FTSE

African Barrick Gold Plc reported higher-than-expected earnings in its first full-year results since listing, as strong gold prices outweighed a decline in production and lifted its shares.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to higher opening on Wednesday ahead of wave of economic data including producer price index and building permits.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to modestly higher opening on Tuesday ahead of a wave of economic data including retail sales.

U.S. stocks ended narrowly mixed as investors appeared to be underwhelmed by President Obama’s budget proposal, while unrest in the Middle East has spread to Iran and even Bahrain.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a mixed opening on Monday, after indices recorded a second straight week of gains on Friday.

UK-based oil and gas explorer Premier Oil sees lower average production in 2010 as it saw increased maintenance activity in the North Sea, particularly during the second half of the year.

The FTSE Small Cap index <.FTSC> were steady after the half-day trading session on Christmas Eve, underperforming the 0.2 percent gain on the blue chip index <.FTSE>, while the midcaps <.FTMC> fell 0.7 percent.

British construction products supplier Wolseley said trading profit rose 39 percent in the first quarter, helped by revenue growth in the US and Canada as well as cost control measures.

Europe's biggest tour operator TUI Travel reported a full-year pretax loss, blaming weaker trading in the UK, mainly due to increased winter losses resulting from capacity-led volume reductions. However, underlying pretax profit rose 4 percent on good turnaround progress.

U.S. stocks rallied in early trade on Wednesday as strong data on private payrolls, and better-than-expected manufacturing reports from China and Europe buoyed sentiment.

Futures on major U.S. indices extended earlier gains on Wednesday after ADP reported that private-sector employment recorded the largest gain in three years in November.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to higher opening on Wednesday as better-than-expected manufacturing reports from China and Europe buoyed sentiment.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to higher opening on Wednesday, the first trading day of December, ahead of a wave of economic data including ADP national employment report.

US stocks declined in early trade on Tuesday as renewed concerns about European sovereign debt crisis weighed on sentiment.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a lower opening on Tuesday as renewed concerns about European sovereign debt crisis weighed on sentiment.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices extended earlier gains on Wednesday after the Department of Labor reported that weekly jobless claims fell sharply last week to the lowest level since July 2008.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a higher opening on Wednesday ahead of a wave of economic data including durable goods orders and new home sales.

Stocks tumbled on heightened geopolitical tensions in Korea and rising fears about the spread of euro zone debt crisis. Minutes from the last FOMC meeting which revealed disagreements among policymakers over the efficacy of the second round of quantitative easing did not help market sentiment either.

US stocks declined in early trade on Tuesday as a fresh exchange of fire between North Korea and South Korea overshadowed better-than-expected reading on economic activity.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices remained lower on Tuesday despite better-than-expected reading on economic activity as a fresh exchange of fire between North Korea and South Korea weighed on the sentiment.

Investec Plc, the specialist bank and wealth manager, posted a "strong" operational performance in the first half, with five of its six core businesses recording a substantial increase in earnings. Third party assets under management grew 4.9 percent to 77.8 billion pounds.