Economic News
Nigerian Oil producers defy OPEC and are eager to pump more
Independent Nigerian drillers want to supply more crude, in defiance of OPEC and Russia's pact to restrict output and boost prices.
India's PNB hit by $1.8bn worth of fraudulent operations
India’s Punjab National Bank (PNB) has uncovered a $1. 8bn fraud that benefited a small group of customers and could affect other banks.
Costain, Balfour and Renew best placed for HS2 and other rail gains
Broker Numis said on Thursday that it expects UK rail to be a key growth area for the construction sector in the foreseeable future, with phase-one of HS2 in 2020 and 2021 offsetting the completion of major rail projects from Crossrail and Thameslink.
Friday preview: Silver lining for UK retail sales, Segro results due
Data from the Office for National Statistics is unlikely to lift the dark clouds over UK retail but a better month is expected and could prove a thin ray of sunshine.
US homebuilder sentiment remains strong in February - NAHB
Sentiment among US homebuilders remained strong in February, according to data released on Thursday.
South African assets lifted as Ramaphosa replaces Zuma
Cyril Ramaphosa was voted in as President of South Africa, senior members of the African National Congress party confirmed on Thursday, lifting the rand and companies exposed to the currency.
US final demand PPI "solid" in January, economists say
Factory gate prices in the US rose more quickly than expected last month, driven by steep gains in energy costs, but economists said the underlying details were "solid" too.
A quarter of British exporters yet to review post-Brexit trading strategy
One in four British exporters had yet to review their post-Brexit trading strategy, according to the latest Business in Britain report from Lloyds Bank, an improvement of 23% on a similar survey carried out by the bank six months earlier.
Jobless claims rise as expected
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose as expected last week, according to data released by the Labor Department.
Italy's election offers many risks but 'little chance of Italexit'
Italy's election early next month is unlikely to result in an 'Italexit' from the European Union, said Berenberg on Thursday, but is likely to see former leader Silvio Berlusconi emerge as a kingmaker and could still result in the country holding referendum on its membership of the euro and reverse recent labour reforms.
Philly Fed index jumps to 25.8 in February
Manufacturing conditions in the Philadelphia region unexpectedly improved in February, with firms optimistic about the prospects for the next six months, according to a survey out on Thursday.
Lidl keeps up pace with store openings to overtake upmarket rivals
Lidl is set to open 19 new stores in the first two months of 2018, creating 700 new jobs across the country, as the German-owned discounter looks to overtake Waitrose as the UK's seventh largest grocer.