Market Report
Friday newspaper round-up: Twitter, water companies, Vodafone
Twitter announced the departure of two top leaders in a major shakeup that comes as billionaire Elon Musk is working to close a $44bn deal to acquire the company. In an email to employees on Thursday, chief executive Parag Agrawal said Twitter’s leaders for consumer product and revenue will leave the company. Agrawal said the company was temporarily pausing hiring, and would review all existing job offers to determine whether any “should be pulled back”. - Guardian .
Week ahead: UK employment and CPI data, China activity figures in focus
Investors' focus over the coming week will shift back towards the UK where a slew of economic reports are due out which are expected to underscore the current high inflation levels alongside a strong jobs market.
Europe close: Main regional indices finish week higher
European shares extended their gains on Friday, ending at their highs of the session as investors went bargain hunting at the end of a volatile week driven by fears over inflation and more aggressive interest rate rises.
London close: Stocks rebound strongly after week of volatility
London stocks finished a turbulent week in the green on Friday, recovering from heavy losses earlier in the week as consternation over inflation and a slowdown in global growth rattled markets.
Neometals inks battery recycling plant deal with Mercedes
Neometals announced on Friday that its battery recycling joint venture Primobius has signed a cooperation agreement with the Mercedes-Benz recycling subsidiary Licular.
Sivota acquires majority of Apester, shares still suspended
Israel-focussed technology investor Sivota has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in digital marketing engagement platform Apester, it announced on Friday.
AEX Gold proposes changing name to Amaroq Minerals
AEX Gold called a special meeting on Friday, to be held in June, where shareholders would be asked to approve a change of the company’s name to Amaroq Minerals.
FTSE 250 movers: Bridgepoint gains; Drax dented by downgrade
London’s FTSE 250 was up 2% at 19,869. 47 in afternoon trade on Friday.
Great Places full-year surplus 'almost exactly' in line with budget
Great Places Housing Group reported a full-year surplus of £19. 9m in its fourth quarter update on Friday, up from £14. 8m year-on-year and “almost exactly” in line with budget.
Broker tips: Coca-Cola HBC, Drax Group, Aveva
Jefferies upgraded Coca-Cola HBC to 'buy' from 'hold' on Friday and lifted its price target on the stock to 2,000. 0p from 1,800. 0p as it said although there was still no visibility on the endgame for the Russia/Ukraine conflict, it has more confidence in the underlying earnings prospects of the business.
One Media makes offer for 1pc of Pink Floyd's back catalogue
Music rights investor One Media iP has submitted a £3. 5m bid for a 1% stake in the back catalogue of Pink Floyd, it announced on Friday.
UKOG gets one-year extension to Horse Hill work programme
UK Oil & Gas announced on Friday that the North Sea Transition Authority, formerly the Oil and Gas Authority, has granted a one-year extension to the agreed retention area work programme on the Horse Hill oil field.
US consumer confidence falls further amid high petrol prices, rout in stock market
Americans' confidence in the economy and their finances fell further in the beginning of May, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
Musk says Twitter deal on hold, shares tumble
Twitter shares tanked on Friday after Elon Musk said his takeover of the social media company was on hold until he gets more information on fake accounts.
US import prices flat in April, export prices rise 0.6%
US import prices were flat month-on-month in April, following an upwardly revised 2. 9% increase in March, missing market forecasts for a 0. 6% uptick and marking the first time that import prices failed to rise year-to-date.
US open: Major indices on track for losing week despite early gains
Wall Street stocks traded higher early on Friday after the blue-chip Dow Jones registered its sixth consecutive losing session a day earlier.
FTSE 100 movers: Scottish Mortgage bounces back; Vodafone hit by downgrade
London’s FTSE 100 was up 2. 3% at 7,400. 33 in afternoon trade on Friday, recovering at the end of a volatile week.
BoA sees some 'good news' for those expecting a 'bear bounce' over next few weeks
Strategists at Bank of America saw signs of "good news" amid the carnage in crypto and in speculative technology for those investors holding out for a "bear bounce" during the following weeks.
Jefferies ups Coca-Cola HBC to 'buy'
Jefferies upgraded Coca-Cola HBC to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’ on Friday and lifted the price target to 2,000p from 1,800p, as it said that although there is still no visibility on the endgame for Russia/Ukraine, it has more confidence in the underlying earnings prospects of the business.
Condor losses widen as it brings La India to 'construction-ready' state
Pre-revenue explorer and developer Condor Gold reported wider losses in the March quarter on Friday, with basic and diluted losses per share totalling 46p, compared to 41p a year ago.