Full List Of Stories
Week ahead: UK Withdrawal, China data in focus
All eyes will shift back towards Westminster this coming week, with the Prime Minister set to present her 'Plan B' for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union on Monday, even as she comes under pressure from many sides to cede on some of her 'red lines'.
Bonds: Gilts unwanted in 'risk-on' session
These were the movements in some of the most closely-followed 10-year sovereign bond yields:.
Europe close: Stocks reclaim December losses on trade hopes
Stocks on the Continent continued to reclaim their losses from last month on the back of a quick succession of more positive-sounding news on the global trade front.
Commodities: Brent gains on trade hopes, drop in US rig count
Energy and base metals moved higher at the end of the week on the back of positive-sounding news around the US-China trade talks and as more details emerged regarding the first round of talks between Beijing and Washington at the beginning of January.
China offers six-year plan to cut trade surplus with US to zero, Bloomberg reports
China has offered to embark on a six-year $1. 0trn buying spree of US goods in a bid to reconfigure the trade relationship between the two economic giants and reduce its trade surplus with America to zero by 2024, Bloomberg reported.
London close: Stocks back at November levels on trade hopes
London stocks continued to push back towards their end of November levels as investors chose to focus on signs of possibly improving trade relations between the US and China, while brushing-off uninspiring retail sales figures referencing the previous month.
Broker tips: Antofagasta, Coats Group, RWS, Easyjet
Shares in Chilean copper miner Antofagasta were proving resilient on Friday in the face of a downgrade to 'sell' from 'neutral' by Goldman Sachs, which slashed its price target to 700p from 850p as it argued that the stock's valuation is stretched following the recent rally.
Director dealings: Chemring director buys in near 52-week lows
Carl-Peter Forster, a non-executive director at Chemring, bought into the shares even as they hit a fresh 52-week low in the wake of the company's full-year figures.
US open: Stocks jump despite consumer sentiment in the dumps
US stocks continued to push higher on Friday amid hopes of improving relations between the US and China, even as the latest batch of economic data showed that US consumer sentiment was quickly souring.
US manufacturing and mining output jumps in December
US industrial production edged past forecasts last month, as manufacturing and energy output ramped-up.
IEA sticks to forecast for slight pick-up in global oil demand for 2019
The rich world's energy watchdog reiterated its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2019, even as it highlighted the multiple sources of uncertainty which existed on both the demand and supply sides of the equation.
Washington may be open to lifting some tariffs on China, Journal says
Washington might be prepared to make concessions of its own should Beijing decide to 'play ball' in upcoming trade talks.
Europe midday: Stocks push higher on trade deal optimism
Stocks on the Continent are moving sharply higher following a report overnight - later denied - that the US might soften its tariffs against China as part of the ongoing negotiations.