Weekly review
The FTSE 100 ended the week down 69.33 points on Friday, at 7,161.71.
Equity view
Legal & General said on Friday that it was selling its general insurance business to Allianz for a minimum £242m.
Central and Eastern-European low cost airline Wizz Air said it was optimistic for the year ahead and would increase net profits after reporting full-year results in line with expectations.
Infrastructure company Balfour Beatty has been conditionally selected in joint venture to deliver the $1.7bn (£1.3bn) Interstate 635 LBJ East project on behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation, it announced on Friday.
Gambling company The Rank Group responded to an announcement from AIM-traded Stride Gaming on Friday, after Stride said it was in discussions with Rank over a possible takeover.
Fresh produce company Total Produce kept its expectations for full-year earnings growth unchanged on Friday, despite noting competitive markets and more uncertainty surrounding international trade.
Water utility and waste management group Pennon said full year underlying earnings rose 8.3%, driven by its waste recycling unit and greater awareness triggered by the BBC's 'Blue Planet' television series.
Imperial Brands said on Thursday that industry figures published the day before by Nielsen showing a big drop in sales were wide of the mark.
FirstGroup delivered a better than expected full-year performance, on the back of strength in its North American operations, outside of its Greyhound coach unit, and announced the results of a wide-ranging strategy review, including the proposed sale of the iconic coach franchise in the States and the separation of its First Bus operations in the UK.
Satellite communications giant Inmarsat announced on Thursday that Airbus Defence & Space has been selected as its satellite manufacturing partner, as part of what it called a “ground-breaking” development of its ‘Global Xpress’ (GX) network.
TR Property Investment Trust reported a 5.8% improvement in its net asset value per share in its full-year results on Thursday, to 418.54p.
Industrial and engineering software provider Aveva said full year pre-tax profits rose 21.7% to £46.7m driven by increasing demand for industrial software as it said was on track to meet medium-term targets.
Construction materials group Breedon named Amit Bhatia as its new chairman on Wednesday, taking over from outgoing Peter Tom, effective immediately.
Rail ticket booking app Trainline expects to raise at least £75m when it floats on the London Stock Exchange in June.
Experian announced the appointment of current independent non-executive director Mike Rogers as its new chairman on Wednesday, effective from the end of its annual general meeting on 24 July.
Life science company ValiRx reported a loss before income tax of £4.83m in its final results on Wednesday, widening from the £3.55m loss it posted a year earlier.
Tritax Big Box REIT announced on Tuesday that outline planning consent has been obtained for up to 2.31 million square feet of high-quality logistics space at Symmetry Park in Kettering.
Mike Ashley's Sports Direct confirmed on Tuesday that it has agreed to sell the freehold to its Shirebrook headquarters to Kwasa Logix Sportivo for just over £120m in cash.
NMC Health, alongside the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) and its investment arm Hassana Investment Company, announced the closing of definitive agreements signed on 4 March on Tuesday, in relation to the formation of a joint venture - NMC KSA - in the healthcare sector of Saudi Arabia.
Polymetal on Tuesday said it had formed a partnership with a company associated with UK-based Mineral Exploration Network for early-stage exploration in Russia's Chaunsk region.
M&G Investments will reject Non-Standard Finance's £1.3bn hostile takeover bid for larger rival Provident Financial.
Economic news
House prices in the UK dipped unexpectedly in May as a result of the uncertain economic environment, although activity in the housing market was "broadly stable", mirroring the broader trends in the economy, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
UK electric car owners are using unsuitable extension leads from their homes to charge their vehicles due to a lack of infrastructure, a consumer protection charity said on Thursday.
The Chancellor warned the candidates to replace Prime Minister Theresa May as leader of the Conservative party against a no-deal Brexit and irresponsible spending.
UK car production nearly halved in April with 56,999 fewer units built as factories across the country were shut in anticipation of the original date for Brexit.
Consumer spend on groceries held up well over the last few months, as shoppers continued to file their way towards discounters Aldi and Lidl even though temperatures failed to match 2018's record highs, the results of a closely-followed survey revealed.
US President Donald Trump wants to strike a trade deal with the UK post-Brexit his ambassador to London, Woody Johnson said on Wednesday.
UK mortgage approvals rose to their highest level in April since February 2017, according to data released by UK Finance on Tuesday.
Economic sentiment in the UK deteriorated in May, according to data released on Tuesday.
Michael Gove is set to announce on Tuesday a pledge to grant free British citizenship for 3.0m EU nationals and to abolish the need to prove settled status after Brexit if he replaces Theresa May as Prime Minister.
Boots review of its stores may lead to the closure of more than 200 underperforming shops over the next two years.
International events
A closely-followed survey of manufacturing sector conditions in China fell much more sharply than anticipated, as respondents reacted to the escalation in the US-China trade war earlier in the month.
Trump revealed on Thursday that he would be applying a 5% tariff on all imports from Mexico in order to pressure America's southern neighbours into cracking down on Central American migrants trying to cross the border.
Americans' optimism slipped "significantly" over the second half of May as a result of the ongoing trade war with Beijing, alongside a jump in inflation expectations.
US gross domestic product expanded a tad more slowly than expected at the start of 2019, revised figures from the government showed.
Germany’s headline unemployment rate rose in May, while unemployment claims unexpectedly surged amid a slowing economy, according to data released by Destatis on Wednesday.
The European Central Bank warned on Wednesday that weaker-than-expected growth and a possible escalation of trade tensions could trigger further falls in asset prices.
The US Treasury Department passed on the chance of labeling China a currency manipulator on Tuesday.
German consumer sentiment is expected to deteriorate in June, according to data released by market research group GfK on Tuesday.
Economic sentiment within the single currency block bounced back in May as both consumers and manufacturing firms grew more confident.
Home price growth in the States cooled down further in March, according to the results of a widely-followed survey.