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

Revenue up 14% to £570 millionOperating profit climbs 26%Shares gain another 12%Shares in Auto Trader (AUTO) jumped by 94p or 12% to a new life-high of 825p as the online car marketplace reported a 14% increase in group revenue to £570.9 million for the year ended 31 March 2024.The FTSE 100 firm said the used car retail market had been robust throughout the past financial year and it expected th

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

A feature of the recent recovery in stock markets has been the leadership role played by large-caps. This represents a reversal of a longer-term trend, particularly in the UK, of medium-sized businesses setting the pace.As the charts show, year-to-date the FTSE 250 has lagged behind the FTSE 100 while in the US the Russell 2000 (made up of the 2000 smallest companies in the broad-based Russell 300

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%

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

The long-awaited investor day at AstraZeneca (AZN) on 21 May delivered a punchy increase in the pharmaceutical giant's long term growth ambitions inviting further analysts upgrades to revenue and profit forecasts.After achieving its prior target of generating in excess of $45 billion of revenue by 2023 set a decade ago, management is aiming for more than $80 billion in annual revenue by 2030 and 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

Given the depressed valuation of the UK stock market ? and the even more depressed valuation of UK commercial property ? it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a fund to seize on the opportunities on offer.Enter Special Opportunities REIT, a new internally-managed real estate investment trust aimed at capitalising on the abundance of value in the UK commercial property sector 'at

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%

Trust outperforms by 3% in first halfEuropean markets up nearly 15%Discount to NAV remains around 10%Co-managers of the Henderson European Focus Trust (HEFT), Tom O'Hara and John Bennett, conceded that it was more important to 'stay out of trouble' over the six months to the end of March as the FTSE World Europe (ex UK) index powered ahead by 14.9% on a total return basis.The trust delivered a 3%

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.

Pre-tax profit down 3.2%CEO heralds 'pivotal' yearRelief rally as guidance maintainedPets at Home's (PETS) shares have been buffeted by weakening demand and a CMA (Competition & Markets Authority) probe into the vet industry.However, the stock rallied 4.2% to 295.2p on Wednesday, despite news of a full-year profits decline.Investors were relieved as the dog food-to-cat litter seller stuck with gui

Stock prices in London were in the red on a rather calm Wednesday morning, with Royal Mail owner IDS, and Foresight Sustainable Forestry boosted by takeovers.In the FTSE 250, Royal Mail owner IDS agreed to a takeover by a Daniel Kretinsky-led group. Meanwhile, Foresight Sustainable Forestry shares shot up, after Averon Park said it will buy the firm for £167 million.The FTSE 100 index opened down

Equities in London ended lower on Tuesday after the long weekend, with investors nervy ahead of a US inflation reading on Friday, with comments from a Federal Reserve central banker doing little to lift spirits.The UK election campaign rumbled on as all three of the main party leaders spent Tuesday visiting seats that could be crucial in deciding the outcome of the general election.Prime Minister

Stock prices in London were mostly higher at midday on Tuesday but the FTSE 100 declined ahead of a slew of US data in the afternoon, after a public holiday in both the US and the UK.The FTSE 100 index was down 16.64 points, or 0.2%, at 8,301.04. The FTSE 250 was up 83.97 points, or 0.4%, at 20,855.45, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.17 points, or 0.1%, at 811.19.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 82

Trust lags FTSE All ShareBurberry and Diageo dragNAV down 3.2% in AprilNick Train, manager of the popular Finsbury Growth & Income Trust (FGT), has apologised to shareholders for the trust's 'poor investment performance' not only over the past six months but over three years.The manager also acknowledged the 'growing impatience' from the shareholders.Train's apology comes after the trust lagged be

Legal & General selling CalaDeadline for bids next weekPrice seen around £1 billionIn a sign of growing confidence among housebuilders, it has been reported Persimmon (PSN) could bid for smaller rival Cala Group which has been earmarked for sale by owner Legal & General (LGEN).Shares in the York-based homebuilder cheapened 32p or 2% to £14.50 as investors prepared themselves for a potential capi