Market Report
US close: Markets weaker as trade concerns continue to build
Wall Street finished Thursday’s session weaker, as concerns about international trade weighed on markets, eBay and American Express disappointed with second-quarter numbers and another twist in the battle for control of 21st Century Fox.
Europe close: Bourses finish in the red as trade fears mount
European bourses had a downbeat day on Thursday, with all the major equity indices finishing in the red as heightened tensions over trade weighed on markets and investors digested a slew of corporate news.
London close: UK shares outshine European peers as pound suffers
London's FTSE 100 was the only major European index not to slide into the red on Thursday as the pound took another beating, but little headway was made due to losses in the mining sector and renewed trade concerns.
BNY Mellon shares hit hard by client losses
Bank of New York Mellon stock tumbled on Thursday after the US financial services group said it had lost two clients, overshadowing otherwise solid second-quarter earnings.
US open: Stocks slip as trade concerns mount
Wall Street got off to a subdued start on Thursday, as concerns about international trade weighed on markets, eBay and American Express disappointed with second-quarter numbers and there was another twist in the battle for control of 21st Century Fox.
Sports Direct profits plunge due to investments, 'elevation' gains traction
Sports Direct reported a 3. 5% improvement in annual revenue to £3. 36bn for the year to 29 April but a 72. 5% plunge in profit before tax to £77. 5m.
Sports Direct underlying profits spur Liberum upgrade, others unconvinced
Sports Direct's headline profits may have tanked 73% but underlying numbers were much improved and some analysts felt the shares deserved a higher rating, though others continued to remain unconvinced.
Audioboom narrows loss as is strives for profitability
Podcast platform Audioboom issued its unaudited half-yearly results for the six months ended 31 May on Thursday, reporting a 43% improvement in revenue to £2. 6m year-on-year.
FTSE 250 movers: Moneysupermarket surges on fintech plans, Babcock tumbles
London's FTSE 250 was down 0. 4% to 20,891. 13 in afternoon trade on Thursday, but Moneysupermarket bucked the trend as investors welcomed plans for a new mortgage fintech.
FTSE 100 movers: Unilever rallies on results but SSE slumps as profits take a hit
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 1% to 7,683. 41 in afternoon trade on Thursday as investors digested the latest disappointing data point, this time in the form of weaker-than-expected retail sales.
Royal Mail shareholders vote against new CEO's pay package
Royal Mail shareholders have voted against the company's pay packages for top executives.
Friday preview: Beazley half-year profits expected to tumble
Friday should end the week in fairly quiet fashion with FTSE 350 results only expected from insurer Beazley and economic data for the UK on public sector borrowing.
Philly Fed index ticks up more than expected
Manufacturing conditions in the Philadelphia region improved more than expected in July, according to a survey released on Thursday.
Comcast drops Fox offer to focus on pursuit of Sky
Comcast will focus on bidding for Sky after dropping its interest in 21st Century Fox, the US network said on Thursday.
US initial jobless claims drop to lowest level since December 1969
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level since 1969 last week, according to figures from the Labor Department.
Asia report: Markets finish mixed after Wall Street boost
Markets in Asia finished mixed on Thursday, after a strong start instigated by a decent showing on Wall Street overnight, although Chinese bourses sank.
Rare books dealer Scholium returns to profit in preliminary results
Rare books, art and collectibles dealer Scholium posted its preliminary results for the year ended 31 March on Thursday, reporting a 10% improvement in revenue to £6. 7m.
De La Rue appoints Helen Willis as permanent CFO
Banknote printer De La Rue has appointed Helen Willis as chief financial officer with immediate effect.
EKF Diagnostics to manufacture for Oragenics
Point-of-care business EKF Diagnostics Holdings has signed an exclusive agreement with Florida-based biopharmaceutical company Oragenics, it announced on Thursday, for the manufacturing of Oragenics' lantibiotic bulk drug substances in the United States.
IBM maintains forecasts after decent second quarter
International Business Machines - better known as IBM - posted its second quarter results on Thursday, reporting a 4% improvement in revenue year-on-year, and a “strong” profit performance.