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AI Daily 5 entries
LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Stocks recoup some lost ground as oil price cools
- European Stocks Rally: European markets rebounded on Wednesday after two days of losses, with the FTSE 100 up 0.8%, FTSE 250 up 0.9%, and AIM All-Share up 1.0%.
- Energy Prices Retreat: Oil prices cooled, with Brent crude trading lower at $80.75 per barrel, down from $83.06 the previous day.
- Middle East Developments: Sentiment improved following reports of indirect talks between Iran and the CIA, though U.S. officials remain skeptical of immediate progress.
- U.S. Market Gains: Wall Street rallied, with the Dow Jones up 0.5%, S&P 500 up 0.7%, and Nasdaq Composite up 1.3%.
- U.S. Tariffs: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Trump’s 15% global tariff is likely to roll out this week, despite recent legal setbacks.
- Economic Data: U.S. services sector expanded more than expected in February, with the ISM services index rising to 56.1%.
- UK Economic Indicators: UK services PMI activity index posted 53.9 in February, slightly down from January but indicating steady growth.
- Corporate Movements:
- Entain rose 4.0% ahead of full-year results.
- Weir Group slumped 11% due to weaker-than-expected guidance and orders.
- Vistry fell 25% after leadership changes and profit margin warnings.
- Commodities: Gold climbed to $5,142.25 per ounce, up from $5,114.94 the previous day.
- Upcoming Events: Thursday’s calendar includes eurozone retail sales, U.S. jobless claims, and UK corporate results from Admiral, Aviva, Entain, and others.
LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: FTSE 100 back to growth, OBR warns on tax take
- Date and Time: 4th Mar 2026, 12:05
- London Stock Market: Mostly green midday, driven by stability in UK private and service sectors, despite OBR's slashed growth forecast for 2026.
- OBR Forecast: Growth forecast cut for 2026 but modest improvements expected in 2027 and 2028; uncertainty due to "uncharted territory" in tax burden.
- PMI Indices:
- S&P Global UK services PMI at 53.9 (February), down slightly from January's 54.0.
- PMI composite output index at 53.7, unchanged from January.
- FTSE Performance:
- FTSE 100 up 0.6% at 10,548.20.
- FTSE 250 up 0.7% at 22,855.40.
- AIM all-share up 0.9% at 793.78.
- Housebuilding Sector:
- Barratt Redrow down 0.7% on FTSE 100.
- Vistry (FTSE 250) worst performer with 19% drop due to margin pressure, end of share buybacks, and CEO retirement.
- Lenders: Positive performance with Barclays up 1.0%, Lloyds up 1.2%, and Close Brothers up 1.5%, following FCA's car loan compensation scheme announcement.
- Small-Caps: Gulf Marine Services down 9.2% due to evacuation of personnel from vessels in the Middle East amid regional tensions.
- European Equities: CAC 40 up 1.0%, DAX 40 up 1.7%; eurozone growth accelerated in February with PMI at 51.9.
- Currency Markets:
- Pound higher at USD1.3382.
- Euro up at USD1.1637.
- Dollar lower against yen at JPY157.17.
- US Markets: Dow Jones up 0.2%, S&P 500 up 0.3%, Nasdaq up 0.4%; US 10-year Treasury yield at 4.09%.
- Commodities:
- Brent oil lower at USD82.45/barrel due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
- Gold higher at USD5,192.80/ounce.
- Miners: Antofagasta up 4.0%, Anglo American up 2.4%, Fresnillo up 2.2%, Glencore up 1.7%.
- Upcoming Economic Data: US jobs report from ADP, PMIs from Canada and the US.
LONDON BROKER RATINGS: JPMorgan, Barclays cut price targets for Greggs
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- 4th Mar 2026 09:16
- The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Wednesday morning and on Tuesday:
- FTSE 100
- LBBW raises Rio Tinto price target to 7,300 (5,800) pence - 'hold'
- Barclays cuts Fresnillo price target to 3,000 (3,200) pence - 'equal weight'
- Deutsche Bank Research raises BT price target to 150 (140) pence - 'sell'
- Citigroup raises InterContinental Hotels target to 11,500 (10,650) pence - 'sell'
- Goldman Sachs raises Smith & Nephew price target to 1,700 (1,650) pence - 'buy'
- Goldman Sachs raises Marks & Spencer price target to 480 (470) pence - 'buy'
- Goldman Sachs raises J Sainsbury price target to 390 (370) pence - 'buy'
- Goldman Sachs raises Tesco price target to 540 (495) pence - 'buy'
- Citigroup cuts Mondi price target to 1,030 (1,250) pence - 'buy'
- Citigroup raises St James’s Place price target to 1,870 (1,790) pence - 'buy'
- Citigroup cuts Barclays price target to 450 (495) pence - 'neutral'
- JPMorgan raises Segro price target to 915 (885) pence - 'overweight'
- Jefferies raises Shell price target to 3,500 (3,400) pence - 'buy'
- Berenberg raises Rolls-Royce price target to 1,250 (1,080) pence - 'hold'
- Goldman Sachs raises BAE Systems price target to 2,400 (2,270) pence - 'buy'
- FTSE 250
- Berenberg raises Galliford Try price target to 650 (620) pence - 'buy'
- Goldman Sachs cuts Unite price target to 680 (880) pence - 'buy'
- RBC cuts Metro Bank price target to 165 (175) pence - 'outperform'
- Deutsche Bank Research raises Inchcape price target to 830 (800) pence - 'hold'
- Goldman Sachs cuts Aberdeen price target to 245 (260) pence - 'buy'
- JPMorgan cuts Greggs price target to 2,050 (2,060) pence - 'overweight'
- Barclays cuts Greggs price target to 1,910 (2,040) pence - 'overweight'
- SMALL CAP
- JPMorgan cuts Wise price target to 1,225 (1,385) pence - 'overweight'
- Deutsche Bank Research raises XP Power price target to 1,400 (975) pence - 'hold'
- Deutsche Bank Research cuts Reach price target to 175 (182) pence - 'buy'
- Deutsche Bank Research cuts Wilmington target to 420 (465) pence - 'buy'
- Related Shares:
LONDON MARKET OPEN: Stocks mixed, Vistry drags down FTSE 250
- Market Overview:
- FTSE 100 opened slightly higher by 1.55 points at 10,485.68, recovering from two days of losses due to escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the US.
- FTSE 250 down 0.2% at 22,647.90, and AIM all-share up 0.2% at 788.30.
- Sector Performance:
- Defence stocks (BAE Systems, Babcock, Rolls-Royce) gained 1.4%, 0.6%, and 0.3%, respectively.
- Travel stocks (easyJet, IAG) declined by 0.7% and 1.4%, respectively.
- Intertek led FTSE 100 with a 2.2% rise, recovering from Tuesday’s losses despite steady earnings and dividend increase.
- Vistry (housebuilder) plunged 18% on FTSE 250 due to 4% revenue decline and CEO retirement announcement.
- Galliford Try (construction) led FTSE 250 with a 5.6% rise, reporting revenue and profit growth, and increased dividend.
- Metro Bank up 0.7% after reporting profit swing and revenue growth.
- Global Markets:
- European equities: CAC 40 flat, DAX 40 up 0.4%.
- Asian markets: Nikkei 225 down 3.6%, Shanghai Composite down 0.8%, Hang Seng down 2.0%, S&P/ASX 200 down 1.9%.
- US markets (Tuesday): Dow Jones down 0.8%, S&P 500 down 0.9%, Nasdaq down 1.0%.
- Commodities & Currencies:
- Brent oil up to USD84.11/barrel, boosted by US pledges to secure oil shipments through the Hormuz Strait.
- Gold up to USD5,179.56/ounce.
- Pound higher at USD1.3345, euro at USD1.1601, dollar weaker against yen at JPY157.47.
- Upcoming Economic Data:
- UK PMI release, eurozone unemployment, and producer price inflation expected later on Wednesday.
LONDON MARKET EARLY CALL: FTSE 100 ticking up as oil, gold stay high
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- London Stocks: Set to open higher on Wednesday, with FTSE 100 futures up 0.4% (46.2 points) ahead of PMI releases and amid escalating Middle East tensions.
- Middle East Conflict: Civilian targets, including energy facilities, embassies, and airports, are being hit by both US/Israel and Iran, according to Swissquote’s Ipek Ozkardeskaya.
- PMI Releases: Expected from Germany, the eurozone, the UK, and other regions on Wednesday.
- Currency Movements:
- Sterling: USD1.3336 (up from USD1.3305 on Tuesday)
- Euro: USD1.1614 (up from USD1.1585)
- Dollar/Yen: JPY157.43 (down from JPY157.80)
- US Markets (Tuesday): Closed lower with Dow Jones (-0.8%), S&P 500 (-0.9%), and Nasdaq (-1.0%), though losses were trimmed as oil prices retreated.
- Asian Markets (Wednesday):
- Nikkei 225: -3.8%
- Shanghai Composite: -0.8%
- Hang Seng: -2.8%
- S&P/ASX 200: -1.9%
- Commodities:
- Brent Oil: USD83.65/barrel (up from USD83.06)
- Gold: USD5,151.15/ounce (up from USD5,114.94)
- Corporate Calendar: Full-year results expected from Vistry, Beazley, and Metro Bank.
- Economic Data: Key releases include eurozone unemployment and producer inflation, US and Irish unemployment, and Swiss consumer inflation.
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