FTSE 100 is heading for a decent end to the week after a strong showing from US stocks on Thursday as jobless claims fell. London’s leading index jumped 28 points to 7,044 in early trading.
The average age of positive COVID-19 tests in the UK is 29, the NHS said. It’s down from 41 at the start of the year, which is seen as a sign that the vaccines are working.
Away from vaccines, AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) has received EU approval for its early-stage lung cancer drug Tagrisso. The treatment is now being used in over fifty countries across the world.
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr PLC (LON:BAG) said trading in its soft drinks division had been strong despite lockdown restrictions. The group is now looking forward to a rebound in sales through hospitality and leisure outlets.
ESG-focused investors were responsible for the recent crash in the price of Bitcoin and the wider crypto market, according to the influential fund manager and the founder of Ark Investment Management Cathie Wood. In a pre-recorded interview, Wood said the price plunge was “precipitated by the ESG movement and this notion...that there are some real environmental problems with the mining of bitcoin”.
Tlou Energy Ltd (LON:TLOU) said it is developing a hydrogen strategy to complement its gas-to-power project. The hydrogen economy is rapidly developing and could open multiple additional business opportunities such as solid carbon products, oxygen, ammonia for energy storage, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), agricultural and medical applications, the Africa-focused firm said.
EQTEC PLC is to raise up to £15mln through a share placing and subscription at 1.5p a share. The subscription offer will be conducted via the PrimaryBid platform.
