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CBI sees growing financial sector gloom over Brexit
Optimism in the financial services sector has fallen in the first quarter of 2018 as negativity surrounding the sector has now surpassed that of the 2008 global financial crisis.
Market buzz: Vlieghe adds to May rate hike expectations
1700:Close The top flight index went into the holiday-shortened Easter week nursing a greater than 3% fall and firmly in 'correction' territory, having retreated by more than 10% from the record highs it hit earlier in the year.
Europe close: Stocks saddled with heavy losses going into Easter
Stocks extended their steep declines from the previous session going into the holiday-shortened Easter week, although they did come off their lows for the day as some analysts argued that the immediate escalation in global trade tensions had not been as bad as feared.
Broker tips: Just Eat, Mitie, Allied Minds
Just Eat was under pressure as Canaccord Genuity downgraded the stock to 'hold' from 'buy' and slashed the price target to 700p from 850p as it published new forecasts following last week's prelims and new guidance.
Week ahead: US data in the spotlight during holiday-shortened week
The spotlight over the coming holiday-shortened week will be a on a barrage of data releases on Thursday, including a revised reading on fourth quarter gross domestic product.
Box drops as Dropbox floats
File hosting service storage Dropbox saw its shares soar more than 40% in its market debut on Friday, with investors rushing to get their hands on a piece of the biggest tech IPO in over twelve months.
Sector movers: Next outlook lifts retailers, life insurers lead fallers
Friday saw retailers the top rising sector on the back of final results from high street bellwether Next, while life insurers and banks were the main fallers.
London close: Stocks end down amid trade war woes; Smiths slumps but Next rallies
London stocks ended down but off lows on Friday amid trade war fears, with engineer Smiths slumping on the back of disappointing results but retailer Next in the black.
FTSE 250 movers: Indivior dives on court ruling, Hochschild rides risk-off wave
London's FTSE 250 index finished lightly lower 0. 33% on Friday, with the worst of the morning's losses rubbed out as the initial blows of the US-China trade battle were not as fearsome as feared.
Trump threatens to veto $1.3tn spending bill
US president Donald Trump said on Twitter that he was considering vetoing the $1. 3tn budget bill passed by Congress late Thursday night, increasing the risk of another government shutdown.
Next investors take positives as profits fall and will fall again
Profits fell at Next for the third year in a row in 2017 and are expected to fall again in 2018 as falling store sales and good online growth largely cancel each other out and the clothing retailer looks to "attack costs" and "defend sales and profitability".
Credit Suisse slashes target price for Allied Minds
Analysts at Credit Suisse slashed their target on shares of Allied Minds, telling clients they were still waiting for the commercial proof points from the company and pointed out its ongoing rate of 'cash burn'.
Canaccord downgrades Just Eat, no longer so convinced
Just Eat was under pressure as Canaccord Genuity downgraded the stock to 'hold' from 'buy' and slashed the price target to 700p from 850p as it published new forecasts following last week's prelims and new guidance.
FTSE 100 movers: Next rallies but Smiths Group slumps on results
London's FTSE 100 was down 0. 7% to 6,904. 97 in afternoon trade on Friday amid trade war worries.
Director dealings: Augean shares soar after directors up holdings
Jim Meredith, executive chairman of waste management businesses Augean, purchased 1m ordinary shares in the Surrey-based company on Friday, upping his total shareholding in the company's capital to 2. 5m shares, or 2. 43% of its voting shares.
US open: Stocks little changed despite upbeat economic reports
Wall Street was trading on a mixed note roughly two hours on from the open, despite two better-than-expected readings on the economy, with traders heading into the weekend mulling the implications of the latest round of global trade tensions.
EU approves Brexit transition deal offer
European Union leaders have approved the terms of the transition deal draft on the condition that it provides a valid solution for the Northern Irish border affair.
Melrose says 'disregard' Mergermarket story, to waive CFIUS clearance condition
In its second instalment of the day, turnaround specialist Melrose Industries said a story published by Mergermarket on Thursday suggesting that it was confident of meeting the 50. 1% minimum threshold for shareholder acceptances should be disregarded.
Housebuilders not providing enough affordable housing
Housebuilders are failing to meet demand for social and affordable housing with just 20% of homes to be build over the coming year to be affordable, new research has found.