Market Report
Friday newspaper round-up: Nuclear power stations, THG, Klarna
The cost of decommissioning the UK’s seven ageing nuclear power stations has nearly doubled to £23. 5bn and is likely to rise further, the public accounts committee has said. The soaring costs of safely decommissioning the advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGRs), including Dungeness B, Hunstanton B and Hinkley B, are being loaded on to the taxpayer, their report said. - Guardian.
Europe close: Stocks finish higher on the back of Chinese rate cut
European shares were slightly higher at the end of the week, as Chinese central bank stimulus boosted sentiment after the previous session’s heavy sell-off.
London close: Stocks in the green after another volatile week
London stocks closed in positive territory on Friday, after sentiment was boosted by China cutting one of its key interest rates, as investors pored over better-than-expected retail sales data but a grim reading on consumer confidence.
Bank of England chief economist sees further rate hikes ahead
The price of money is headed higher still and the risks are that even further rate rises might be needed, the Bank of England's chief economist said.
FTSE 100 movers: Royal Mail, Prudential rally
London's FTSE 100 was up 1. 3% in afternoon trade on Friday at 7,396. 95.
Broker tips: Royal Mail, Marshalls, EasyJet
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target price on courier Royal Mail from 650. 0p to 575. 0p on Friday, stating there was "no reprieve" for the stock just yet.
Berenberg lowers target price on Royal Mail
Analysts at Berenberg lowered their target price on courier Royal Mail from 650. 0p to 575. 0p on Friday, stating there was "no reprieve" for the stock just yet.
US open: Stocks trade higher as China cuts key mortgage interest rate
Wall Street stocks were in the green early on Friday but the Dow Jones was still on track to register its eighth-consecutive losing week despite news that China had cut its key mortgage interest rate bolstering sentiment.
FTSE 250 movers: Darktrace rebounds, easyJet takes off
The FTSE 250 was up 1. 64% at 20,012. 15 at 1420 BST.
EasyJet flies higher as BofA Merrill Lynch reiterates 'buy' rating
EasyJet rallied on Friday after Bank of America Merrill Lynch reiterated its ‘buy’ rating on shares of the budget airline.
Angle's Parsortix to be used in 'significant' prostate cancer study
Liquid biopsy company Angle announced on Friday that Prostate Cancer UK has approved funding for a “significant” clinical study at the Barts Cancer Institute of the Queen Mary University of London.
Brian McLain to step down as Spectra Systems CFO
Banknote authentication, brand protection and gaming security technology company Spectra Systems announced on Friday that chief financial officer Brian McLain had tendered his resignation, effective 3 June.
Kibo Energy taps Cobus van der Merwe as group CFO
Kibo Energy announced the appointment of Cobus van der Merwe as group chief financial officer on Friday, with effect from 1 June.
UKOG gets two-year planning extension to Broadford Bridge discovery
UK Oil & Gas announced on Friday that the West Sussex County Council has approved, by a 7-2 majority vote, a two-year planning extension to its Broadford Bridge-1z (BB-1z) Kimmeridge oil discovery.
Eagle Eye lifts expectations amid strong trading
Marketing software-as-a-service provider Eagle Eye reported “continued positive trading performance” in an update on Friday, raising its forecasts for revenue and earnings.
Audioboom claims title of fourth largest US podcast publisher
Podcast company Audioboom revealed on Friday that it was now ranked as the fourth-largest US podcast publisher based on both the number of average weekly downloads and weekly users.
Altus Strategies sells 30pc of Alpha 3 vehicle for $5.3m
Altus Strategies has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with AlphaStream Capital, it announced on Friday, for the sale of a 30. 1% interest in the Alpha 3 special-purpose vehicle for $5. 27m (£4. 22m).
DeepMatter renews contract with research publisher Springer Nature
Digital chemistry data and software company DeepMatter has renewed its long-term commercial relationship with global research publisher Springer Nature, it announced on Friday, for a further three years.
Sylvania Platinum buys back 121k shares
Sylvania Platinum updated the market on its ongoing share buyback on Friday, reporting that it acquired 121,035 shares on Thursday, representing 0. 04% of its issued share capital.
US pre-open: Dow Jones on track for eight-straight losing week despite pre-market gains
Wall Street futures were in the green ahead of the bell on Friday after China cut a key interest rate but the Dow Jones was still firmly on track to register its eighth-consecutive losing week.