Pearson PLC, the owner of the Financial Times, has agreed to sell FT Group to Nikkei Inc. for £844 million (€1.2 billion).

Penguin books and Financial Times publisher Pearson said it was more optimistic about prospects for the rest of the year today after seeing further strong growth from digital businesses and developing markets.

Financial Times publisher Pearson today said a “strong” first half had boosted confidence in its hopes for the full financial year.

Financial Times owner Pearson said today the recovery in the advertising market was continuing but revenues remained unstable.

Leading UK shares pushed to new lows midafternoon, weighed down by the steep opening falls on Wall Street, where investors continued to pare their stock holdings despite a robust US consumer confidence survey, dealers said.