US personal incomes and spending rise as expected in May
Americans' incomes and consumption rose roughly by as much as expected last month amid a small dip in price pressures.
Forex
Europe midday: Stocks higher ahead of US data
Europe's main equity indices were near their best levels of the session on the last day ahead of the release of a raft of US data.
Anglo Asian targets slightly reduced from 2016 production
Azerbaijan-focussed gold, silver and copper producer Anglo Asian Mining was holding its annual general meeting in London on Friday, with CEO Reza Vaziri explaining to investors that he was “very pleased” with the return of the company to profitability in 2016.
Credit Suisse predicts end of an era for UK Water, cuts target prices
Analysts at Credit Suisse downgraded their view on the UK water sector, telling clients there was a fair chance that OFWAT would be less generous in its next regulatory price review, PR 19.
London midday: Stocks turn higher as pound slips after GDP data
London stocks had reversed earlier losses to trade a little higher by midday as the pound slipped back below $1.30 after the latest data from the Office for National Statistics confirmed that UK growth slowed in the first quarter.
Trinity Mirror's first half digital revenues increase, results seen in-line
Trinity Mirror boasted continued progress with its strategy of growing digital sales and said results would be in-line with expectations despite continued declines in print advertising and circulation revenues.
Sky agrees five-year deal with England & Wales Cricket Board
Sky Sports has agreed a new five-year partnership with the England & Wales Cricket Board to broadcast international and county cricket from 2020.
London open: Stocks in the red as consumer confidence hits lowest since Brexit vote
London stocks edged lower in early trade as investors mulled over an uninspiring survey on UK consumer confidence and looked ahead to the final release of first-quarter GDP figures.
UK consumer confidence lowest since Brexit vote – GfK
Consumer confidence in the UK fell to its lowest level since the aftermath of the Brexit vote in June, according to the latest GfK survey.
Bonds: Gilts drop as more central banks join queue to tighten
These were the movements in some of the most closely-followed sovereign bond yields:
US: 2.27% (+4bp)
UK: 1.25% (+10bp)
Germany: 0.45% (+8bp)
France: 0.81% (+9bp)
Canada: 1.69% (+7bp)
Spain: 1.53% (+10bp)
Italy: 2.15% (+12bp)
Portugal: 3.03% (+5bp)
Greece: 5.43% (-6bp)
Japan: 0.06% (-0bp)
Investors continued to push government bond yields higher, especially on this side of the Pond, with longer-term Gilts underperforming versus their peers from among the G-4 economies.