* STANDARD CHARTERED: Standard Chartered raised a key performance metric and announced a new $1 billion share buyback after posting a 28% rise in annual pretax profit as global interest rate hikes boosted its lending revenue. The Asia, Middle East and Africa-focused bank also boosted its annual bonus pool by 16% to $1.59 bln.
* ENDEAVOUR: Endeavour Mining has sold 200 kilograms of gold from
its Mana mine in Burkina Faso to the West African country's government, the
company told Reuters on Wednesday
* OIL: Oil prices rose as hopes of a robust fuel demand recovery in top oil
consumer China offset losses arising from strength in the greenback and a large
build in U.S. crude inventory.
* GOLD: Gold prices regained some ground as the U.S. dollar pulled back,
although prospects of more interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve kept
investors on edge.
* METALS: Copper prices in London rebounded off a five-week low as market
participants kept up hopes for a demand recovery in top consumer China.
* FTSE: Britain's FTSE 100 briefly cleared 8,000 points to hit a fresh
record high on Wednesday, helped by a drop in the pound after data showed
domestic inflation eased more than expected.
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
Centrica FY Results
Relx FY Results
MJ Gleeson HY Results
Moneysupermarket.com FY Results
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: TODAY'S UK PAPERS
> Financial Times > Other business headlines (Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru)
