Market Report
Asia report: Markets mixed amid fresh US-China trade concerns
Asian markets finished in a mixed state on Wednesday, as sentiment took a dip amid renewed concerns over trade negotiations between the US and China.
RBC downgrades Tesla, says growth expectations too high
RBC Capital Markets cut its stance on Tesla to 'underperform' from 'sector perform' on Wednesday, taking the price target down to $245 from $290 as it argued that growth expectations are too high to justify current levels.
Johnson & Johnson ponders surgical robotics acquisition
Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson is pursuing an acquisition of surgical robotics specialist Auris Health, according to reports on Wednesday.
United Technologies sees profits taking-off in 2019
United Technologies shrugged off concerns about the strength of the dollar to forecast solid profit growth for 2019 as it posted above-estimate fourth-quarter numbers.
UK Oil & Gas jumps on plans for nine new wells
UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) jumped on Wednesday after releasing its plans to drill up to nine production, appraisal and exploration wells during 2019 and 2020.
Europe midday: Bounce in stocks gathers strength, tech recovers from early selling
A bounce in European stocks is gathering strength, after White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, denied media reports that a trade planning meeting between Chinese and US officials scheduled for the day before had been cancelled.
AJ Bell customers numbers grow but markets hit AUM
Investment platform AJ Bell reported a respectable start to trading as a listed company, with 4% growth in customer numbers and positive net flows.
RPC finally receives offer from Apollo
After at least four months of talks, RPC Group has finally received a take-private offer from US private equity group Apollo, valuing the plastics manufacturer at £3. 3m.
G4S to pay up to $130m to settle US class action
Shares in security services firm G4S were under pressure on Wednesday after it said late the previous day that it has agreed to pay up to $130m to settle a class action in the US.
US pre-open: Stocks to bounce back as earnings roll in
Stocks on Wall Street looked set to bounce back from the previous day's losses on Wednesday despite lingering concerns about trade relations between the US and China, as earnings continued to roll in.
Scancell loses out on Cancer Research UK grant
Immunotherapies developer Scancell has seen Cancer Research UK pass on its submission into the Grand Challenge research initiative.
EU does not limit UK state aid for industry - IPPR
Leaving the European Union would not grant the UK more freedom to grant state aid to industry as the country is currently spending as much as three times less than the bloc's other member states, the IPPR said.
BoJ stays put but revises GDP forecasts higher
The Bank of Japan decided on Wednesday to stay put on monetary policy, even as it lowered its inflation forecasts and pointed to "downside" risks for both the economy and prices.
London midday: Stocks maintain losses as sterling rallies
London stocks were still in the red by midday on Wednesday as concerns about trade tensions between the US and China and a downbeat assessment of the UK manufacturing sector weighed on sentiment.
Outlook for UK manufacturing sector worst since Brexit vote - CBI
Sentiment in the UK manufacturing sector deteriorated a lot more than expected in January amid uncertainty over Brexit, according to the latest quarterly industrial trends survey from the Confederation of British Industry.
Empresaria trades in line with expectations
Staffing specialist Empresaria told investors on Wednesday that it had traded in line with market expectations in its recently wrapped up trading year.
Europe open: Stocks mixed as investors ponder latest trade headlines
Stocks in Europe are heading higher in early trading, overcoming the downward pull from the losses seen overnight on Wall Street after White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, denied media reports that a trade planning meeting between Chinese and US officials scheduled for the day before had been cancelled.
Brewin Dolphin Q1 funds drop amid falling markets
Wealth manager Brewin Dolphin reported a drop in total first-quarter funds on Wednesday as markets fell and client activity slowed.
VR Education steps up marketing game after release of 'Titanic VR'
Education-focussed virtual reality technology company VR Education updated the market on its trading for the year ended 31 December on Wednesday, reporting that revenue was expected to be around €0. 7m following the release of the ‘Titanic VR’ title on the Sony PlayStation platform on 22 November.
Hotel Chocolat hails solid festive performance
Hotel Chocolat hailed a solid performance over the festive period on Wednesday as it benefited from the opening of new stores.