1. Standard Chartered sets $1.5bn buyback as profit surges on record income
A hiked dividend and new buyback were unveiled after underlying pre-tax profit surged 20% to US$6.8 billion in the year to December 31.
2. Sainsbury’s, M&S, Diageo among those cheering rebounding retail sales
According to the Office for National Statistics, retail sales picked up by 1.7% in January, against a downwardly revised 0.6% drop in December.
3. FTSE 100 faces muted end to week
London's blue chips failed to hold onto a gain on Friday, prompting a muted end to a negative week.
4. Europa Metals skyrockets after it flags valuation disconnect
Europa shares jumped after it expressed a degree of frustration over the slide in the share price recently.
5. UK firms cutting jobs at fastest rate since mid-pandemic
According to S&P Global, employment levels fell at the quickest rate since November 2020 in February.
And elsewhere among small caps
Biome Technologies slumps 60% after revealing plans to join the AIM exodus
UKOG raises funds at 42% discount to built hydrogen storage facility in Devon