Market Report
Week ahead: US Fed Powell's Senate confirmation and OPEC summit in focus
The market spotlight during the coming week will be on the US Senate Banking Committee's hearing on the nomination of Jerome Powell as the next chair of the US Federal Reserve.
Canaccord cuts Mothercare price target by more than half
Analysts at Canaccord cut their 2018 pre-tax profit forecast for Mothercare by 43% on Friday to £12. 0m, reassessing their estimate for losses from its UK business from £500,000 to £7. 8m.
Europe close: Gains in single currency cap upside on Dax
Stocks on the Continent finished off their best levels of the day as the euro approached a two-month high after Germany's SPD said it was open to talks with Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU.
Transport Police investigating incident at Oxford Street Tube
Police are asking people in the vicinity of the Oxford Circus Tube station to take cover inside buildings.
Profits drop at Caffyns despite improved revenues
British motor retailer Caffyns reported a drop in pre-tax profits in its first half of trading even though it managed to grow revenue 1. 3% on the previous year.
London close: FTSE finishes flat as bookies tussle, builders subside
London stocks finished broadly flat on Friday, very modestly in the red on the day but making a small gain over the week, with traders keeping an eye on Black Friday deals, which included an apparent M&A tussle among bookmakers.
US open: S&P 500 hits fresh high as dollar drops to two-month lows
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are holding near fresh all-time highs hit at the start of the session amid a weak dollar.
Liberum downgrades UBM and upgrades Informa as 'best way to play events'
After Informa's recent impressive performance, Liberum said the stock was its preferred way to play the events sector, upgrading it to 'buy' from 'hold' and doing the reverse for rival UBM, where there are "questions" over why it has not performed better.
Losses widen at Hardy Oil and Gas
Pre-tax losses widened from $1. 2m to $2. 04m for Hardy Oil and Gas in the six months leading to 30 September, as litigation costs increased throughout the half and were expected to continue doing so through the 2018 financial year.
Thirteen million UK households possibly being overcharged for home insurance
As many as 13m households in the UK are being overcharged by home insurance companies for renewing their existing policy, new official research has found.
Fuller's serves up full measure for half-year
Interim profits at Fuller Smith & Turner fizzed up 4% higher as the brewer and pubco grew sales faster than the wider pub industry but began to see margins squeezed by higher business rates and wages.
FTSE 250 movers: Thomas Cook bounces back; Renishaw hit by downgrade
London's FTSE 250 was down 0. 2% to 19,965. 21 in afternoon trade as the week ended on a quiet note, with many traders probably busy chasing down the best Black Friday deals.
IndigoVision signals loss for the year as CEO steps down
IndigoVision Group updated the market on its trading on Friday, reporting that while there are still “several important weeks” before the end of its financial year on 31 December, it was now clear that management's expectations would not be achieved and that a full year operating loss will be reported.
Director dealings: MJ Gleeson director disposes of 1.5m shares
Christopher Mills, a non-executive director of urban regeneration and land development firm MJ Gleeson, benefited from the sale of 1,500,000 ordinary shares in the company on Thursday.
Regency Mines granted option to buy 80% of Carbon Minerals Corporation
US Carbon Resolutions Corporation (CMC), the owner of the Alabama-based Rosa Mine, has given Regency Mines, the natural resource exploration and development company, an option to buy the 80% of Carbon Minerals Corporation not already owned by Regency, it emerged on Friday.
Venture Life secures Austria distributor for Procto-eze
Consumer self-care group Venture Life has secured a new long-term exclusive distribution deal in Austria with a new partner for its Procto-eze range, it announced on Friday.
Russia and OPEC agree to extend oil output cuts until end-2018
The Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries and the Russian Federation have agreed on the broad outlines of a deal to extend their crude oil supply cuts until the end of 2018.
FTSE 100 movers: Paddy Power lifted by deal chatter; housebuilders drop
London's FTSE 100 was down 0. 2% to 7,405. 49 in quiet trade on Friday, with many traders probably too busy looking for online bargains to care.
APC becomes Oregano Systems' UK and Ireland partner
Design, specification and distributor of specialist technologies and electronic components, APC Technology Group, has signed an agreement to become the exclusive UK and Ireland distribution partner for the Austrian manufacturer of PTP switches and network interface cards, Oregano Systems.
S&P raises 2018 Brent oil price assumption to $55 a barrel
Analysts at S&P Global raised their expectations for Brent crude oil in 2018 to $55 a barrel on Friday.