MARKETS

Pound closes in on $1.30 barrier for the first time in eight months ahead of Bank of England meeting.

The Hang Seng and Sensex surged by 1.08% and 0.88% respectively.

Euro falls below $1.09 for the first time since 4 May, while dollar gains ground against its main rivals.

Prime Minister Theresa May said she is 'fed up with rip-off energy prices'.

The Hang Seng registered the strongest gain of 0.47% during midday trading hours.

Gunvor co-founder and former Soviet era trade official has amassed huge wealth from the natural resources sector.

Soundbites in favour of extending oil production cuts having little impact in the face of rising US output.

'With markets rallying in expectation of Macron win, there was little upside left for equities and euro.'

Analysts warn newly-elected French president faces a series of difficult challenges ahead.

The Nikkei surged to 2.36% while weak Chinese trade data caused the Shanghai Composite to fall by 1.05%.

Euro climbs to $1.1023 as concerns France will leave European Union evaporate.

Saudi Arabia's Opec governor claims major oil producers were converging on the need to extend production cuts.

Traders sit on their hands preferring to wait for US employment data despite strong corporate news in London.

An elitist poster boy and right-wing bully pulpit screamer have no solutions for France's economic malaise.

Five-month low oil prices and a downturn in the commodities sector weighed heavily on investors.

Crude oil prices drop 4.8% to $45.52 a barrel - the lowest level since November 2016.

Shell Q1 profits beat expectations, while HSBC stems decline amid increasing lending activity.

Futures trades in the yellow metal see drop of over $20 as US central bank hints at another interest rate hike.

Banks have been rebuilding their balance sheets and returning to form – once again piquing equity investors' interest.

US central bank says economic slowdown experienced in Q1 is likely to be transitory.

Like-for-like sales grew by 3.4% during the first quarter of 2017.

The Hang Seng declined by 0.40% while the Sensex surged to 0.56%.

But probability of a June rate hike now up to 90%.

Former city trader and TipTV founder Nick Batsford discusses recent financials posted by major banks with market analyst Matt Brown.

Sterling endures high volatility after reports suggest Britain's Brexit bill could cost €100bn.

The Straits Times Index registered the region's strongest gain at 0.74%.

In the first 100 days of his White House residency, Trump has managed to fail at more things than most presidents do in a full term.

Market sentiment increasingly factoring incremental shale oil barrels as Baker Hughes records another US rig count rise.

Markit PMI shows UK construction sector expanded at the fastest rate in three years in April.