Week ahead: UK jobs data, Walmart and Target earnings eyed
The latest UK jobs data and quarterly results from US retailers Walmart and Target will be among the highlights next week.
London close: FTSE dragged lower by miners again; software stocks gain
London stocks ended in the red on Friday, dragged lower by weakness in the mining sector again.
Europe close: Shares close lower as Hormuz stalemate drags Stoxx lower
European shares closed lower on Friday as investors assessed the latest US treasury auction and threats from Washington to blockade Iran indefinitely.
Broker tips: Gym Group, IG Group
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price for The Gym Group from 255p to 295p on Friday, saying the low‑cost operator offered a multi‑year growth story in an underpenetrated market and remains attractively valued.
Director dealings: Roadside Real Estate CEO makes share purchase
Roadside Real Estate revealed on Friday that Tarncourt Capital, an entity controlled by chief executive Charles Disckson, had acquired 19. 76m ordinary shares in the AIM-listed energy forecourt real estate business.
US consumer confidence slides to lowest level in months
US consumer sentiment weakened sharply in August, according to preliminary figures from the University of Michigan, with all major measures of household confidence deteriorating on both a monthly and annual basis.
US open: Stocks little changed as retail sales disappoint
Major indices were little changed early on Friday, holding near record highs as both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq looked set to notch a third straight weekly gain.
GBG shares tank 30% on revenue guidance cut
Shares in Identity verification tech provider GBG tanked by 30% on Friday after the lowered revenue guidance as second‑quarter trading in its Americas Identity unit weakened, with higher‑than‑expected volume attrition at several key customers holding back growth.
FTSE 100 movers: Software stocks lifted by Workday report; miners fall
London’s FTSE 100 was down 0. 1% at 10,762. 31 in afternoon trade on Friday.
US pre-open: Futures mixed as S&P and Nasdaq eye third weekly gain
Wall Street futures were mixed ahead of the opening bell on Friday holding near record highs as both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq looked set to notch a third straight weekly gain.
US retail sales fall 0.6pc in July
US retail sales fell 0. 6% month‑on‑month in July, according to the Census Bureau, sharply missing forecasts for a small increase and more than reversing June's 0. 2% gain.
Mothercare swings to full-year loss
Mothercare said on Friday that it swung to a full-year loss as it pointed to challenging trading conditions in the Middle East and the end of its relationship with Boots in the UK.
Berenberg raises Gym Group target price, cites multi‑year growth potential
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price for The Gym Group from 255p to 295p on Friday, saying the low‑cost operator offered a multi‑year growth story in an underpenetrated market and remains attractively valued.
Eurozone economy grows 0.4% in Q2
Eurozone GDP grew 0. 4% in the second quarter, according to figures released on Friday by Eurostat, which confirmed the initial estimate.
Europe midday: Stoxx hovers on flatline as Iran war, US bonds in focus
European shares were mixed on Friday as investors assessed the latest US treasury auction and threats from Washington to blockade Iran.
London midday: FTSE touch lower as miners fall, software stocks rally
London stocks were still a smidgen lower by midday on Friday, failing to make any gains despite a fresh high for the S&P 500 after another soft US inflation reading eased concerns about a rate hike in September.
Europe open: US treasury sale, Iran blockade threat weigh on sentiment
European shares were mixed on Friday as investors assessed the latest US treasury auction and threats from Washington to blockade Iran.
Arrow Exploration expands Canadian portfolio with Thorsby acquisition
Exploration and production firm Arrow Exploration said on Friday that it has acquired a producing oil and gas property in the Thorsby area of central Alberta for CAD $12. 15m (£6. 66m), funded entirely from existing cash reserves.