Advent says Senior rejected 272p a share takeover proposal
Private equity firm Advent International said on Thursday that the takeover proposal rejected by aero part supplier Senior was made at 272p per share.
London close: FTSE 100 hits three-week low as oil prices jump
UK stocks erased earlier gains to resume their downward trend on Thursday as oil prices surged and investors watched developments in the Middle East.
Friday preview: IMI, Lufthansa earnings due; non-farm payrolls in focus
After a barrage of earnings releases on Thursday, things are set to calm down significantly on Friday, with just engineer IMI slated to report full-year results in the UK.
Europe close: Stocks weaker as questions linger over Iran
European shares closed lower on Thursday after a volatile session, as investors weighed reports that Iran was prepared to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for an “alternative offer” from the United States while American and Israeli forces continued bombing Tehran and neighbouring Lebanon.
Rising fuel prices could damage airlines' credit quality, says S&P Global
Global airline stocks continued their descent on Thursday as oil prices continued to climb on the back of the developing geopolitical conflict across the Middle East, with S&P Global warning that credit ratings could be affected if crude stays elevated for too long.
Broker tips: BAE Systems, Vistry
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price on aerospace and defence firm BAE Systems from 2,000p to 2,300p on Thursday, highlighting that US budget optimism has driven the stock higher.
Middle East conflict will likely determine ECB policy, says de Guindos
The outlook for monetary policy in Europe will be shaped by how conflict in the Middle East develops over the coming months, according to European Central Bank vice president Luis de Guindos.
FTSE 100 movers: Reckitt slumps after results; Rentokil surges
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0. 9% at 10,472. 57 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
US open: Dow slips as Middle East conflict weighs on sentiment
Wall Street futures were in the red early on Thursday as traders were zeroed in on rising Treasury yields and oil prices.
FTSE 250 movers: Coats surges on target lift; PageGroup tanks on results
FTSE 250 (MCX) 22,870. 45 -0. 11%.
Director dealings: Pagegroup non executive director raises stake
Pagegroup revealed on Thursday that non-executive director Ben Stevens had acquired 71,583 ordinary shares in the FTSE 250-listed recruitment business.
UK's CMA starts probe into £8.4bn private dental market
Britain's competition watchdog has launched a review into the private dentistry market in response to the rising cost of a basic consultation.
RBC Capital Markets lowers target price on Vistry
RBC Capital Markets lowered its target price on housebuilder Vistry from 475p to 385p on Thursday following the news that it will split the role of chairman and chief executive after executive chairman Greg Fitzgerald announced his retirement.
Mike Ashley's Frasers Group takes stake in Puma, shares surge
Puma shares shot higher on Thursday after Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group took a 5. 8% stake in the German sportswear company.
US non-farm productivity rise 2.8pc in Q4
US non-farm business productivity rose 2. 8% in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to preliminary figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, easing from the sharp 5. 2% jump seen in Q3 but still beating forecasts for a 1. 9% gain.
US employers announce 48,307 job cuts in February
US employers announced 48,307 job cuts in February, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, considerably lower than the 108,435 recorded in January and well below the 172,017 cuts seen in the same month a year earlier.
US initial jobless claims unchanged at 213,000
Initial jobless claims were unchanged from the previous week at 213,000 in the seven days ended 28 February, according to the Labor Department, slightly below market expectations of 215,000.
Packaging firm Robinson drops as FY results underwhelm
The share price of packaging company Robinson dropped on Thursday after full-year results underwhelmed, with the top line dampened by weak demand and the loss of some contracts in Denmark and Poland, while the firm guided to lower profits in 2026.
Berenberg raises target price on BAE Systems
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price on aerospace and defence firm BAE Systems from 2,000p to 2,300p on Thursday, highlighting that US budget optimism has driven the stock higher.
Generic competition and forex headwinds to hit earnings at Merck
Pharmaceutical firm Merck flagged weaker sales and profits in 2026 on Thursday, on the back of generic competition in the US and unfavourable exchange rates.