European stocks flat amid pressure on bank stocks Ford, M&S and tech stocks among the climbers, as Danone and Nordstrom fall
Wed, May 26, 2021, 18:55
The New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan: Federal Reserve remarks have helped calm inflation concerns. Photograph: Amir Hamja/Bloomberg
European stocks ended flat yesterday after central banks pledged to keep monetary policy loose despite recent signs of a rise in inflation.
Stocks drifted higher earlier in the day, holding near record highs after US Federal Reserve officials reaffirmed a dovish stance on monetary policy. Similar comments from European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers helped equity markets in the region stabilise, but bank stocks came under pressure as a result.
London close: Stocks mixed at end of quiet Wednesday
Wed, 26th May 2021 16:18
(Sharecast News) - London stocks finished in a mixed state on Wednesday, as investors digested the latest comments from Federal Reserve officials and sifted through corporate news.
The FTSE 100 ended the session down 0.04% at 7,026.93, while the FTSE 250 was 0.9% higher at 22,640.08.
Sterling was heading in different directions as well, last trading 0.21% weaker against the dollar at $1.4123, while gaining 0.22% on the euro to €1.1576. A bit of a dreich day for European equity markets, with nothing moving much at all, quipped Markets.com chief market analyst Neil Wilson, adding that all the main bourses traded flat.
26 May 2021 | 16:32pm
StockMarketWire.com - The FTSE 100 was going nowhere fast on Wednesday, finishing broadly flat but and still comfortably above the 7,000 mark.
In the US the S&P 500 was up modestly, gaining 0.2% to 4,195.26 by 4.30pm UK time.
Private hospital group Spire Healthcare surged 26% to 243.5p on announcing that it had agreed to be acquired by Australia s Ramsay Health Care for £999.6 million.
Spire shareholders would receive 240p per share, a 24% premium to the company s latest closing price before the deal was announced.
Inhaled-treatment focused Vectura rallied 31% to 160.01p after it agreed to be acquired by by US investment firm Carlyle Group for about £958 million.
LONDON BRIEFING: M&S weathers virus with help from government, Ocado
Wed, 26th May 2021 08:21
(Alliance News) - Clothing, homewares and food retailer Marks & Spencer on Wednesday reported a fall in revenue and swing to loss for its recently ended financial year, but hailed its transformation in the period.
Revenue fell by 10% to GBP9.16 billion in the year to April 3 from GBP10.18 billion, with M&S swinging to a pretax loss of GBP209.4 million from profit of GBP67.2 million the year before. Our results for the year bear the impact of the pandemic spanning the beginning of the ï¬rst national lockdown through to near to the end of the third lockdown in the UK. However, they also reflect an acceleration of the transformation which enabled the business to deliver a resilient performance, the retailer said.
Strong earnings, Vectura boost British midcaps reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.