1. Royal Mail rejects West Ham owner's first takeover bid
Křetínský made a cash offer to buy the entirety of IDS, but this was rejected, his EP Group confirmed on Wednesday.
2. Thames Water mulling adding more debt in survival plan
Board members are due to meet on Thursday to discuss a new five-year spending plan, which will then be published on Friday.
3. ASOS’s revenues fall 18%, adjusted losses widen
ASOS reiterated its full-year guidance of a sales decline between 5% to 15%, and a positive adjusted EBITDA.
4. UK Inflation falls at a snail's pace
UK inflation in March came in hotter than expected at 3.2% against market forecasts of 3.1%, though this still makes for the lowest year-on-year rate since August 2021.
5. FTSE 100 finishes slightly higher
London's blue chips ended Wednesday 27 points higher at 7,847.99, led by gains from the mining sector, retailers and banks.