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17 March 2021 | 08:25am StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks opened modestly lower on Wednesday as investors braced for a crucial announcement by the US Federal Reserve later in the day about the direction of monetary policy. At 0818, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 8.24 points, or 0.1%, at 6,794.24. Any sign that the Fed might ease off on its dovish stance on interest rates would indicate the US economy was on the mend, but could spook markets grown accustomed to an abundance of cheap credit. Wealth management company Hargreaves Lansdown climbed 2.6% to £15.89, having upgraded its profit outlook after reporting elevated share dealing volumes since the end of January. ....
8 March 2021 | 08:41am StockMarketWire.com - UK stocks opened higher on Monday after the US Senate passed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package and oil prices rose due to attacks on facilities in Saudi Arabia. At 0828, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 29.98 points, or 0.5%, at 6,660.50. BP gained 1.8% to 324.44p and Shell gained 1.8% to £15.76 after Brent crude rose above $70 a barrel. Educational publisher and services group Pearson shed 2.7% to 739.8p, even as it posted a rise in annual profit owing to the sale of a stake in publisher Penguin Random House and lower restructuring charges. Pearson s underlying earnings, however, fell after the pandemic led to school closures and disrupted exam schedules. The company held its annual dividend steady at 19.5p per share. ....