Market Report
Snap Inc soars in stockmarket debut, shares up 47%
Snap Inc's initial public offering dwarfed market expectations, with shares in the owner of the popular instant messaging app Snap Chat debuting on the stockmarket far above initial pricing and continuing to run up as investors chased the first technology IPO since December.
FX round-up: Overall positive sterling slips against resurgent US dollar
Sterling put in an overall positive performance on key pairs thanks in part to better than expected UK construction activity, but slipped versus a resurgent US dollar.
Europe close: Stocks hold ground despite hawkish Fedspeak
European stocks were little changed on Thursday after gains in the previous session, as data showed that Eurozone inflation grew 2%, as expected, and the euro weakened modestly amid continued 'hawkish' Fedspeak.
Sports Direct acquires Agent Provocateur for £31m
Lingerie firm Agent Provocateur has been bought by Mike Ashley's Sports Direct for £31m after it fell into administration on Thursday.
London close: FTSE 100 ends little moved, taking pause at Mt Everest base camp
Shares in London closed little moved Thursday after their record-busting run higher yesterday, with traders pausing for breath at a veritable Mt Everest base camp and digesting a bunch of corporate results news.
Friday preview: Eyes on LSE, WPP, PMI and FOMC commentary
In London on Friday, only a small sprinkling of large-cap stocks report as the macro focus turns to the economy's all-important services sector, while across the Atlantic the drone of Fedspeak turns up to 11 with close readings to be made on the exact wording central bank Janet Yellen's last comments before the March meeting blackout.
Octagonal outlines new South East Asia push
Octagonal announced on Thursday that its wholly owned subsidiary, Global Investment Strategy UK, had now opened a new office in Hong Kong.
Revenue and earnings riper in 2016 at Total Produce
Total Produce took the wraps off its final results for the 2016 calendar year on Thursday, with revenue up 8. 9% to €3. 76bn and adjusted fully diluted earnings per share 14. 1% firmer at 12. 07 euro cents.
Admiral appoints Annette Court as new chair
Annette Court will take over as chair of insurance giant Admiral Group effective from April 2017.
March rate hike deserves serious consideration, Fed's Powell says
A top US monetary policy-maker added his support to those calling for an interest rate hike to receive serious consideration at the central bank's next policy meeting.
Weak demand and London refurb costs Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental International posted its preliminary results for the year to 31 December on Thursday, with combined total revenue of hotels under management down 1% to $1. 32bn.
Commodities: Crude oil lower as concerns mount on Opec production cut levels
Crude-oil futures are firmly lower Thursday as concerns about the level of adherence to Opec production cut pledges resurfaced amid the lingering global glut of the black liquid and record US stockpiles.
Marine Le Pen's parliamentary immunity withdrawn after IS tweets
French National Front leader Marine Le Pen has lost her right to parliamentary immunity in the country after MEPs decided to allow French prosecutors to take legal action over her use of graphic images of IS killings on Twitter.
FTSE 250 movers: Vesuvius surges on results but Travis Perkins retreats
The FTSE 250 index was down 0. 2% to 18,947. 30 in afternoon trade, as investors sifted through corporate releases.
Snap expected to debut at $22 per share as investors lap up stock
The parent company of popular picture messaging app Snapchat has priced its initial public offering at $17 per share, with latest trading suggesting it will enter the NYSE at around $22 per share.
Macron widens lead over Le Pen, Elabe poll shows
French presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron's odds of reaching the Elysee palace improved during the latest week, a poll confirmed.
US open: Stocks take a breather after Dow breaks 21k, Snap surges on IPO
US stocks were trading lower on Thursday as investors took a breather after the Dow broke through the 21,000 mark in the previous session, while shares surged in Snap on its much anticipated initial public offering.
Small cap news round-up
Sunrise Resources' shares are up almost 5% as it reported rapid progress by Magmatics in testing of the CS Deposit for the production of natural pozzolan, and was pleased it could move so quickly to certification testing.
Spirent Communications takes a hit as it focuses on 'sustainable growth'
Spirent Communications posted its full-year results for the 2016 calendar year on Thursday, with revenue softening to $457. 9m, compared to $477. 1m in 2015.
Sportech to sell off the Football Pools in £83m deal
Sports gambling operator Sportech, alongside OpCapita, announced on Thursday that a conditional agreement had been entered into under which FP Acquisitions - a newly incorporated private limited company controlled by funds advised by OpCapita - would acquire the Football Pools business for a total cash consideration of £83m on a debt free, cash free basis.