lithium project in Portugal.
Broker tips: Shell, BP, Petrofac, Metro Bank
Royal Dutch Shell has overtaken BP as the "top pick" in the sector for Barclays, which feels the oil giant still needs to improve free cash flow growth to boost shareholders returns.
Lloyds customers hit by online banking glitch
Lloyds has apologised after a glitch left thousands of customers unable to access online and mobile banking resources on Monday.
Softbank invests $940m in delivery start-up
Japanese company Softbank has invested $940m in a start-up that makes driverless robot delivery vans called Nuro. ai.
Director dealings: Personal Assets Trust director lowers stake
Personal Assets Trust director Frank Rushbrook disposed of 114 ordinary shares in the Edinburgh based self-managed investment vehicle on Monday.
London midday: Stocks maintain gains as investors digest GDP data
London stocks were still in the green by midday on Monday as the pound remained weaker after the release of downbeat UK growth figures.
FTSE 100 movers: Tui cruises higher; Smith & Nephew hit by deal report
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 8% at 7,129. 11 in afternoon trade on Monday, underpinned by a weaker pound.
Liberum downgrades Barratt and Bovis on valuation
Liberum cut its stance on housebuilders Bovis Homes and Barratt Developments on Monday on valuation and performance grounds, as it took a look at the broader sector.
Actual Experience expands purchase order with major partner again
Analytics-as-a-service company Actual Experience announced on Monday that, further to its similar previous updates in August 2017 and October last year, it had received a new open purchase order from one of its channel partners.
Jadestone signs rig contract for infill drilling at Stag
Asia-Pacific focussed oil and gas production company Jadestone Energy has signed a rig contract for infill drilling on its wholly-owned Stag oilfield, located offshore Australia, it announced on Monday.
Sirius Petroleum enters crude handling agreement at Ugo-Ocha
Nigeria-focussed oil and gas development and production company Sirius Petroleum has entered into a crude handling agreement (CHA) in line with its commercial offshore strategy, with the terminal operator of the Ugo-Ocha floating storage and offloading unit (FSO), with offtake from production wells delivered via coastal tankers to the FSO, it announced on Monday.
Solo Oil board pleased with turnaround progress
Natural resources investment company Solo Oil issued a corporate, strategy, financial and operational update on Monday, reporting that it was in a “healthy” cash position.
JP Morgan keeps BP and Shell as 'top picks' in EU Oils
Analysts at JP Morgan reiterated their 'overweight' stance on shares of BP and Royal Dutch Shell on Monday, telling clients that the 'cash cow' phase was now in "full swing", while pointing to continued deleveraging in the sector and the potential for further declines in cash 'breakeven' levels at the latter.
eServGlobal secures new €1m contract with Asia Pacific customer
Digital transactions technology company eServGlobal has signed a new contract with an existing customer in Asia Pacific worth around €1m.