Energy shares underperformed while tech stocks outperformed. The FTSE 100 inched up 0.1%.
Black gold has stabilized this morning, but the FTSE 100 is struggling for direction after Wall Street rallied overnight, led by tech and pharmaceutical stocks.
Oxford Nanopore Technologies expects a 16% increase in 2023 revenue for its Life Science Research Tools, despite a slowdown in growth in some areas. The company anticipates revenue of £169.9 million, up from £146.8 million the previous year.
YouGov PLC has completed the acquisition of the Consumer Panel Services of GfK GmbH for €315 million, while BAE Systems has won a contract from the Commonwealth of Australia to upgrade its naval gun systems on its frigates.
Hays expects its half-year profit to be below market consensus expectations, citing a more difficult December with a decline in fees.
GSK has offered $1.4 billion for Aiolos Bio, a company based in the United States and the United Kingdom that is developing a new drug to treat asthma.
In other news, UK retailers report subdued Christmas spending according to the British Retail Consortium.
Things to read today:
- The cost of a war in Taiwan to the global economy? 10,000 bn (Bloomberg).
- Wall Street doubles down on bonds (Wall Street Journal).
- The AI octopus (Project Syndicate).
- UK Housing Market Gloom Is Overdone — Again (Bloomberg)