Latest News
London midday: Stocks maintain gains as pound slides on inflation data
London stocks were maintaining gains by midday on Wednesday as stalling inflation piled more pressure on the pound, while updates from airline EasyJet and miner BHP Billiton lent a hand.
Supply chain trouble leaves Airbus struggling to deliver
Delays and shortfalls are causing Airbus to struggle with delivery deadlines in the first six months of 2018.
Director dealings: Workspace quartet sell £1.6m of shares
Four Workspace directors and their spouses sold £1. 57m worth of the served office group's stock, which is just off its highest level in nine and half years.
Europe close: Stocks end up as euro weakens; Ericsson rallies on Q2 results
European stocks ended higher on Wednesday amid some well-received earnings and as the dollar continued to dominate the single currency, with tech shares leading the gains.
Lighthouse Group scores renewal of ASCL contract
Lighthouse Group on Wednesday agreed the renewal of its contract with the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), as the preferred provider of expert financial advice to the association's members.
NAHL trading in line despite slight stumble amid operational changes
NAHL Group on Wednesday reported modestly lower earnings in parts of its personal injury business, though its performance was still expected to meet its expectations for the first half of the year.
London close: Stocks gain as pound hit by stalling inflation, politics
London stocks rose on Wednesday as the pound was knocked lower by stalling inflation and politics, while updates from airline EasyJet and miner BHP Billiton lent a hand.
Capita CFO packs his bags
Capita chief financial officer Nick Greatorex has given notice that he intends to leave the outsourcer, seven months after a new chief executive was appointed.
Broker tips: Boohoo, Ascential, Royal Mail
Online fashion retailer Boohoo got a boost on Wednesday as Liberum bumped the stock up to 'buy' from 'hold' and lifted the price target to 240p from 220p on the back of an improvement in its key metrics.
JPMorgan cuts Royal Mail target price after Q1 results
JPMorgan Cazenove cut its price target on neutral-rated Royal Mail to 537p from 561p on Wednesday following the company's first-quarter results a day earlier.
Premier Foods CEO survives re-election vote; Q1 sales up 1.7%
The chief executive officer of Mr Kipling and Bisto owner Premier Foods survived an attempt to oust him on Wednesday, as the company posted a rise in first-quarter total group sales and said expectations for the year remain unchanged.
Wednesday broker round-up
Thomas Cook Group: Numis upgrades to buy with a target price of 154p.
Goldman reinstates Ascential at 'buy' after exhibitions sale
Goldman Sachs reinstated coverage of Ascential, formerly EMAP, with a 'buy' rating and 560p price target, saying the new business mix will support double-digit organic growth to 2020.
Thursday preview: Unilever and Sports Direct results in focus
Half year results are due from Unilever and full year numbers from Sports Direct, while the Office for National Statistics will confirm official retail growth for last month.
US open: Stocks mostly higher as Morgan Stanley rallies on earnings
US stocks were mostly a little higher in early trade on Wednesday, with Morgan Stanley boosted by solid second-quarter earnings, as investors digested the latest testimony from Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell and some disappointing data on housing starts.
NetScientific subsidiary Wanda improve patient assistance software
Healthcare IP commercialisation firm NetScientific on Wednesday announced that portfolio company Wanda has completed a major enhancement of its patient management platform.
Astrazeneca hoards drugs in preparation for Brexit
Astrazeneca is increasing its stockpiles of drugs by a fifth to ensure the smooth supply of medicines in the case of a hard Brexit in April 2019.
FTSE 250 movers: RPC buckles in the heat; Transport stocks on the move
Shares in plastics manufacturer RPC fell as the company saw revenue growth slow in the first quarter and warned that its acquisitive growth plans were being constrained.
Xeros Technology scores collaboration with Chinese washing machine manufacturer
Xeros Technology on Wednesday signed a licensing contract with Jiangsu SeaLion Technology Development, a subsidiary of Chinese washing machine manufacturer Jiangsu SeaLion Machinery.
Quadrise Fuels signs MoU with fuel merchant Freepoint
Quadrise Fuels International has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Freepoint Commodities, it announced on Wednesday.