Market Report
Week ahead: FOMC meeting, Italian presidential election in focus
The market spotlight over the coming week will be squarely on the US Federal Reserve meets to decide on policy.
Europe close: Major indices end week with big declines
European stocks were again registering sharp losses on Friday as stocks in the US and Asia fell back overnight triggered by rate rise fears and as poor corporate results dampened sentiment.
London close: Stocks end week on a down note
London stocks fell at the end of the week amid investors' jitters around the prospects for policy tightening by the US central bank and after the Office of National Statistics reported that UK retail sales cratered at the end of 2021.
Asia close: Stocks end lower tracking losses in the US
Stocks across the Asia Pacific region were mostly lower at the end of the week caught as they were by the ongoing correction in the US technology space.
Broker tips: Rentokil Initial, Everyman Media
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price on pest exterminator Rentokil Initial from 510. 0p to 640. 0p and upgraded their stance on the stock from 'hold' to 'buy' on Friday following the firm's proposed acquisition of US firm Terminix.
US open: Stocks head south as Netflix weighs on Nasdaq
Wall Street stocks were in the red early on Friday as Netflix weighed on the tech-heavy Nasdaq and bond yields eased off somewhat but remained elevated.
Peloton CEO denies production halt 'rumours', mulls job cuts
Fitness products outfit Peloton said on Friday that it was mulling job cuts but its chief executive denied the firm was considering halting production of its bikes and treadmills.
Canaccord Genuity reiterates 'buy' rating on Everyman Media
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity reiterated their 245. 0p target price on cinema operator Everyman Media Group on Friday after the firm revealed it had delivered a "strong end to the year".
Crunch time for US-Russia talks in Geneva
Russia's top diplomat to the European Union hopes that talks with the US on Friday in Geneva will help ease current tensions.
US pre-open: Futures in the red as Netflix earnings disappoint
Wall Street futures were in the red ahead of the bell on Friday as Netflix weighed on the tech-heavy Nasdaq and bond yields eased off somewhat but remained elevated.
London midday: Stocks holding lower as profit-taking deepens
London stocks were holding lower come midday amid investors' jitters around the prospects for policy tightening by the US central bank and after the Office of National Statistics reported that UK retail sales cratered at the end of 2021.
Europe midday: Shares in doldrums as US results, rate hike fears rattle investors
European stocks were still in the doldrums at midday on Friday as sell-offs in the US and Asia overnight triggered by rate rise fears and poor corporate results dampened sentiment.
US close: Stocks end session in the red following hotter than expected jobless claims print
Wall Street stocks closed lower on Thursday after this week's jobless claims figures came in hotter than expected.
Berenberg upgrades Rentokil to 'buy' on proposed Terminix deal
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price on pest exterminator Rentokil Initial from 510. 0p to 640. 0p and upgraded their stance on the stock from 'hold' to 'buy' on Friday following the firm's proposed acquisition of US firm Terminix.
London pre-open: Profit-taking set to continue amid downdraft on Wall Street
Stocks were set for a lower open tracking losses on Wall Street and as bracers positioned themselves ahead of the US central bank's policy meeting during the following week.
London open: Profit-taking deepens as losses on Wall Street mount, retail sales crater
London stocks were getting walloped at the open as investors' jitters around the prospects for policy tightening by the US central bank continued and after the Office of National Statistics reported that UK retail sales cratered at the end of 2021.
M&C Saatchi sees FY profits 'materially ahead' as FCA drops probe
Advertising and marketing group M&C Saatchi said on Friday that as a result of "a strong end to the year", it now believes full-year 2021 headline pre-tax profits will be "materially ahead" of previous expectations.
HgCapital makes additional investment into Lyniate
Private equity firm HgCapital said on Friday that it will make an additional investment into healthcare data interoperability firm Lyniate.
Close Brothers sees 'good momentum' in five months to 31 December
Merchant banking group Close Brothers said on Friday that it had performed well in the five months ended 31 December, with good loan book growth at strong margins in its banking unit and continued growth momentum in its asset management division despite a moderation in trading income in its Winterflood arm since the end of the 2021 financial year.
Close Brothers Group performs well in 1H, Ninety One posts small gain in AuM
London open The FTSE 100 is expected to start the day about 80 points lower at 7,505.