Market Report
Market buzz: FTSE flops after market's worst week since 2008
1650: By the close on Friday, the FTSE 100 had fallen 78. 26 points or 1. 09% to end at 7,092. 43, which is a fall of almost 5% for the week and almost 8% from the high of mid-January. Swissquote analysts added their tuppenceworth: "Markets remain on edge as growing unease over higher inflation and policy rates have sent equites into a tailspin. Global stocks sold off-across the board, bond yields rallied while volatility, hibernating until now, surged. Yet, signs of real 'normalization' remain distant.
US midday: Stocks recover from early losses
Stocks have moved into the black in another volatile session thus far, albeit less than on Thursday, with traders already looking out to the following week's release of consumer price data for January as a potentially key event.
Europe close: Stocks end near session lows
Stocks finished near their worst levels of the session on Friday as Wall Street got off to a weak start, with the Dow Industrials drawing a wide arc within a 600-point range in just the first 90 minutes of trading.
Berenberg boosts target price for On The Beach after succesful year
Analysts at Berenberg reiterated their ‘buy’ rating of On The Beach (OTB) on Friday telling clients they expect the company’s payout to increase by 25% in 2018, highlighting prospects for stronger-than-expected organic growth and the company's drive to expand abroad.
Results round-up
Information technology giant Unisys issued its full-year numbers on Friday, reporting that it generated fourth-quarter total revenue of $747m, representing growth of 3. 5% year-on-year.
FTSE 250 movers: Yesterday's news drives major moves
The FTSE 250 index fell 0. 8% to 19,172. 87 on Friday, led by falls from Ashmore and the AA.
Week ahead: Inflation in focus, results from Tui, Galliford Try, Shire
UK inflation data on Tuesday is especially important as markets look for data to strengthen or weaken the Bank of England's conviction to increase interest rates as early as May, with US inflation the following also under the microscope.
London close: Stocks slump, US inflation and BoE in focus
Stocks in London finished the session in the red, tracking losses on Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrials headed for its biggest weekly loss since 2008 after giving back early gains, having traded in a wide 600-point range in just the first 90 minutes of the Friday session.
Alba Mineral Resources granted exploration licence in Greenland
Alba Mineral Resources announced on Friday that it has been granted a mineral exploration licence in north-west Greenland, within the region known as Inglefield Land, close to its existing Inglefield mineral exploration licence.
OnTheMarket begins trading on AIM
Agent-backed company OnTheMarket, which operates the OnTheMarket. com property portal, was admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange at 0800 GMT on Friday.
Origo Partners partially disposes of Niutech stake
Origo Partners announced the indirect sale of a 4. 7% beneficial interest in Jinan Heng Yu Environmental Protection Technology Company - the operating company of Niutech Energy - to Chinese institutional and other investors on Friday, for net cash proceeds of CNY 18. 8m ($3m).
FTSE 100 movers: Direct Line rallies on surprise update, Relx boosted by upgrade
London's FTSE 100 was down 1% to 7,096. 75 in afternoon trade on Friday, on track to end a volatile week firmly in the red.
Trinity Mirror agrees to buy Express newspapers, profits seen higher
Daily Mirror publisher Trinity Mirror has agreed to acquire a portfolio of newspaper and magazine titles from Northern & Shell, including the Daily Express, Daily Star and OK! magazine for a total of £200m, including payments to pension schemes.
GKN may extend Melrose bid deadline to give shareholders more time to reflect
GKN reiterated its belief on Friday that Melrose Industries' £7bn offer for the engineer is "derisory" as it said it is prepared to give investors more time to consider the bid.
Deutsche Bank upgrades Relx as selloff creates buying opportunity
Relx, formerly Reed Elsevier, got a boost on Friday as Deutsche Bank bumped the stock up to 'buy' from 'hold' and hiked the price target to 1,750p from 1,630p, saying the share price correction has created an opportunity.
Direct Line hints at special dividends as annual profits surge
Direct Line guided toward a much bigger profit for 2017 that the market was expecting, thanks to good results from motor and commercial insurance and lower than expected weather claims.
Infinity Energy confirms details of its main market aspirations
Infinity Energy updated the market on its intention to apply for a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange’s main market on Friday, which it initially announced on 2 February.
Strategic Minerals subsidiary gets extension to Cobre Mine access
Diversified mineral development and production company Strategic Minerals announced on Friday that its access to the Cobre magnetite stockpile in New Mexico has been extended to 31 March 2019.
Scisys renews long-term service contract with BBC
Scisys has announced the renewal of its contract to supply support and maintenance services for the BBC's enterprise audio broadcast technology.
Brexit transition period not a given, says EU's Barnier
European Union Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has warned that there is no guarantee of a post-Brexit transition period.