10 things you need to know in markets today

Apple also announced a hefty, $50 billion, four-quarter expansion of its plan to return capital to shareholders, helping to mitigate investor disappointment to weaker-than-expected revenue results in its most recent quarter.The bulk of the plan is an additional $35 billion in stock buybacks, bringing the company's total share repurchase plan to $210 billion. Apple also said its board has approved a 10.5% increase in the company's quarterly dividend. Overall, Apple said it plans to spend $300 billion by March 2019.

Crude oil prices bounced back on Wednesday as a decline in U.S. inventories underpinned the market, although a dip in compliance with OPEC efforts to reduce output capped gains.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 37 cents, or 0.76% to $48.02 a barrel by 6.50 a.m. BST (1.50 a.m. ET). On Tuesday, the market slid 2.4 percent to its lowest close since March 21.

The US Senate on Tuesday confirmed Jay Clayton, the Wall Street attorney chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission.The vote was 61-37 to give the job of running the independent agency that oversees Wall Street and the financial markets. Ten Democrats joined 51 Republicans in backing the nominee.

The UK's manufacturing sector is moving at "such a pace that suppliers are struggling to keep up with demand," according to the latest PMI survey from IHS Markit.IHS Markit's PMI survey for April, a measure of growth in the sector, hit a level of 57.3, bouncing back from a poor March, and hitting its highest level in three years.

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