The FTSE 100 is
called to open 8 points higher at 7245
UK Gilt 10 Year
Yield 1.061 Spot Gold $1265.65 +1.27 Brent Crude $52.32+0.47
$ per £ 1.2903
€ per £ 1.1869
$ per € 1.0871
Asian equities
retreated, trimming a fourth straight monthly gain for the regional benchmark
index, as geopolitical concerns intensified and investors assessed corporate
earnings before a report on growth in the world’s largest economy. The MSCI
Asia Pacific Index dropped after climbing for six straight sessions. Results at
Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc. buoyed Nasdaq futures. Crude climbed back
above $49 a barrel after tumbling on concern over a supply glut. The yen
strengthened, weighing on Tokyo shares. The euro held losses after the European
Central Bank signaled its commitment to stimulus even as the region’s economy
firms. Geopolitical concerns continued to loom over the markets.
Donald Trump
said he sees the chance of a “major, major conflict” with North Korea over its
nuclear program, though he prefers a diplomatic solution, according to an
interview with Reuters.
PRESS COMMENTARY
The Trump
administration unveiled what it called the biggest tax cuts “in history” on
Wednesday, in a move that will simplify the US tax system, slash taxes,
eliminate inheritance taxes and set the president on a collision course with
Congress over the likely $2 trillion-plus cost of the proposal, Guardian.
COMPANY NEWS
Royal Bank of
Scotland Group Plc reported a quarterly profit for the first time in more than
a year as Chief Executive Officer Ross McEwan stepped up the pace of cost-
cutting.
Barclays PLC
said Friday that net profit fell by more than half in the first quarter of the
year, as the U.K. bank took a write-down on the value of its African business.
Nomura Holdings
Inc. is disposing of a stake in Standard Chartered Plc valued at almost $500
million through a stock sale to institutional investors Thursday, according to
transaction terms.
Old Mutual PLC
(OML.LN) said Friday its wealth management business has recorded 6% growth in
first quarter funds under management and has appointed a new finance head.
UBS Group AG
said Friday its net profit jumped during the first quarter, exceeding analyst
expectations, buoyed by strong income growth in its investment-banking and
wealth-management units.
Technology firm
Laird PLC (LRD.LN) said Friday that its performance for the first quarter of
the year was in line with its expectations and provides a solid start to 2017.
Renault CFO
Delbos Sees Risk of Diesel Decline Going Forward. Renault saw no major impact
of diesel decline in 1Q, CFO Clotilde Delbos says in conference call.
Linde AG, the
German industrial gas company planning to combine with Praxair Inc., reported
first-quarter profit that beat estimates and said orders rose at the
engineering division even as demand for new plants remained sluggish.
Sanofi, the
French drugmaker grappling with declining sales of its best-selling insulin for
diabetes, warned things will get worse in the months ahead.
Zodiac Aerospace
SA said Chief Executive Officer Olivier Zarrouati is ready to step down as the
aircraft- seat maker pushes to seal a takeover by Safran SA, after a first-half
loss revealed the extent of its troubles.
Rotork PLC
(ROR.LN) said Friday that group order intake and revenue during the first
quarter of the year increased 19.7% and 14.5% respectively, as a result of
favorable exchange rates and the contribution from acquisitions. Source Quilter
Cheviot
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