UK shares ended the week at their highest level since February 2020 on higher commodity prices and more corporate activity, despite a disappointing US jobs report earlier in the session. The gains were partly fueled by copper prices hitting an all-time high, having rallied by more than a third this year, with iron ore and other metals also posting strong gains. Oil prices were also buoyant with ...

UK shares traded at their highest level since February 2020 on economic recovery hopes and higher commodity prices ahead of the closely-watched US jobs report at lunchtime. The gains came as copper prices hit an all-time high, up more than a third this year, with iron ore and other metals also posting strong gains. Oil prices were also buoyant with Brent futures trading around $68 per ...

UK engineering business Meggitt (MGGT) saw its share price surge after the jet parts manufacturer was linked as a possible buyout target. Shares in Meggitt jumped 15% in early trading, hitting 530p, after the Dealreporter website reported that US aerospace engineer Woodward was mulling a potential bid for the UK business. The reported interest comes after the London-listed aerospace parts ...

Pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca (AZN) said on Friday that a combination of its lung cancer drug Imfinzi, monoclonal antibody tremelimumab and chemotherapy had demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival benefit versus chemotherapy alone for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. This follows on from an October 2019 study which demonstrated ...

Brownfield regeneration specialist St Modwen Properties (SMP) gained 18.8% to 531.5p on news of a 542p bid from private equity firm Blackstone. The bid is pitched at a 21% premium to the previous close and the board of St Modwen has indicated to Blackstone that the possible offer is at a value the board would be willing to recommend unanimously. The possible offer is subject to a number of ...

Shares in British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) traded flat at 207p as narrowing losses and a leaner cost base continued to be weighed against ongoing uncertainty over the restart of international travel. In its results for the three months to 31 March, pre-tax losses narrowed by 35.4% to €1.22 billion even as revenue slumped 78.9% to €968 million ...

Shares in Adidas (ADS:XETRA) leapt 7.5% to €278.3 on Friday after the German sportswear giant sprinted in with forecast-beating first quarter sales and upgraded its 2021 outlook amid a rebound in online and China sales ahead of the return of mass sporting events. In spite of lockdowns in Europe and industry-wide supply chain challenges, Adidas generated impressive 27% constant currency first ...

Shares in City stockbroker Numis Corporation (NUM:AIM) popped as much as 7% to a 12-month high of 419p after the firm published strong first half results driven by higher investment banking and trading revenues. GAINS ACROSS THE BOARD For the six months to the end of March, the company posted an 83% increase in revenues to a record £115.4 million with investment banking fees more than ...

UK shares traded higher on Friday on economic recovery hopes and higher oil prices while copper prices hit an all-time high on expectations of tighter supply. Merger and acquisition activity continued with a cash offer for St. Modwen Properties (SMP), while Meggitt (MGGT) shares jumped 15% after a report that aerospace company Woodward was working on a possible offer. In Asian trading ...

London’s FTSE 100 finished Thursday’s trading session 0.5% ahead at 7,076.17 points after the Bank of England kept interest rates on hold and lifted UK growth expectations and as UK voters headed to the polls. In the US the S&P 500 was up 2.7 points to 4,170.64 by 4.30pm UK time. JOHN LAING LEAPS In company news, shares in John Laing (JLG) jumped 20% to 379.8p on the revelation ...