Cloud security business beats quarterly billings estimatesStock surges in after-hours tradingAnalyst remain largely optimistic on stockThe mood around cloud security firm Zscaler (ZS:NASDAQ) has darkened considerably this year as investors fretted over the potential impact of an economic downswing and rising competitive threats might exert on growth.Yet those fears now look overcooked after the Si

Stocks in London were higher on Friday at midday, with the FTSE 100 leading the pack, after inflation in the eurozone came in hotter-than-expected.The FTSE 100 index was up 28.37 points, 0.3%, at 8,259.42. The FTSE 250 was up 6.68 points at 20,677.55, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.59 points, 0.2%, at 804.28.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 823.92, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.4% at 18,148.14, and the

Compass director buys £60,929 sharesElementis CEO sells £523,653 sharesBaron Oil director buys amid falling share priceArlene Isaacs-Lowe, non-executive director of food service giant Compass Group (CPG) has bought 2,800 shares at £21.76 for a total value of £60,929 on 30 May.Isaacs-Lowe's move comes after the company delivered strong first half growth in all regions driven by new contracts an

CFO steps down with immediate effectInternal replacement appointedPrimary listing moves to the USGlobal sports betting and gaming company Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) saw its shares drop 6% after the Paddy Power and Betfair operator said chief financial officer Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson was stepping down with immediate effect.The primary listing of Flutter's shares shifts to the US from today (31 Ma

London stocks were mixed on Friday morning, ahead of core personal consumption expenditures index data, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred US inflation gauge.The FTSE 100 index opened up 12.67 points, 0.2%, at 8,243.72. The FTSE 250 was down 16.03 points, 0.1%, at 20,654.84, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.91 of a point, 0.1%, at 803.60.The Cboe UK 100 was up marginally at 821.87, the Cboe UK

Equity prices in London ended higher on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 snapping a six-day losing streak, though there was nervy trade in New York ahead of the release of a key US inflation gauge on Friday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 47.98 points, 0.6%, at 8,231.05. The FTSE 250 surged 234.53 points, 1.2%, at 20,670.87, and the AIM All-Share ended up 2.42 points, 0.3%, at 802.69.The Cboe UK 100 ended

Stocks in New York were called lower at midday on Thursday, but European stocks were stable with Auto Trader and Currys among the top performers.The FTSE 100 index was up 17.00 points, 0.2%, at 8,200.07. The FTSE 250 was up 175.00 points, 0.9%, at 20,611.34, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.16 points, 0.3%, at 802.43.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 818.16, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.8% at 18,070.82, an

Full year profits plunge2025 year of transitionCost savings of £20 million to £25 millionInvestors in Dr. Martens (DOCS) have endured a torrid time since the iconic footwear firm's 2021 IPO (initial public offering), with the shares booted around 80% lower following a slew of profit warnings.Results for the year ended 31 March 2024 revealed another drop in profits after a challenging year, mostl

Stock prices in London were virtually unmoved Thursday morning, as investors carefully eye a flurry of US economic data.Amongst individual stocks, Auto Trader was the morning's star performer, after it posted higher annual revenue and profit. Bootmaker Dr Martens shares got a boost, too, despite warning of a gloomy outlook.The FTSE 100 index opened up 0.35 of a point at 8,183.42. The FTSE 250 was

This column has no axe to grind with Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ) and ? like everyone else ? it continues to be both surprised and impressed by the growth that the semiconductor specialist is generating, thanks to the competitive position it is crafting itself in providing silicon chips that power the data centres that, in turn, drive the large language models that are so important to the development of A

Retail bellwether Marks & Spencer's (MKS) latest results (22 May) suggest the food, fashion and furniture seller has embarked on the turnaround which has been long in the making with many false dawns down the years.Shares in the FTSE 100 retailer are at a fresh five-year high of 300p following the delivery of forecast-beating full-year figures and a first final dividend since 2019. Yet despite the

How much pocket money you should pay your children is a common dilemma among parents, but new data shows how much the nation is paying its kids.The Natwest Rooster Money report shows how people using its pocket money app manage the payments and how much they pay their kids. And children have felt the effects of the cost of living crisis, with their average pocket money reducing by £5.20 a year ov

If you already have a salary sacrifice pension from your employer, is there anything to gain by moving to a SIPP?AnonymousRachel Vahey, AJ Bell Head of Public Policy, says:Before answering it's probably worth quickly explaining what salary sacrifice is and how it works in relation to a pension.Salary sacrifice is simply where an employee and an employer agree to reduce the employee's salary and t

Last week got off to a positive start on the economic front with the headline rate of UK inflation dropping to 2.3% in April, a whisker above expectations and the Bank of England's official 2% target.The main driver of lower prices was the household energy cap, added to which goods price inflation turned negative ? although food prices went up slightly ? which should have set the scene for the Ban

Prime minister Rishi Sunak's decision to call an early general election came too late for UK investors to respond, but the 'day after the night before' saw the the FTSE 100 close 30 points or 0.4% lower at 8,339 which is hard to read anything into as far as markets are concerned.A more telling reaction was the bounce in sterling, which continued its month-long advance against the euro as any chanc

We kick off this month with two more takeovers, or attempted takeovers, of UK small-cap firms.On 21 May Singapore-based but UK-listed specialist engineer XP Power (XPP) rejected a bid from Denver, Colorado-based rival Advanced Energy Industries (AEIS:NASDAQ).The firm said it had received a series of 'highly conditional, opportunistic, indicative proposals' from the US company, the latest at £19.5

Luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) is one of the worst performers in the mid-cap FTSE 250 index over the last six months, with its shares falling by around a third.The bulk of the share price losses came in January after the timepiece retailer downgraded full year 2024 revenue guidance by 8% at the mid-point of the range and reduced operating margin expectations to a range of 8.7%

Equity prices in London fell on Wednesday, as stocks struggled to find their feet amid rising US Treasury yields.There was also a flurry of M&A news threatening to hog the spotlight. The prospect of a mega mining merger between BHP and Anglo American was ruled out, though Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services has agreed to a takeover.The FTSE 100 index ended down 71.11 points, 0.9%

Stock prices in Europe were lower at midday on Wednesday, with major firms Ocado and St James's Place set to lose their spots in the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index was down 19.58 points, 0.2%, at 8,234.60. The FTSE 250 was down 112.26 points, 0.5%, at 20,593.01, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.43 points, 0.4%, at 804.93.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 821.69, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.7% at 18041.

Cash bid at 370p per shareStock trading at just 332pQuestions over likely approvalThe board of Royal Mail-owner International Distributions Services (IDS) said it had agreed to a raised £3.57 billion bid from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, already a major shareholder in the firm.Despite the bid valuing IDS shares at 370p each, the stock traded just 11p, or 3.5% higher at 332p suggesting inve