Market Pulse
French investigators raid Le Pen's offices
The offices of French far-right presidential hopeful Marie Le Pen were raided by investigators at the start of the week.
FX round-up: Sterling firms as House of Lords' Brexit discussion begins
Sterling was overall firmer Monday as UK's House of Lords began discussing Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit Bill, perhaps suggesting a curious sense of hope, while the US dollar drifted lower due to the Presidents Day holiday there.
Europe close: Political news fills US holiday-induced vacuum
European equity markets ended on a mixed note - albeit little changed - as political news filled the vacuum left by Wall Street as US markets remain closed in observance of Presidents Day.
Le Pen narrows Macron lead in polls, risk premium and volatility soar
French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen managed to narrow the gap between her and front-runner Emmanuel Macron a little, the results of a new poll revealed, sending the country´s risk premium sharply higher - albeit on thin trading volumes - at one point during the session.
Greece's lenders reach common position on requirements to finish bailout review
Greece´s lenders reached a common position at the start of the week on what needed to be done in order to finish the country´s second bailout review and avoid new tensions in its financial system.
Faron recruits first patient for new Traumakine trial
Clinical stage biopharmaceutical company Faron Pharmaceuticals announced the enrolment of the first patient in the Phase II INFORAAA clinical trial of Traumakine for the treatment of multi-organ failure and mortality prevention of surgically operated ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm patients on Monday.
FinnAust Mining to change name to Bluejay Mining after it buys remaining 40% stake
Explorer FinnAust Mining is to change its name to Bluejay Mining after its buys the remaining stake in the titanium miner that it does not already own.
Russia denies allegations of Montenegro coup involvement
The Kremlin has rubbished claims that Russia was involved in an attempt to oust the former president and prime minister of Montenegro during the country's elections last October.
Sector movers: Unilever and Bovis Homes drag market lower
Unilever dragged on the Personal Goods sector and the broader market after Chicago-based Kraft Heinz dropped plans for a hostile takeover over the weekend, emphasising that it had done so in "amicable" fashion.
Zenith Energy exits dormant Argentina operations
Dual listed international oil and gas production company Zenith Energy announced the sale of its operations in Argentina to a group of local energy investors on Monday.
Director dealings: Kingspan CFO takes profits near all-time high
Kingspan Group finance director Geoff Doherty took some profits along with many other investors in the Dublin-based insulation and wall-panels specialist as they backed off an all-time high despite exceeding high expectations in Friday's results.
Hardide upbeat on oil and gas upturn
Hardide’s chairman updated shareholders on the company’s progress on Monday, as they gathered late in the morning for its annual general meeting.
BT, Virgin unhappy with higher taxes on old infrastructure
In a rare show of solidarity, copper network operator BT and its cable-based rival Virgin Media spoke from the same soapbox on Monday, claiming the upcoming business rates rise would triple their tax bill and cripple plans to invest in the UK’s broadband infrastructure.
Small cap news round-up
Responding to rumours on social media, US and Egypt-focused oil minnow Nostra Terra confirmed that it would not be raising new funds in the immediate future, though it had contemplated a fundraising.
Commodities: Crude rises despite rising US rig count as sterling gains on dollar
Crude-oil futures are ahead Monday despite a rising rig count in the US, with sterling gaining against the US dollar as the UK Brexit Bill goes before the House of Lords for discussion.
Results round-up: Hammerson, Bovis Homes, BGEO Group
Retail property group Hammerson said full year pre-tax profits slumped by more than half to £322. 8m from £731. 6m as it booked a £24m revaluation loss on properties compared with a £245m gain a year earlier.
Euro area consumer confidence weakens in February
Consumer confidence in the single currency bloc deteriorated in February, the European Union's executive arm said.
Nostra Terra shelves placing plans
Responding to rumours on social media, USA- and Egypt-focused oil minnow Nostra Terra confirmed that it would not be raising new funds in the immediate future, though it had contemplated a fundraising.
FTSE 250 movers: Tullow gushes higher on upgrade; Bovis slumps as FY disappoints
London’s FTSE 250 was up 0. 2% to 18,744. 61 in afternoon trade as the House of Lords debate on the Article 50 bill got underway.
Tuesday preview: HSBC begins bank reporting season
London's big banks begin reporting results on Tuesday, while macro attention turns to UK public sector borrowing and European manufacturing and services data.