Market Pulse
Pub-picking Berenberg upgrades Wetherspoons, downgrades Greene King, Marston's
Analysts at Berenberg provided a mixed review of the UK pubs sector on Wednesday, as it upgraded JD Wetherspoon to ‘hold’ from ‘sell’.
Touchstone Innovations puts £1.4m more into Featurespace
Touchstone Innovations announced on Wednesday that it has participated in a £16. 5m funding round in Featurespace, which it described as a “leading” machine-learning, fraud prevention company.
Apple's EUR13bn unpaid Irish tax case referred to European Court of Justice
The European Commission has referred Ireland to court for failing make Apple pay back taxes worth up to €13bn, in an illegal state aid case disputed by both the company and state.
Amazon must pay back EUR250m of illegal state aid - European Commission
European competition authorities have demanded Amazon pay around €250m of unpaid tax to Luxembourg after finding the US retail giant's tax structure amounted to illegal state aid.
US pre-open: Stocks to nudge lower ahead of Draghi, Yellen speeches
US stocks looked set for a slightly softer open on Wednesday as investors take a breather following a record run and look to some key services and jobs data.
Rainbow Earth raises guidance in preparation of first concentrate shipments
Guernsey-based mining company Rainbow Rare Earths released its audited results for the twelve months ended 30 June on Wednesday, raising production guidance and run-of-mine (ROM) ore production between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes in the announcement.
Tesco tumbles despite restoring interim dividend, beating profit forecasts
Tesco reinstated its dividend after a three-year hiatus with a 1p half-year payout as sales from Britain's biggest grocer rose more than City forecasts and profits soared.
London midday: Stocks dip as pound gains on services data; May speech eyed
London stocks were trading down a touch by midday on Wednesday, giving up modest earlier gains as the pound rallied following a better-than-expected reading on the UK services sector, but moves were muted ahead of a speech by Prime Minister Theresa May.
Petro Matad to begin Mongolian seismic survey by end of month
Oil explorer Petro Matad announced on Wednesday that it had signed up a contractor to begin a large-scale 3D and 2D seismic survey of Mogolia's Tugrug Basin before the end of October.
LightwaveRF expecting revenue uptick despite investments
Smart home solutions provider LightwaveRF updated the market on its trading for the financial year ended 30 September on Wednesday, saying it anticipated that revenue will have “more than doubled” from the prior year’s £1. 44m figure.
Asia report: Markets finish mixed as India stands pat on rates
Markets in Asia finished mixed on Wednesday, with a number of markets still closed for public holidays, after Wall Street put in a solid showing in its Tuesday session overnight.
Sound Energy discusses 'exciting period' of development
Mediterranean upstream company Sound Energy outlined its plans for a new three-well drilling programme in Eastern Morocco on Wednesday, saying the firm was preparing for "another exciting period. ".
IXICO signs innovative activity sensor agreement
Digital neuroscience technologies company IXICO announced on Wednesday that it has signed a new contract with an unnamed “top 15” global pharmaceutical company, utilising wrist worn activity sensors in a Phase II clinical trial for a neurological disorder.
Image Scan signals uplift in expected full-year profit
Specialist x-ray screening system supplier Image Scan updated the market once again on its trading for the year to 30 September, following a previous update issued on 29 August which pointed to sales of approximately £4. 5m and profit before tax of £0. 25m.
UK services PMI beats views but new business growth at 13-month low
Activity in the UK services sector unexpectedly improved in September but new business growth fell to a 13-month low, according to a survey released on Wednesday.
Royal Mail workers vote to strike in row over pensions and pay
Royal Mail workers have voted in favour of a strike in a row over pensions and pay.
Landore shares surge after update on BAM East gold project
Mineral exploration group Landore Resources confirmed on Wednesday that it had discovered further zones of gold mineralisation during a drilling programme undertaken throughout the summer at its BAM East gold deposit in Canada.
Empyrean dismantles Dempsey drill, moves to install 'more appropriately sized' rig
Australian oil and gas development firm Empyrean Energy announced on Wednesday that its partner Sacgasco, the operator of its Dempsey 1-15 well in the Sacramento Basin, was in the process of removing the Paul Graham Drilling Rig 9 from the onshore site to allow room for a "more appropriately sized" rig that would carry out the remainder of the extensive testing program.
Contract delays for Redhall results in 'materially lower' year-end results
Manufacturing and specialist service provider Redhall Group announced on Wednesday that results for its trading year ended 30 September would be "materially lower" than expected as the firm experienced several "unforeseen delays" on contract deliveries.
Safestay appoints Sharon Segal as finance director
AIM-listed hostel owner and operator Safestay has appointed Sharon Segal as finance director with effect from next Monday.