Market Report
US close: Stocks end little changed as oil prices tank
US stocks ended a choppy session little changed on Thursday as energy shares were dragged lower by weaker oil prices, and after the House of Representatives passed a healthcare overhaul.
London close: Falling resources, rising sterling, ex-dividends dampen FTSE
Equities in London were held back by big falls among miners as metals prices dropped, and also by a stronger sterling in the aftermath of better than expected UK services data.
FX round-up: Sterling dashes higher on UK services data, but falters against the euro
Sterling went for a dash higher on a string of key crosses thanks to better than expected UK services data, but faltered against an in-form euro.
Europe close: Cac-40 finishes at nine-year high
Poll results showing Macron's followers are on track to become the largest party in the lower house of the French parliament sent France's top flight index to a nine-year high.
US open: Miners, oil stocks weaker as futures reel
Investors on Wall Street are playing it safe ahead of the monthly US jobs report due out tomorrow, amid sharp falls in crude oil and iron ore futures.
Friday preview: NFPs and Fedspeak could lift hike odds, IAG and IHG report
Following a what should be a quieter morning of UK company news, attention turns firmly across the Atlantic after lunch, with a Friday Fedspeak frenzy following the non-farm payrolls report.
Morses Club celebrates full FCA authorisation
Home collected credit lender Morses Club announced on Thursday that it had now received full Financial Conduct Authority authorisation, following a period of operating under interim permission.
FTSE 250 movers: Miners fail to shine; G4S locks in gains after revenue boost
Kaz Minerals led the fallers on the FTSE 250 on Thursday afternoon as the sector suffered from falls in iron ore and copper futures.
Concha 'disappointed' after Ve Interactive fiasco
Concha issued another update on its investment in Ve Interactive on Thursday, expressing its disappointment as it was left without an investee company following a rapid administration period and subsequent sale in April.
Nissan launches home battery to be made in Sunderland plant
Japanese carmaker Nissan has announced it will start to make its own home battery in its Sunderland plant, similar to that launched by Tesla Motors.
Commodities: Crude slip-slides lower on cocktail of concerns
Crude-oil futures are slip-sliding heavily lower on Thursday on a cocktail of concerns about higher than desired inventories, rising supply and Opec pledges on output.
Johnson Service Group progressing 'well', investors told
Johnson Service Group updated shareholders on its first quarter trading on Thursday, as investors attended the company's annual general meeting.
Results round-up
Next trimmed its full year sales and profits guidance after sales fell in the first quarter of its financial year.
Goldman ups HSBC target, highlights room for capital returns
Goldman Sachs lifted its target price on shares of HSBC, highlighting the lender's stable net interest income in the States and the potential for it to return capital to shareholders now.
FTSE 100 movers: HSBC pleases but Next out of fashion
HSBC pushed higher and led the Footsie risers list after it said profits in the first quarter were hit by currency movements, but at the underlying level, they improved strongly against the same period last year and the fourth quarter of 2016.
JP Morgan raises Sage target price
Analysts at JP Morgan bumped up their target price for shares of Sage on account of the solid trading already evident in the second quarter and the confident note struck by management alongside the company's interims.
Balfour Beatty wins $625m US contract
FTSE 250 infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has been awarded a $625m (£484m) contract by the Texas Department of Transportation to reconstruct and improve the Southern Gateway, which is an 11 mile stretch of road in Dallas.
Economists voice worry as US labour costs trend higher in Q1
What has traditionally been the most closely-watched indicator of wage pressures in an economy rose past forecasts for the first quarter in the US, triggering concern among some economists.
US trade deficit little changed in March
America imported fewer capital goods and industrial supplies last month leading to an unexpected reduction in the nation's trade deficit.
PowerHouse moves G3 unit to Thornton Science Park
Ultra high temperature gasification waste to energy systems provider PowerHouse Energy Group announced on Thursday that it had now moved its G3-UHt unit to Unit 99 at the Thornton Science Park, operated by the University of Chester.