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Friday preview: UK, US consumer, Alphabet in focus
Investor focus at the end of the week will continue to be on all things concerning geopolitics.
Consumer confidence weakens as economic fears grow
UK consumer confidence softened notably in April, a long-running survey showed on Friday, as concerns about the health of the economy mounted.
US close: Stocks hit three-week high after third straight gain
US stocks gained strongly for third straight day on Thursday, with decent performances in the tech sector providing a big boost, as hopes continued to rise that trade tensions between the US and China were cooling.
Europe close: Shares end mostly higher
European shares were mostly higher on Thursday as investors cheered positive news regarding US trade talks with India and an in line reading for weekly US jobless claims.
London close: Stocks manage small gains after US jobless claims
London stocks ended marginally higher on Thursday, recovering from earlier losses as investors assessed fresh signals on the health of the US labour market.
Director dealings: Next director snaps up shares
Next revealed on Thursday that director Jeremy Stakol had acquired 270 ordinary shares in the FTSE 100-listed clothing retailer.
Unilever holds guidance after Q1 sales beat; Sees 'limited' tariffs hit
Unilever said it expected a “modest” improvement in full-year underlying operating margin and reaffirmed its annual outlook after better-than-expected first quarter sales growth driven by price hikes, adding that the impact of US tariffs would be “limited and manageable”.
Asos beats forecasts, will respond 'flexibly' on US tariffs
UK fast-fashion retailer Asos posted interim earnings ahead of expectations and said it would be “flexible” with sourcing and distribution to handle the impact of US tariffs.
US existing home sales drop by more than forecast in March
Second hand home sales fell by more than anticipated last month.
US open: Stocks trade higher as traders hope for progress on trade talks
Major indices were in the green early on Thursday as traders hoped for further updates on possible trade talks between the White House and Beijing.
US durable goods orders surge in March thanks to Boeing
Durable goods orders in the States surged in March, as Boeing ramped up its production cadence following a very damaging strike.
US initial jobless claims rise to 222,000
Americans lined up for unemployment benefits at an accelerated pace in the week ended 19 April, according to the Department of Labor.
London midday: Stocks slightly in the red ahead of US jobs figures
Stocks were trading a tad lower come midday, but had come off their lows, as investors waited on the latest weekly jobs data in the US.
Sales tumble at Gucci-owner Kering
Shares in French luxury group Kering came under pressure on Thursday, after first-quarter sales at disappointed.
US pre-open: Futures lower following back-to-back winning sessions
Wall Street futures were in the red ahead of the bell on Thursday as traders awaited further updates on trade talks between the White House and Beijing.
Europe midday: Stoxx flat as investors mull corporate earnings, tariffs, Ifo
European shares were flat at midday on Thursday as investors digested the latest tariff gyrations from Washington and a flurry of first-quarter corporate announcements and a surprisingly upbeat business survey from Germany.
GB Group reports solid trading, warns of macro risks
GB Group reported a solid trading performance for the year ended 31 March on Thursday, with group revenue rising to around £283 million, representing 3% constant currency growth, although it warned of macroeconomic uncertainty affecting it in the short-term.
Somero reports weak quarter, revises guidance downwards
Somero Enterprises reported weaker-than-expected trading in the first quarter on Thursday, as elevated interest rates and growing macroeconomic uncertainty weighed on capital investment decisions in its core US non-residential construction market.
Brickability flags forecast-busting full-year result
Brickability Group said in an update on Thursday that full-year performance for the period ended 31 March was expected to exceed market expectations, supported by strong trading momentum in the second half.