Weekly review
The FTSE 100 ended the week 154.72 points lower at 7,277.70.
Equity view
Healthcare company BTG on Friday said it was paying up to $130m in cash to buy Ireland-based Novate, which specialises in the prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients at high risk of venous thromboembolic events.
Ashmore reported steady full-year pre-tax profit on Friday and record net inflows, as it said it was in the process of establishing an office in Ireland ahead of Brexit.
The hot summer spell and football World Cup boosted sales at Greene King in the first 18 weeks of the year as Brits inhaled 3.7m pints of beer during England's seven matches.
AstraZeneca and its partner Amgen announced on Friday that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted ‘Breakthrough Therapy Designation’ for tezepelumab in patients with severe asthma, without an eosinophilic phenotype, who are receiving inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting beta2-agonists with or without oral corticosteroids and additional asthma controllers.
Low-cost carrier easyJet on Thursday reported a 5.6% year-on-year rise in passenger numbers for August to 8.6m.
Retirement housebuilder McCarthy & Stone downgraded its operating profit guidance for the year on Thursday following a "tough" year.
Go-Ahead Group issued its results for the year ended 30 June on Thursday, reporting a 0.6% fall in revenue to £3.46bn, and a 9.8% drop in operating profit pre-exceptional items to £135.9m.
Bovis Homes posted a 41% jump in first-half pre-tax profit on Thursday as completions rose and the housebuilder said it was targeting a record year of profits, at the top end of its expectations following a robust summer.
BHP Billiton has agreed to buy Guyana Goldfields' 6.1% interest in SolGold, which is the majority owner and operator of the Cascabel porphyry copper-gold project in Ecuador, for 26.592p per share.
Shareholders in The Berkeley Group Holdings were told on Wednesday morning how market conditions in the first four months of the new financial year in London and the South East had remained consistent with those reported with the full year results in June, as they gathered for the company’s annual general meeting.
Barratt Developments aims to build 3-5% more houses over coming years and at higher margins in line with the rest of the sector thanks to new housing designs that are faster to build and reduce costs and waste.
William Hill will provide sports betting services in 11 US states under a newly extended partnership with casino group Eldorado Resorts, with sportsbooks to open in five casinos "within weeks".
WPP returned to underlying growth in the second quarter of the year though this was not enough to prevent the marketing conglomerate's profits falling in the first half of the year as its North American business remained under major pressure.
FTSE 250 housebuilder Redrow posted a jump in full-year profit on Tuesday as revenue rose to a record level on the back of higher completions, and the company called for clarity over Brexit and the Help to Buy scheme to underpin market sentiment.
Halfords reported good sales growth in the first 20 weeks of its financial year as the cycling and car accessories retailer successfully battled the challenging retail environment.
Private healthcare services group Mediclinic International announced on Tuesday that its Swiss operating division Hirslanden has reached agreement to combine Hirslanden Clinique La Colline with Clinique des Grangettes in Geneva, Switzerland, with Hirslanden retaining a 60% controlling interest in the combined entity.
Polypipe announced the acquisition on Monday of surface water management solutions supplier and designer Permavoid for up to £16.5m, in a deal that is expected to be earnings enhancing in its first full year after completion.
United Utilities Water submitted its business plan to Ofwat covering the 2020-25 period on Monday, reporting that it was planning for a 10.5% reduction in real terms in average bills between 2020 and 2025.
Royal Mail's parcels arm has acquired Canadian parcel delivery company Dicom Canada for C$360m (£213m) as the group looks to increase its geographic diversification away from the UK and Europe.
Waste-to-product company Renewi has sold its 50% stake in the Energen Biogas anaerobic digestion facility in Cumbernauld to Bio Capital Limited, completing its strategic exit from the UK organics sector.
Economic news
Inflation expectations among the British public edged higher over the last quarter, according to the results of the latest survey carried out by TNS for the Bank of England.
UK house prices picked up in August, according to the latest figures from mortgage lender Halifax.
More than 11 million additional households on “poor value” default tariffs are set to be protected from being overcharged by energy companies, if new proposals from Ofgem are to go ahead.
UK service sector activity picked-up to its second-highest level since February last month, buoyed by improved business conditions, according to the results of perhaps the most widely-followed survey of conditions in the sector.
New car sales surged 23.1% in August compared to last year, though this is the second smallest month of the year, ahead of the new registration plate being available from September.
international travellers were less keen to come to visit Britain over the first three months of the year than they were a year earlier, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics.
UK construction sector activity was even weaker than expected last month, a survey revealed on Tuesday, sending the pound back towards recent lows.
UK retail sales were soft last month, a fresh survey of the industry confirmed on Tuesday, as growing inflationary support was offset by slowing food growth and continued weakness for non-food shops, especially clothing.
UK manufacturing activity fell to a two-year low last month as export orders waned, according to a survey of the industry published on Monday.
Odds on Theresa May being replaced as Prime Minister were being cut after Michel Barnier, the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, said he is “strongly opposed” to her Chequers Brexit proposals, amid further unrest in the Tory party.
Talks are being held with Bank of England governor Mark Carney over potentially extending his contract beyond its planned end next June.
International events
Private sector employment in the US rose less than expected in August, according to data released by ADP on Thursday.
US labour productivity picked-up noticeably over the second quarter, but not by enough to dampen unit labour cost growth when compared with the same period one year ago.
Activity in the US services sector grew more than expected in August, according to data released on Thursday.
China's services sector activity weakened last month, data showed on Wednesday that contrasted with official figures, putting pressure on mining shares in London.
America's shortfall in trade with the rest of the world widened at the start of the third quarter as exports of goods, mainly of civilian aircraft and soybeans declined.
The French Navy is ready to intervene if tensions between British and French fishermen over scallop fishing grounds erupt once again, according to French agricultural minister Stephane Travert.
The pace of US factory sector activity accelerated last month, according to the findings of a key survey, hitting a 14-year high.