Market Report
Europe close: Stocks finish lower but off worst levels
European shares finished slightly lower on Thursday but off their worst levels of the session, weighed down by weakness on Wall Street following the release of a worse than expected reading for secondary jobless claims and on fading hopes for further US stimulus spending.
Credit Suisse sees room for capital returns at NatWest Group
Credit Suisse reiterated its 'neutral' stance on shares of NatWest Group following a meeting the day before with the lender's finance chief.
London close: Stocks finish weaker as investors digest new job support
London stocks finished in the red on Thursday, as investors digested details of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s new measures to replace the furlough scheme.
Character Group 'confident' in weathering Covid storm
Character Group updated the market on its trading for the year just ended on Thursday, reporting that the outcome for the second half had, as expected, been “considerably affected” by the UK lockdown.
Canaccord Genuity hikes target price for Ferguson, buoyant US housing key
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity hiked their target price for Ferguson, even while conceding that the macroeconomic outlook for 2021 remained "uncertain".
Verditek wins first order in valuable Australian mining sector
Clean technology company Verditek has won its first order in the mining sector in Australia, it announced on Thursday, representing what it described as an “important new territory”.
Tekcapital investment Salarius strikes Mexico distribution deal
Intellectual property investment company Tekcapital announced on Thursday that its portfolio company Salarius has signed a partnership agreement with FXM, to lead business-to-business sales and marketing of its ‘MicroSalt’ product in Mexico and Latin America.
Oriole signs diamond drilling contract over Bibemi licelce
West Africa-focussed exploration company Oriole Resources has signed a 3,000 metre diamond drilling contract with Capital, over its Bibemi exploration licence in Cameroon, it announced on Thursday.
Ixico joins Friedreich's Ataxia research consortium
Data analytics company Ixico has entered into a five-year collaboration with the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), it announced on Thursday, which it described as a non-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of scientific research leading to treatments and a cure for Friedreich's Ataxia (FA).
Atalaya Mining begins permitting process for solar plant
Atalaya Mining has started the permitting process to develop a 50MW solar plant at its Proyecto Riotinto, it announced on Thursday, with the full capacity of the solar project to be used for self-consumption.
SmartSpace signs distribution seal in Asia
Smart buildings software company SmartSpace Software has signed a distribution agreement with ESCO, it announced on Thursday, which it described as a “major” audiovisual integrator in east Asia.
US open: Stocks flat despite poor claims numbers, analysts also eyeing elections
Stocks on Wall Street were little changed on Thursday despite weekly jobless claims figures that some economists said showed that the jobs market was set to stall in October.
FTSE 250 movers: Pets at Home surges; Cineworld tumbles on results
London’s FTSE 250 was down 1% at 16,824. 08 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
FTSE 100 movers: Housebuilders boosted by Jefferies note; Smiths slumps
London’s FTSE 100 was down 1. 3% at 5,823. 12 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Government to top up wages of 'viable' jobs when furlough scheme ends
The government will look to stave off a potential wave of redundancies this autumn by topping up the wages of "viable jobs" when the furlough scheme comes to the end, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced on Thursday.
UK housebuilders too cheap to ignore, says Jefferies
UK housebuilders are too cheap to ignore, Jefferies said in a research note on Thursday.
Europe midday: Stocks claw back early losses, some equity strategists sanguine
European shares are clambering back from early sharp losses, with investors looking past weakness on Wall Street overnight on fading US stimulus hopes offset in part of by reports of new fiscal measures from the UK government in the pipeline.
IEA: Governments need carbon storage tech to meet energy goals
The International Energy Agency said that without carbon capture, utilisation and storage programs it will be impossible for governments and large companies to meet targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases.
OptiBiotix revenue improves fivefold in first half
Life sciences company OptiBiotix Health reported first-half revenue growth to £0. 74m in its first half on Thursday, which was a five times increase in revenues from the first half of 2019.
US pre-open: Stocks seen muted ahead of jobless claims, Powell testimony
US stocks were set for a fairly muted open on Thursday as investors eyed the latest initial jobless claims, having fallen sharply a day earlier after Federal Reserve officials warned that more fiscal stimulus was needed.