Europe close: Stocks manage gains on hopes of Iran talks
European shares ended higher on Wednesday as investors briefly welcomed reports suggesting potential back-channel contact between Iran and the United States over the escalating conflict in the Middle East, even though Tehran later reportedly rejected the claims.
Thursday preview: Admiral, Taylor Wimpey results due
Insurer Admiral and housebuilder Taylor Wimpey are among the companies slated to report in the UK on Thursday.
London close: UK blue chips rebound after heavy sell-off, oil prices pull back
Global stock markets rebounded slightly on Wednesday after the previous day's sell-off, with equities in London bouncing off a two-week low, led by decent gains in the mining sector.
Wizz Air downgrades FY profit expectations, cites Iran conflict
Wizz Air downgraded its full-year profit expectations on Wednesday, pointing to the current crisis in the Middle East.
Abercrombie & Fitch shares fall on sales outlook, US tariffs
Shares in Abercrombie & Fitch fell on Wednesday despite the apparel retailer reporting stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, as investors focused on a slower sales outlook for the year ahead and the impact of new US tariffs.
Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman beats Q3 estimates, but outlook subdued
Brown-Forman's share price dropped more than 7% on Wednesday despite the Jack Daniel's maker beating results with its fiscal third-quarter results, as ongoing challenges in developed markets offset strong emerging markets.
Broker tips: Tullow Oil, Segro
Analysts at Canaccord Genuity hiked their target price on exploration and production firm Tullow Oil from 7p to 13p on Wednesday, stating the group's equity value was "the most highly geared to oil prices" in its E&P coverage list.
Rabobank no longer expects BoE to cut rates this year
Rabobank said on Wednesday that it no longer expects the Bank of England to cut rates this year, citing the surge in natural gas and oil prices in the wake of the Iran conflict.
US open: Stocks higher as markets stabilise after volatile session
Major indices were in the green early on Wednesday as stocks look set to try recover from a volatile previous session.
Bayer annual losses top €1bn after weedkiller lawsuit settlements
Bayer reported an operating loss of more than €1bn in 2025 as annual profits were wiped out by a €3. 55bn hit from legal charges in the fourth quarter after resolving a years-long litigation related to its Roundup weedkiller.
S&P Global US services PMI cools to 51.7 in February
S&P Global's services and composite PMIs both cooled in February, with both surveys pointing to the slowest expansion in ten months.
Iran denies Ministry of Intelligence reached out to CIA
Iran denied on Wednesday that its Ministry of Intelligence reached out to the CIA to discuss terms for ending the conflict.
FTSE 100 movers: Metlen, Antofagasta rally; BP and Shell gush lower
London’s FTSE 100 was up 0. 6% at 10,548. 49 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.
Vistry shares tank on margin outlook, CEO retirement
Vistry shares tanked on Wednesday as the UK housebuilder said 2026 profit margins would be lower and chief executive and chair Greg Fitzgerald announced his retirement.
Dotdigital acquiring Alia Software for up to $60m
Dotdigital announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to acquire US-based software company Alia Software for up to $60m, adding AI-driven lead capture technology to its customer experience and data platform as the group looked to expand product capabilities and cross-sell opportunities.
US private sector adds 63,000 jobs in February
US private‑sector employment rose 63,000 in February, according to data processing firm ADP, the strongest monthly gain since July 2025, after January's increase was revised down to 11,000.
SRT Marine Systems signs $261m surveillance system contract
SRT Marine Systems announced on Wednesday that it has signed a $261m contract to supply a national maritime surveillance system to a new sovereign customer, expanding the AIM-listed company’s portfolio of large-scale maritime domain awareness projects.
Netcall reports double-digit first-half revenue growth
Netcall reported double-digit revenue growth in the first half of its 2026 financial year on Wednesday, driven by expanding cloud adoption and rising AI-related demand, as the AIM-listed software group lifted annual contract value and reiterated a positive outlook for the full year.
FCA fines Wood Group £13m for misleading financial reports
The UK financial regulator has fined Wood Group £13m for publishing misleading statements in its financial results, claiming the energy and industrial engineering firm overstated three years of profits.