Friday preview: UK retail sales, American Express results due
There are no FTSE 350 corporate releases scheduled on Friday, but American Express will publish second-quarter earnings across the pond.
Europe close: Stocks sink on surging oil prices, ECB rate hike bets
A sharp rise in oil prices and hawkish comments from the European Central Bank sent European stock markets to their lowest levels in two weeks on Thursday, as inflationary concerns reignited.
London close: Stocks finish lower as Brent tops $100
London stocks closed lower on Thursday, while oil prices continued to climb as tensions between the US and Iran escalated and investors digested a fresh batch of corporate updates.
Broker tips: Standard Life, Mercia Asset Management
Berenberg lifted its price target on insurer Standard Life to 1,072p from 975p, saying the upcoming Aegon UK acquisition would materially strengthen the group's scale and market position.
American Airlines cuts guidance as fuel costs surge, shares tumble
American Airlines shares fell sharply on Thursday after the carrier cut its full-year earnings outlook, overshadowing record second-quarter revenue and better-than-expected adjusted earnings.
FTSE 250 movers: Aston Martin leads risers, Mitchells & Butlers drops
Aston Martin, easyJet and oil stocks were among the day's better performers on the FTSE 250, while Capital Gearing Trust and Mitchells & Butlers fell sharply.
Berenberg raises target price on Standard Life
Berenberg lifted its price target on insurer Standard Life to 1,072p from 975p, saying the upcoming Aegon UK acquisition would materially strengthen the group's scale and market position.
Canaccord Genuity keeps Mercia Asset Management at 'buy'
Mercia Asset Management has secured a new three‑year debt facility with Metro Bank worth up to £38m, a move Canaccord Genuity said gives the group greater flexibility to pursue inorganic growth.
FTSE 100 movers: Segro, 3i Group surge; Centrica in the red
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0. 8% at 10,635. 14 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Director dealings: Greencore chairman raises stake
Greencore revealed on Thursday that non-executive chair Leslie Van de Walle had acquired 350,000 shares in the FTSE 250-listed food company.
US open: Stocks slip as traders digest earnings, Middle East‑driven oil jump
Major indices opened lower on Thursday as investors digested another round of earnings, renewed concerns over AI‑related spending and a fresh jump in oil prices following escalating tensions in the Middle East.
US initial jobless claims fall to 187,000
Americans lined up for unemployment benefits at a decelerated pace in the week ended 18 July, according to the Labor Department.
Tesla Q2 earnings come in lower than expected
Electric car maker Tesla posted weaker‑than‑expected second‑quarter earnings after the close on Wednesday despite delivering revenues that came in ahead of forecasts, sending the shares lower in pre-market trading.
EU fines Google €890m for breaching online competition laws
The European Commission has fined Google a total of €890m after finding that its search engine and app store services had breached online competition laws.
ECB leaves rates unchanged, but says impact from war still to play out
The European Central Bank on Thursday left its key interest rate unchanged despite the recent rise in oil prices, but acknowledged that the inflationary impact of the Middle East conflict has yet to fully play out.
Shares in STMicroelectronics slump as Q2 numbers disappoint
Shares in STMicroelectronics plunged on Thursday, after second-quarter numbers from the European chipmaker disappointed investors, despite ongong robust demand from datacentres.
UK manufacturing new orders fall at fastest pace in six years - CBI
New orders in the manufacturing sector fell in July at the fastest pace in six years, according to a the lates Industrial Trends survey released on Thursday by the Confederation of British Industry.
AstraZeneca breast cancer drug receives EU approval
A breast cancer drug developed by AstraZeneca has been approved in the European Union for the treatment of certain types of the disease, the pharmaceutical giant announced on Thursday.
Judges Scientific confirms weaker first-half trading
Judges Scientific said on Thursday that first-half trading was weaker than the prior year as expected, with revenue falling 21% from £70. 2m amid the absence of a Geotek coring expedition, uncertainty around US federal scientific research funding, delays to offshore wind projects and changes to China's R&D tax exemption process.
Empire Metals appoints general manager, senior adviser
Empire Metals announced the appointment of Chris Dodds as general manager for project delivery and Emma Neale as senior adviser for approvals on Thursday, as it seeks to accelerate development of its Pitfield titanium project in Western Australia.