Market Report
BAE Systems shares rise on news of possible Saudi Typhoon purchase
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia moved a step closer to ordering another batch of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft on Friday.
Sector movers: Oilers, miners ride gains in underlying futures higher
Oilers and Miners paced gains at the end of the week as a solid US jobs report for the month of February stoked buying interest in copper and oil futures.
Europe close: Stocks mostly higher after latest US jobs report
Stocks finished off their lows of the session, helped by a strong US jobs report for February and news of a possible thawing in relations between the US and North Korea.
Results round-up
Engineered and power transmission products delivery group Renold warned of the impact that increased raw materials prices were having on its operating margins on Thursday, saying that its chain division, in particular, had suffered significant headwinds as a result.
Broker tips:Pennon, Severn Trent, Acacia Mining, Severn Trent
Analysts at JP Morgan upgraded their recommendations for Pennon and Severn Trent, arguing that concerns about regulatory risk, rising government bond yields and possible nationalisation by a Labour government had pushed the shares to "unusually low" levels.
London close: Korean breakthrough, US jobs data buoy shares
Shares finished at their best level of the session, amid optimism around the situation on the Korean peninsula, and after a bumper US non-farm payrolls report for February boosted copper and oil futures which in turn lifted shares of miners and oilers.
Market buzz: Saudi agrees Eurofighter Typhoon deal, US jobs surge but wages slip
1655: Reports emerging from the US that Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein will retire by the year end. Elsewhere, US markets have sprinted higher in the wake of an NFP report that may be justifiably described as a ‘Goldilocks’ update, one that harks back to the easy days of 2017, says analyst Chris Beauchamp at IG. "Fears of the Fed moving into higher gear with tightening have receded this afternoon, capping gains in the dollar and causing stocks to rocket.
Alpha Pyrenees shares dive as no prospect for cash returns
Property investment company Alpha Pyrenees saw its share price tumble on Friday after the Guernsey-based group reported a pre-tax loss from its few remaining properties and nixed the potential for any cash return to shareholders.
Week ahead: Hammond unlikely to spring surprises; results from Prudential, Balfour Beatty
Chancellor Philip Hammond will deliver the spring statement on Tuesday, while the UK company diary is still fairly bustling, with updates from the likes of Balfour Beatty, Morrisons, Prudential, JD Wetherspoon and troubled Interserve.
Facebook takes aim at YouTube, inks licensing agreement with Warner Music
Shortly after having sealed a deal with independent label representative ICE, social media behemoth Facebook inked a licensing agreement with Warner Music Group on Friday as it looked to continue its expansion into the world of music, pitting itself directly against YouTube.
Director dealings: Conviviality directors up stakes after profit warning
Mark Moran, chief financial officer of alcohol wholesaler Conviviality, acquired 120,000 ordinary shares in the Cheshire-based firm on Friday.
US open: Stocks start higher after bumper February jobs report
Wall Street opened in the green on Friday, after the latest non-farm payrolls report showed that the US added more jobs in February than it had in the last 18 months.
FTSE 100 movers: Severn Trent boosted by upgrade, Aviva recovers
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 1% to 7,212. 02 in afternoon trade on Friday after the US non-farm payrolls report showed more jobs than expected were added in February, while wage growth slowed more than forecast.
GKN to combine Driveline division with Dana in $6.1bn deal
GKN has agreed to combine its automotive business, Driveline, with US-based Dana in a deal valued at around $6. 1bn, as it looks to fend off a £7. 4bn hostile bid from turnaround specialist Melrose Industries.
Melrose Industries extends deadline for GKN offer
Turnaround specialist Melrose Industries said on Friday that the deadline for its £7. 4bn hostile offer for engineer GKN has been extended until 29 March.
JP Morgan upgrades Pennon and Severn Trent after they reach unusually low levels
Analysts at JP Morgan upgraded their recommendations for Pennon and Severn Trent, arguing that concerns about regulatory risk, rising government bond yields and possible nationalisation by a Labour government had pushed the shares to "unusually low" levels.
Connemara prepares for drilling to recommence at Stonepark
Irish exploration and development company Connemara Mining has been gearing up to restart drilling at the Stonepark zinc project in Limerick, its joint venture with Group Eleven Resources.
Focusrite revenues up on the back of strong holiday trading
Music and audio products company Focusrite witnessed revenue, profits and cash grow across a wide range of product groups and regions in the first half of its current trading year.
FTSE 250 movers: AA motors on as Inmarsat slips out of orbit
The market was flat on Friday ahead of US data, but there was still enough corporate news among FTSE 250 stocks for investors to pick over,.
US non-farm payolls rise by 313,000 in February, wages dip
Job growth in the States picked-up to its strongest pace since mid-2016 last month, helped by sharp increases in construction and government hiring, but wage growth fell short of economists' forecasts.