Market Pulse
MPs launch enquiry into 'extreme internet' use by UK young people
Parliament's science and technology committee is launching an enquiry into the impact of social media on children’s mental and physical health after a study found the UK has the world's second highest proportion of 15 year olds who are ‘extreme internet users’, which mean they use the internet over 6 hours a day out of school.
US close: Markets mixed as investors look towards Fed minutes
Wall Street finished mixed on Tuesday, amid some upwards pressure on bond yields as investors looked towards the minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting, due on Wednesday.
US government bond yields higher amid wave of issuance
The US Treasury auctioned $28bn in two-year notes at a yield of 2. 255%, attracting a bid-to-cover ratio - an indication of how many times it was oversubscribed - of 2. 72.
US open: Stocks mixed, off lows despite wave of government debt auctions
Wall Street was trading on a mixed note early on Tuesday, amid some upwards pressure on bond yields as investors awaited a slate of government debt sales scheduled for later in the day and throughout the week, together with the release, on Wednesday, of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting.
Market buzz: FTSE 250 outshines sibling as HSBC weighs, look forward to Lloyds
1745: Tomorrow is a big, big day in the financial calendar - especially with respect to interest rate expectations on both sides of the Atlantic. In the morning we have crucial UK labour market data that could heat up or cool down anticipation of the Bank of England's rate-hike path for 2018. Later the FOMC minutes from the last policy meeting will be pounced upon by Wall Street for a close reading to spot any slight change in nuance over rates. In between we have initial Eurozone purchasing managers' surveys and as an entrée there will be a host of corporate results, inlcuding from Lloyds Banking Group, Glencore, Barratt Developments and Metro Bank.
Qualcomm increases NXP offer in order to fight off Broadcom takeover
US chip giant Qualcomm upped its bid for NXP Semiconductors to roughly $44bn on Tuesday as part of its efforts to win shareholder support for the acquisition and further its expansion into the fast-growing motor vehicle chip market and reduce its reliance on smartphones.
Thomson Reuters CEO hospitalised after heart incident
Thomson Reuters reported on Tuesday that chief executive Jim Smith is set to make a full recovery after being hospitalised following an arrhythmia incident on 12 February.
London close: Heavyweight HSBC drags as investors prove hard to impress
London stocks fell less than one point on Tuesday, as solid results from HSBC and BHP Billiton failed to please demanding investors but currency traders were more taken in by Brexit reports.
Springfield Properties sees double-digit revenue and profit growth
AIM-quoted housebuilder Springfield Properties reported a double-digit jump in profit and revenue in its maiden interim report card since floating on the market back in October 2017.
Broker tips: Shire, Grafton, Travis Perkins, Britvic
JPMorgan Cazenove downgraded specialty biopharmaceutical group Shire to 'neutral' from 'overweight' on Tuesday, slashing the price target to 3,600p from 5,000p.
Deltex wins tender with Paris hospital system
UK-based haemodynamic management company Deltex Medical Group announced on Tuesday that its French distributor had been awarded a new tender to supply Parisian hospitals with its CardioQ-ODM+ equipment.
DACA program expiration date looms amid deadlock on the Hill
Mike Pence has called on the US Congress to reach an agreement on immigration reform and funding for an extension of the border wall with Mexico just days after lawmakers' latest attempt at reaching a deal fell through, leaving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program ever so close to expiring on 5 March.
Wednesday preview: UK wages, US Fed minutes and Lloyds strategy in focus
Wednesday is a big and busy day for macro news, with crucial UK labour market data, initial Eurozone purchasing managers' surveys and a closely watched set of FOMC minutes, plus corporate results from Lloyds Banking Group, Glencore and Barratt Developments.
FTSE 250 movers: Fidessa surges on Temenos talks; Dunelm takes a hit
London's FTSE 250 was up 0. 7% to 19,795. 01 in afternoon trade on Tuesday.
CityFibre ends year in line with market expectations
Fibre-optic infrastructure designer, builder, operator, and owner CityFibre updated the market on its trading for the year ended 31 December on Tuesday, confirming results would be in line with current market expectations.
African Battery Metals knuckles down at Kisinka
Exploration company African Battery Metals updated the market on its exploration programme at its recently-acquired cobalt-copper interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday, confirming that field exploration and mapping at Kisinka had now begun.
FTSE 100 movers: BHP, HSBC drop on results; Evraz rallies on new contract
London's FTSE 100 was down 0. 2% to 7,235. 19 in afternoon trade on Tuesday as investors mulled disappointing results from HSBC, BHP and InterContinental.
Hunters outperforms market as it expands branch network
Franchised sales and lettings agency business Hunters updated the market on its trading on Tuesday, ahead of its results for the year ended 31 December.
Lok'nStore extends bank facility, adds Leicester to pipeline
Self-storage company Lok'nStore announced an increase in its banking facility to £50m on Tuesday, following the execution of a £10m accordion.
Spanish 30-year bond auction meets strong demand
A Spanish government auction of 30-year bonds has been met with a flood of demand.