Europe close: FTSE outperforms amid AI, Iran strike fears
European shares edged higher on Friday, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 closing up 0. 11% at 633. 85 after touching a fresh intraday record of 636. 16 in morning trade.
Weekly review
The FTSE 100 ended the week up 223. 8 points, or 2. 09%, closing at 10,910. 55 on Friday.
London close: UK equity rally continues as Footsie hits another record
London's blue chip index continued its relentless march towards new records on Friday, gaining 0. 6% despite a mixed performance across other markets.
Broker tips: Derwent London, Magnum Ice Cream Company
Jefferies downgraded Derwent London to 'underperform' from 'hold' on Friday as it slashed its price target on the stock to 1,550p from 1,820p.
Week ahead: Spring Statement in focus
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver the Spring Statement next Tuesday and the Office for Budget Responsibility will publish new forecasts for the economy and public finances.
Chicago PMI hits highest level in nearly four years
Manufacturing activity across the Chicago region unexpectedly grew at its fastest pace in nearly four years in February, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).
OpenAI raises $110bn from SoftBank, Nvidia, Amazon
ChatGPT maker and AI giant OpenAI has raised $110bn in new funding from SoftBank, Nvidia and Amazon, the company announced on Friday.
Atome says Villeta financing negotiations are ongoing
Atome said in an update on Friday that detailed negotiations over financing for its flagship Villeta project were ongoing, with all stakeholders said to be actively engaged.
FTSE 100 movers: Rightmove rallies on results; IAG flies lower
London’s FTSE 100 was 0. 3% higher at 10,881. 46 in afternoon trade on Friday.
MediaZest returns to full-year profitability
MediaZest reported a return to profitability for the year ended 30 September on Friday, with revenue and EBITDA rising sharply on the back of strong trading in the final months of the period.
US open: Stocks lower as hotter-than-expected PPI reading sparks selloff
Major indices were firmly in the red early on Friday, the final trading day of February, as investors digested hotter-than-expected wholesale inflation figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Blue Star Capital reports sharply reduced annual loss
Blue Star Capital reported a sharply reduced annual loss and a strengthened balance sheet for the year ended 30 September on Friday, reflecting lower fair value losses and increased exposure to SatoshiPay.
Director dealings: Upland Resources CEO snaps up shares
Upland Resources revealed on Friday that chairman and chief executive Datuk Bolhassan Di had acquired 14. 37m ordinary shares in the.
Empyrean Energy makes interim CEO its permanent chief
Empyrean Energy announced the appointment of Gajendra ‘Gaz’ Bisht as its chief executive officer with immediate effect on Friday, formalising his role after serving as interim CEO for the past six months.
US wholesale inflation comes in hotter than expected
US wholesale inflation picked up at a faster than accepted clip at start of the year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with producer prices rising more strongly than in the prior two months.
Shares in Dell soar on record Q4 numbers
Shares in Dell Technologies jumped on Friday, after booming demand for artificial intelligence saw fourth-quarter earnings surge.
German inflation falls to 1.9% in February
The inflation rate in Germany slowed more than expected in February, dipping below the 2% mark for only the second time in 17 months, as energy prices dropped and food inflation slowed.
Berenberg starts Magnum Ice Cream Company at 'hold'
Analysts at Berenberg initiated coverage on The Magnum Ice Cream Company with a 'hold' rating and a 1,270p price target on Friday, implying a roughly 7% upside to the stock's current price.
BA owner IAG hails record full-year profit but shares drop
IAG said on Friday that it had delivered another "record" financial performance in 2025 and that it would be returning €1. 5bn of excess capital in the next 12 months, but shares in the BA and Iberia owner dropped, with analysts pointing to potential disappointment around guidance.