What you need to know before the open
A mixed open for European markets this morning, with sentiment constrained amid EU and Ukrainian elections.
Ukrainian authorities have said over a dozen servicemen were killed yesterday while clashing with pro-Russian separatists.
First quarter growth in Germany’s come in as expected, at 0.8 per cent. Year-on-year, that puts the GDP figure at 2.5 per cent when seasonally adjusted – ahead of the 2.3 per cent estimate.
Corporate news
Govia Thameslink has bagged a coveted seven-year government contract, which includes building 1,400 electric carriages.
Saga’s said it’s allocated around 50 per cent of its initial public offering to retail investors.
EasyHotel has announced it’ll be listed on the AIM, with plans to raise up to £60m. The move will see owner Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou reduce his stake to a minority.
Coca-Cola’s set to launch a new bottled water in the UK – glacier smartwater – a decade after the Dasani flop.
And Quintain Estates, the property developer, has returned to profitability as it focuses on Wembley development.
Data in focus
- 9.00am: Germany May IFO business survey
- 1.30pm: Canada April inflation
- 3.00pm: US April new home sales