Market Pulse
US housing starts plummet in December, but starts hold up
New housing starts in the States fell sharply at the end of 2018 amid broad-based weakness, but some of the report's details pointed at strength ahead.
Crest Nicholson appoints Duncan Cooper as group FD
FTSE 250 housebuilder Crest Nicholson has appointed Duncan Cooper as its new group finance director, replacing Robert Allen who left the business last October.
Asia report: Markets fall as investors clamour for Trump trade details
Major indices fell into the red across Asia on Tuesday, as investors grew impatient over a lack of details on the delay of Washington’s 1 March deadline to reach a trade agreement with China.
Ten Entertainment appoints Anthony Smith as CFO
AIM-listed tenpin bowling operator Ten Entertainment has appointed Antony Smith as chief financial officer.
Ocado and Marks & Spencer confirm JV talks
Ocado has confirmed that it is in talks with Marks & Spencer about a possible UK retail joint venture, reported to be worth between £1. 6bn and £1. 8bn.
Europe midday: Shares dip despite possibility Parliament may bin 'no deal' option
Stocks on the Continent are trading slightly lower as investors wait on a key speech by the head of the US central bank, despite apparent progress in avoiding a so-called 'no deal' Brexit.
Cora Gold posts decent drilling results from Sanankoro
West Africa-focussed gold exploration company Cora Gold provided initial results from its recently-completed aircore (AC) and reverse circulation (RC) drill programme at the Sanankoro Gold Discovery in the Yanfolila Gold Belt, Southern Mali on Tuesday, where it said the focus had been outlining higher grade areas.
Amur shares surge on publication of Kun-Manie study
Russia-focussed nickel-copper sulphide exploration and development company Amur Minerals released its pre-feasibility study (PFS) on its Kun-Manie nickel-copper sulphide project on Tuesday.
TMT invests $2m into education-focussed MEL Science
Technology venture capital company TMT Investments announced an investment of $2m in MEL Science as part of a wider funding round on Tuesday.
US pre-open: Stocks seen lower as investors eye Powell testimony
US stocks looked set for a weaker open on Tuesday as optimism over Sino-US trade relations faded and investors eyed Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell's testimony before the US Senate.
US regulator asks judge to hold Elon Musk in contempt over deal
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has requested that Tesla boss Elon Musk be held in contempt for violating a deal with the regulator as he once again tweeted false information about the company.
ImmuPharma upbeat on product from subsidiary Ureka
Specialist drug discovery and development company ImmuPharma announced on Tuesday that on 25 February, the peer reviewed research journal Nature Communications published a fundamental scientific publication on the proprietary technology ‘Urelix’ from its subsidiary Ureka.
London midday: Stocks wallow as pound surges; Ocado flies on M&S tie-up
London stocks were still firmly in the red by midday on Tuesday, dragged lower by a stronger pound as investors grew increasingly hopeful that a 'no deal' Brexit can be avoided.
Syncona pours £21m into immuno-oncology company Anaveon
Syncona announced a CHF 28m (£21. 4m) commitment to Anaveon, a new immuno-oncology company, in a CHF 35m Series A financing on Tuesday, alongside the Novartis Venture Fund.
Drax earnings rise as it looks for further investment opportunities
Drax Group announced a 9% improvement in group adjusted EBITDA in its full-year results on Tuesday, to £250m, which it said was a result of continued strength in its cash generation and balance sheet.
N Brown appoints Steve Johnson as CEO
Online retailer N Brown has appointed interim chief executive officer Steve Johnson to the position on a permanent basis with immediate effect.
Tlou Energy aims for 'further significant advancements'
Africa-focussed coal bed methane developer Tlou Energy believes itself to be well positioned to make "further significant advancements" after slightly narrowing losses in the first half of its trading year.
Jardine Lloyd profits rise 25%
Jardine Lloyd Thompson, which has recommended an offer from Marsh & McLennan, revealed that it grew profits 25% last year.
CMA to investigate NSF's £1.3bn bid for Provident Financial
The Competition and Markets Authority said on Tuesday that it will investigate Non-Standard Finance's £1. 3bn takeover bid for larger rival Provident Financial.
SigmaRoc inks licence for UK roll-out of Road Zipper
Construction materials provider SigmaRoc has signed up for an exclusive license to offer the Road Zipper system in the UK.