09:21 — FTSE 100 down 40 points
As trading settled in, for what's will likely continue to be a quiet Friday, the FTSE 100 was down 44 points or 0.4% to 10,729.
On this mid-August Friday, attention mainly remains on the macro picture.
08:01 — Friday's news snapshot: Cohort lands €140.7m Saab submarine deal
Cohort (AIM:CHRT) has been awarded a €140.7 million contract through its German subsidiary ELAC, part of the Sensors and Effectors division, working with Saab to deliver integrated sonar systems for the Polish Orka Submarine Programme.
Work starts immediately, with deliveries running out to the mid-2030s, and the company says the win is expected to enhance the group's adjusted earnings alongside other recent contract wins.
Central Asia Metals (AIM:CAML) has published the Scheme Booklet and Circular for its recommended acquisition of Cygnus Metals, the next (LSE:NXT) procedural step following the agreement reached between the two boards on 2 June, under which CAML will acquire the entire issued and to-be-issued share capital of the ASX/TSXV-listed miner.
Georgia Capital (LSE:CGEO) has begun a $50 million share buyback programme.
GB Group (LSE:GBG) has issued a trading update on its Americas Identity business, confirming first-quarter performance was in line with the board's expectations as set out in its AGM statement of 21 July.
Arrow Exploration (AIM:AXL) has acquired a 100% working interest in a producing oil property in Thorsby, Alberta, yielding 550 boepd, expanding its footprint beyond its core Colombian hydrocarbon basins.
Beowulf Mining (AIM:BEM) has completed its infill drilling programme at Kallak.
06:45 — FTSE 100 seen firmer on Friday
The FTSE 100 is seen firmer ahead of Friday's open, with IG Market's early pre-market quote marked at 10,795, up 37 points, or 0.34%, from Thursday's close of 10,759.
It comes with a strong Wall Street handover as the S&P 500 closed Thursday at a record (LSE:REC) 7,798, up 0.64%, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.81% to 26,802 and the Dow gained 0.11% to 53,828.
Wall Street benefitted from easing worries over further rate hikes cited as the driver of the advance.
Gold has slid sharply out of hours, down 1.18% to $4,368.20, while the dollar index is softer at 99.853, off 0.11%.
Brent crude was up 0.42% overnight but remains a bit softer than it was earlier this week, at $86.28 a barrel.
Cable was firmer at 1.3499, up 0.1%.
Bitcoin is little-changed at $63,286, down 0.21%, with Ethereum slightly lower at $1,881.
