Market Pulse
Euro area investors continue heading for the exits, December current account data shows
The euro area´s current account surplus dipped in December 2016 amid signs of continuing caution towards the single currency bloc on the part of investors.
Kingspan looking solid as revenue and earnings grow
High performance insulation and building envelope solutions provider Kingspan reported its preliminary results for the year to 31 December on Friday, with revenue up 12% to €3. 1bn.
Essentra beats on profits but lowers 2017 guidance
Essentra posted better-than-expected full-2016 fiscal year earnings while maintaining its dividend payout, but guided towards lower sales and profits in 2017.
Ithaca Energy starts production at North Sea oil field
AIM-listed explorer Ithaca Energy has started production at its Stella oil field in the North Sea.
Driver Group swings to a loss, aims to raise £8m from share placing
Driver Group’s revenue for the 2016 financial year revenue increased but the company swung to a loss as it implemented a recovery plan.
Tony Blair to rally Remainers to keep Britain in EU
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to rally Remainers to “rise up in defence of what we believe” in an attempt to change the British public’s mind over Brexit.
Trump comes out firing in press conference, says team working like 'fine-tuned machine'
Embattled US President Donald Trump went on the offensive on Thursday against the media in a boisterous return to his election campaign rhetoric, describing his administration as a "fine-tuned machine".
Europe open: Stocks slip at the start of trading; geopolitics in focus
European shares were on the backfoot at the start of Friday's, taking a cue from the mixed close to trading on Wall Street overnight amid profit-taking and ahead of US vice-president Mike Pence's visit to Europe.
London open: Stocks flat as investors eye retail sales
London stocks were little changed in early trade as investors awaited the release of UK retail sales figures.
Talks between Sky and Mediaset for Italian pay TV unit well advance, Il Sole reports
Contacts between Mediaset and rival London-listed Sky for the sale of the former's pay-TV unit Premium were well advanced, Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported.
Segro beats on full-year EPS, but analysts see room for improvement
Segro beat analysts' direst post-Brexit predictions with both its full-year earnings per share and net asset value coming in ahead of forecasts, thanks to the robustness of the industrial property markets.
Keywords Studios buys London-based Spov for up to £1.2m
Keywords Studios, which provides technical services to the global video games industry, has acquired Spov for up to £1. 2m in cash from its founder, Allen Leitch.
Weak sterling helps Millennium & Copthorne weather tough year
International accommodation operator Millennium & Copthorne posted its final results for the 2016 calendar year on Friday, with group revenue per available room (RevPAR) increasing 6. 6% to £76. 71.
Unite to dispose of 13 student properties
Manager and developer of student accommodation, Unite Students, has exchanged contracts for the disposal of 13 properties, comprising 4,175 beds to a Brookfield-managed fund for £295m, its share of which is £102m.
London pre-open: Stocks seen muted ahead of retail sales
London stocks were set for a muted open on Friday as investors await the release of retail sales figures.
Friday newspaper round-up: Vauxhall, Donald Trump, Alcohol
Business Secretary Greg Clark is travelling to Paris this evening for urgent talks with Peugeot executives and the French government about the future of thousands of Vauxhall employees in Britain. General Motors - the parent company of the Vauxhall and Opel - is in negotiations about a sale of the marques to PSA Groupe, the French owner of Peugeot. - The Daily Telegraph.