Market News Feed
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LONDON MARKET CLOSE: FTSE 100 falls as Iran war lifts inflation fears
- London Stock Market:
- FTSE 100 closed down 0.6% at 10,353.77.
- FTSE 250 ended down 0.5% at 22,381.34.
- AIM all-share closed down 0.7% at 773.61.
- Cboe UK indices also declined, with Cboe UK 100 down 0.9%.
- European Equities:
- CAC 40 in Paris closed down 0.2%.
- DAX 40 in Frankfurt ended 1.4% lower.
- Currency Movements:
- Pound fell to USD1.3410 from USD1.3458.
- Euro dropped to USD1.1571 from USD1.1648.
- Dollar rose against the yen to JPY158.81 from JPY157.56.
- Geopolitical Tensions:
- Iran targeted energy infrastructure and shipping in conflict with the US and Israel.
- US warned that civilian ports in the Strait of Hormuz could be legitimate military targets.
- Oil Market:
- IEA member countries to release 400 million barrels of oil reserves to ease Middle East war impact.
- Brent oil rose to USD91.93 per barrel from USD87.92.
- Oil majors Shell (+2.0%) and BP (+2.9%) led the FTSE 100.
- US Markets:
- Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.8%.
- S&P 500 index down 0.2%.
- Nasdaq Composite slightly lower.
- US 10-year Treasury yield widened to 4.21%.
- Inflation and Economic Data:
- US consumer prices grew 2.4% year-on-year in February, matching January.
- Pantheon Macroeconomics expects retail gasoline prices to jump to USD3.80, boosting CPI by 0.6 percentage points.
- Corporate News:
- Legal & General shares fell 6.8% on mixed results despite record GBP1.2 billion share buyback.
- Balfour Beatty shares jumped 8.9% on positive outlook and higher dividend recommendation.
- Hochschild Mining sank 7.2% despite revenue and profit growth, due to lower-than-expected dividend.
- Upcoming Events:
- Thursday: US weekly jobless figures, trade balance, and building permits data.
- UK corporate results for M&G and Informa.
LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Stocks fall as situation in Hormuz escalates
- Date and Time: 11th Mar 2026, 12:00
- Market Overview:
- London stock prices lower at midday due to escalating Middle East tensions and attacks near the Strait of Hormuz.
- FTSE 100 down 0.8% at 10,329.98, FTSE 250 down 0.6% at 22,362.90, AIM all-share down 0.3% at 776.57.
- Cboe UK indices also declined: Cboe UK 100 down 0.8%, Cboe UK 250 down 1.0%, Cboe small companies down 0.3%.
- Global Response to Oil Crisis:
- France, Japan, and Germany plan to release strategic oil reserves to counter high energy prices caused by the Middle East conflict.
- Three commercial ships damaged by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, with one vessel catching fire.
- Geopolitical Developments:
- US military destroyed 16 Iranian mine-deploying ships after President Trump's warning.
- Iran continued strikes in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait; drone attack near Dubai airport injured four.
- Israel launched attacks on Iran and Lebanon, including a strike on a Beirut apartment building.
- Suspected Iranian drone hit a US diplomatic facility in Iraq.
- Economic Impact:
- UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned of trade disruption impact on the British economy.
- Brent oil up to USD90.44 per barrel; European equities (CAC 40, DAX 40) also declined.
- Pound and euro weakened against the dollar; US Treasury yields widened.
- Corporate Highlights:
- Balfour Beatty led FTSE 250 with a 7.6% rise after announcing a GBP200 million share buyback.
- Breedon Group up 3.0% despite lower profit; launched "British Cement Advocacy" campaign.
- Harbour Energy dropped 8.8% after a share placement by Potomac View Investments.
- 4imprint fell 8.5% due to lower pretax profit; Supermarket Income REIT down 1.2%.
- Smaller caps: Rainbow Rare Earths (+9.6%), Physiomics (+25%), Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas (+22%) saw significant gains.
- US Markets and Economic Data:
- US stocks called higher; Dow and S&P 500 up 0.2%, Nasdaq up 0.1%.
- US February CPI data expected to show unchanged annual inflation at 2.4%.
- Gold down to USD5,185.60 per ounce; US Treasury yields widened.
LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Citi raises Centrica; Bernstein cuts Aston
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- 11th Mar 2026 09:53
- The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Wednesday morning and on Tuesday:
- FTSE 100
- UBS raises Kingfisher price target to 315 (305) pence - 'neutral'
- UBS raises Sainsbury price target to 372 (365) pence - 'buy'
- Citigroup raises Centrica to 'buy' (neutral) - price target 218 (200) pence
- Goldman Sachs raises Barclays price target to 590 (550) pence - 'buy'
- Goldman Sachs raises Weir Group price target to 3,210 (3,000) pence - 'neutral'
- Jefferies cuts Persimmon price target to 1,792 (1,819) pence - 'buy'
- RBC raises Spirax price target to 6,800 (6,000) pence - 'underperform'
- BofA raises Admiral Group price target to 3,550 (3,300) pence - 'buy'
- FTSE 250
- Bernstein cuts Aston Martin to 'market-perform' (outperform) - price target 50 (110) pence
- Berenberg cuts Rotork price target to 420 (430) pence - 'buy'
- Berenberg raises Costain Group price target to 240 (210) pence - 'buy'
- JPMorgan raises Harbour Energy price target to 278 (270) pence - 'neutral'
- Jefferies raises Rathbones price target to 1,850 (1,650) pence - 'underperform'
- Citigroup raises Pennon Group price target to 636 (628) pence - 'buy'
- UBS cuts Derwent London price target to 1,650 (1,800) pence - 'sell'
- UBS raises Drax Group price target to 720 (680) pence - 'sell'
- SMALL CAP
- Berenberg cuts Capita Group price target to 330 (400) pence - 'hold'
- RBC raises NextEnergy Solar Fund target to 6,500 (6,000) pence - 'outperform'
- Berenberg cuts Nichols price target to 1,720 (1,820) pence - 'buy'
- Related Shares:
LONDON MARKET OPEN: Shares down as Middle East tensions rise
- Market Open: London stock prices opened lower on Wednesday due to renewed Middle East tensions from the Israel-US war against Iran.
- Indices Performance:
- FTSE 100: Down 0.9% at 10,322.83.
- FTSE 250: Down 0.6% at 22,365.33.
- AIM All-Share: Down 0.2% at 777.22.
- Cboe UK 100: Down 0.8% at 1,027.23.
- Cboe UK 250: Down 0.9% at 19,603.71.
- Cboe Small Companies: Down 0.1% at 17,821.98.
- Geopolitical Developments:
- US military eliminated 16 Iranian mine-laying ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Three commercial vessels damaged by unknown projectiles in the area.
- Iran continued strikes in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait; drones injured four near Dubai airport.
- Israel launched renewed attacks on Iran and Lebanon, including a strike on a Beirut apartment building.
- Commodities: Brent oil traded at USD 89.39/barrel, up from USD 87.92 on Tuesday.
- G7 Response: Energy ministers pledged to take necessary measures to address rising crude prices, considering IEA’s proposal for a record oil reserve release.
- European Equities: CAC 40 (Paris) down 0.7%; DAX 40 (Frankfurt) down 1.3%.
- Earnings Highlights:
- Inditex (Zara owner) rose 5.3% after record 2025 profits.
- Rheinmetall (German defence firm) fell 4.6% due to weaker 2026 momentum expectations.
- Legal & General Group down 5.3% despite higher earnings, missing solvency ratio expectations.
- Balfour Beatty (FTSE 250) up 6.5% after higher revenue, profit, and share buyback announcement.
- Canal+ dropped 17% despite higher revenue and profit, with growth plans post-MultiChoice acquisition.
- Economic Data:
- Germany’s annual inflation slowed to 1.9% in February (from 2.1% in January).
- Food price inflation eased to 1.1% from 2.1%.
- Currencies:
- Sterling: USD 1.3412 (down from USD 1.3458).
- Euro: USD 1.1604 (down from USD 1.1648).
- Dollar/Yen: JPY 158.40 (up from JPY 157.56).
- FTSE 100 Losers: Rolls-Royce (-2.6%), Babcock (-2.3%), BAE Systems (-2.2%), HSBC (-1.0%), AstraZeneca (-1.0%).
- Aviation Updates:
- Gatwick Airport reported lower 2025 profit due to aircraft availability issues.
- Heathrow recorded busiest February ever, monitoring Middle East developments.
- Asian Markets: Nikkei 225 (+1.4%), Shanghai Composite (+0.3%), Hang Seng (-0.2%), S&P/ASX 200 (+0.6%).
- US Markets: Dow Jones (-0.1%), S&P 500 (-0.2%), Nasdaq (marginally higher).
- Upcoming Data: US February CPI (expected 2.4% annual inflation) and US monthly budget statement.
- Other Updates:
- Light Science plunged 60% after acquisitions and fundraising announcements.
- Tapir Holdings began trading on AIM in London.
LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: FTSE 100 seen lower as Iran war drags on
- London Stocks: FTSE 100 futures indicate a 0.2% lower opening at 10,388.74, down 23.5 points, amid Middle East tensions and anticipation of US inflation data.
- Middle East Developments: US military destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, escalating regional conflict. Iran remains defiant despite explosions in Tehran and US threats.
- Oil Prices: Brent oil traded at $87.40/barrel, slightly lower, as the IEA considers releasing a record amount of strategic reserves (300–400 million barrels), reversing earlier gains.
- Currency Movements: Sterling at $1.3450, euro at $1.1636, and dollar at ¥157.91, with minor fluctuations.
- US Markets: Wall Street ended mixed; Dow down 0.1%, S&P 500 down 0.2%, Nasdaq marginally higher. Oracle shares jumped 8.9% post-market on strong Q3 results and AI optimism.
- US Inflation Data: February CPI expected to rise 2.4% YoY, unchanged from January, but unlikely to significantly impact markets due to geopolitical focus.
- Asian Markets: Nikkei 225 up 1.4%, Shanghai Composite up 0.3%, Hang Seng up 0.1%, and S&P/ASX 200 up 0.6%. Japan aims for an eightfold increase in domestic microchip production by 2040.
- UK Business Outlook: Improved in February, with 36% of firms expecting increased activity, driven by exports, AI investment, and defense spending.
- Gold Prices: Traded at $5,193.40/ounce, lower than Tuesday's $5,228.60.
- Corporate Calendar: Full-year results from Balfour Beatty, Bodycote, Canal+, Legal & General, PensionBee, and half-year results from Supermarket Income REIT.
- Economic Calendar: Germany CPI, US CPI, and US monthly budget statement due on Wednesday.
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