London?s FTSE 100 registered a bullish start to the holiday shortened week on Tuesday, with US interest rate optimism sending equities into the green.Financial markets in London were closed on Monday for the May Day bank holiday.Missing out on the confident trade were budget carriers, as the likes of easyJet and Wizz Air fell after a summer pricing warning from peer Ryanair.The FTSE 100 index clos

Stocks prices in London were higher at midday on Tuesday, as local data added to the uplift provided by US markets on Monday.The FTSE 100 index was up 82.73 points, 1.0%, at 8,296.22. The FTSE 250 was up 225.42 points, 1.1%, at 20,389.96, and the AIM All-Share was 5.72 points, 0.7%, at 777.25.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.0% at 828.39, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0% at 17,662.42, and the Cboe Small Compan

Pre-market data shows 3% share price decline on the cardsRecovering from ?major inventory correction?Dividend up 18% despite lower salesTalk of a chips industry recovery looks a little premature based on what Microchip Technology (MCHP:NASDAQ) laid before investors overnight. Pre-market data has the stock down more than 3% to around $91 after the company issued fiscal first quarter 2025 guidance b

Weaker oil and gas prices weigh$1.75 billion buyback maintained$2 billion-plus cost-saving targetShares in BP (BP.) fell 0.75% to 506.6p in a rising market after the energy producer?s first-quarter results missed expectations with weaker oil and gas prices and an unplanned US refinery outage curbing profits.However, the FTSE 100 energy titan?s shareholder-friendly focus helped limit the price dama

Stocks in London were in the green on Tuesday morning, tracking a rise in global equities following weaker US jobs data and a UK public holiday on Monday.The FTSE 100 index opened up 69.25 points, 0.8%, at 8,282.95. The FTSE 250 was up 187.86 points, 0.9%, at 20,352.21, and the AIM All-Share was up 4.81 points, 0.6%, at 776.37.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.9% at 826.93, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.9% at 1

Markets were sunny at the time of London?s closing bell on Friday, with investors across the pond enthused by renewed hopes for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.The FTSE 100 index closed up 41.34 points, 0.5%, at 8,213.49. The FTSE 250 ended up 112.21 points, 0.6%, at 20,164.54, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.42 points, 0.5%, at 771.53.Over the course of the week, they were up 0.9%, 1.7%, an

Vistry CEO shows confidence with latest buyTracsis director snaps up over £33,000 sharesChurchill China director sells up after flat full year revenuesVISTRY CEO BUYS OVER 23,000 SHARESGreg Fitzgerald, CEO of UK housebuilder Vistry (VTY) has bought 23,172 shares at £11.80 for a total value of £273,545.46 on 29 April.Fitzgerald?s move can be seen as a vote of confidence in the housebuilder after

European equities went into Friday afternoon in the green, on the hope that the US jobs report will be softer than the prior month and help calm some hawkish Federal Reserve interest rate expectations.Every batch of hotter US data takes some conviction out of Federal Reserve rate cut bets. Earlier this year, investors hoped the Fed would cut three times in 2024.The FTSE 100 index was up 39.24 poin

Stock prices in London opened in the green on Friday, with investors confident of a softer US jobs report, which take some sting out of hawkish Federal Reserve interest rate expectations.The FTSE 100 index rose 20.31 points, 0.2%, at 8,192.46. The FTSE 250 edged up 14.81 points, 0.1%, to 20,067.14, and the AIM All-Share rose 1.54 points, 0.2%, at 769.65.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 818.09, the C

The FTSE 100 finished strong on Thursday, coinciding with a successful day for New York stocks in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve?s status quo interest rate decision on Wednesday evening.The FTSE 100 index closed up 50.91 points, 0.6%, at 8,172.15. The FTSE 250 ended up 125.74 points, 0.6%, at 20,052.33, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.13 points, 0.4%, at 768.11.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6

London?s blue-chips made steady progress on Thursday, whilst mid-caps struggled for direction, as investors took stock of the latest US interest rate call.The FTSE 100 index rose 28.57 points, 0.4%, at 8,149.81. The FTSE 250 edged down just 3.93 points to 19,922.66, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.50 of a point, 0.1%, at 765.48.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 813.60, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.2% to 17

Like-for-like sales down 8%Chinese demand softensFull-year guidance unchangedWhen we lifted the bonnet on FTSE 250 precision equipment-maker Spectris (SXS) back in March, we suggested the first-quarter update would be the first test of whether analysts were on track with their downbeat views on the firm's prospects.As expected, the group reported a decline in like-for-like revenue against a strong

London?s FTSE 100 made a bright start to trading on Thursday, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell played down fears of an interest rate increase, although cuts remain on the back-burner.The FTSE 100 index rose 18.12 points, 0.2%, at 8,139.36. The FTSE 250 edged up just 4.56 points to 19,931.15, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.19 points, 0.2%, at 766.17.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 812.66, t

The FTSE 100 is not the best-performing major stock index in the world this year ? that honour lies with Japan?s Nikkei 225, which is up by 12% in local currency terms ? but the UK?s premier benchmark is (finally) setting new all-time highs, at least when measured in sterling. The picture does not look quite so rosy in US dollars and while this can be used as a pretext to cavil it can also be a fu

In the last few weeks, the drumbeat of companies complaining about the lowly valuation of their shares and floating the idea of moving to the US market has grown steadily louder.First there was miner Glencore (GLEN), then oil major Shell (SHEL) started making noises and most recently online retailer Ocado (OCDO) has come under shareholder pressure to move its listing.What is significant is these a

Chemicals companies produce the compounds used in a huge variety of different industrial and consumer products across sectors which include agriculture, healthcare, technology, aerospace, sports, leisure and beauty.The breadth of the industry?s focus means its fortunes are closely tied to the economy and movements in GDP as well as volatility in raw material prices and energy costs.In 2023 the sec

Lots of companies are willing to pay out money if you introduce a friend to their services. Whether it?s mobile phones, bank accounts, broadband, investment accounts or insurance, there is often a deal where if you introduce a friend you make a bit of money for your troubles ? and often the friend gets an incentive too.Let?s take a look at some of the top deals that can boost your finances ? and h

Scottish American Investment Company (SAIN) 503pMarket cap: £898 millionBallie Gifford-managed Scottish American (SAIN), also referred to as ?SAINTS?, is trading at an 8% discount to net asset value which offers a great opportunity to buy high-quality assets on the cheap.The fund is steered by co-managers James Dow and Ross Mathison, after Toby Ross stepped away from co-managing the fund in Febru

Premier Foods (PFD) 159.6pMarket cap: £1.39 billion Ownership of some of Britain?s best-loved brands including Mr. Kipling, Batchelors and Bisto, appetising growth potential and a transformed financial position that should support double-digit dividend growth are reasons to buy cooking sauces, cakes and custards maker Premier Foods (PFD). Admittedly, the stock has already rallied 350% over the pa

London stocks were mixed at the closing bell, a few hours before the evening?s long-awaited interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve, with Haleon hampering the FTSE 100 and a poor performance from Aston Martin dragging down the FTSE 250.The FTSE 100 index closed down 22.89 points, 0.3%, at 8,121.24. The FTSE 250 ended down 38.80 points, 0.2%, at 19,926.59, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.