Today's top story: Apple wins $1 trillion value race
Today's leader: It's time to consider an off-the-shelf deal if we're serious about avoiding a hard brexit
Last night the world may have been bowled over by Apple reaching the $1 trillion milestone, but chief executive Tim Cook appears more relaxed about it. He said his company's extraordinary market capitalisation was “not the most important measure” of the its success, which he said lay with its products, customers and company values.
The Zimbabwe elections have taken another turn after it was confirmed that Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over fro Robert Mugabe, had been elected as President. The opposition said it would contest the poll.
Asian shares fluctuated on Friday, making some gains thanks to tech wins on wall street. MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was last up 0.02 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei crawled up 0.1 percent in light of trade talks between Washington and Tokyo on 9 August.
European markets are expected to open slightly up this morning. The FTSE 100 is expected to open 0.52 per cent up at 7,615 points according to IG Squawk.
The German Dax and French Cac are also expected to open slightly up, at 12,585 points and 5,483 points, respectively.
Corporate news
- Toyota has posted a 7.2 per cent jump in quarterly net profits
- German insurer Allianz has posted a net profit fall of 5 per cent in the second quarter
- RBS will pay its first dividend in ten years, subject to a final settlement with the US Department for Justice
Data
- 09.00 – EU Markit Services PMI
- 09.30 – UK Markit Services PMI
- 13.30 – US Average Hourly Earnings (July)
