1. UK inflation pushes higher in blow to interest rate cut hopes
Year-on-year inflation in the UK increased to 2.6% in November from 2.3% in the previous month.
2. National Grid announces £35bn investment plan
John Pettigrew, chief executive of National Grid, called it “the most significant step forward in the electricity network that we've seen in a generation”.
3. Shoe Zone shares in doldrums following brutal triple-whammy update
Shoe Zone said it plans to shut an unspecified number of stores deemed "unviable" due to "extremely challenging trading conditions”.
4. FTSE 100 Live
Stocks seesaw.
5. B&Q owner Kingfisher sells loss-making Romanian business
The transaction includes 31 stores in 24 cities, along with distribution operations and the head office in Bucharest.