Wall St advanced overnight as investors focused on some positive news from the home front, including better-than-expected jobless claims data and Cisco Systems earnings.

Local logistics company Mainfreight has reported a 77pc lift in interim profits and dividend payouts sup by a quarter.

Turners and Growers has received a takeover offer from German company BayWa, with the...

Markets fell overnight on both sides of the Atlantic as Italy's borrowing costs soared, intensifying concern that efforts to contain the European Union's debt crisis aren't working.

Equities on both sides of the Atlantic have started the week in the red as Greece agreed to form a new government and Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi denied reports he planned to resign.

Metlifecare, the retirement village operator, sold shares to institutional and experienced investors at a 7.1 per cent discount as part of its capital raising.