London?s FTSE 100 ended Tuesday morning how it started it, barely budging in cautious trade ahead of Wednesday?s US inflation report.Miners were on the up, as were oil majors, though that still could not lift the FTSE 100 into the green. Heavyweights such as drugmaker GSK, down 0.5% and defence firm BAE Systems, sliding 4.2%, were among those holding back London?s blue-chip benchmark.The FTSE 100

1. Semiconductors in focus: The semiconductor sector, as represented by the Philadelphia semiconductor index, posted a 10% gain in February. This reflected renewed optimism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) chips and their associated applications. Asian chipmakers, which are responsible for manufacturing most of these chips, posted similarly strong gains in the month. This blistering pace o

Equities in London went into Wednesday afternoon in largely negative territory, though peers in Europe were in the green and equities in New York are called higher.Nonetheless, there was still some trepidation in the air ahead of a US inflation reading on Friday.Some of the FTSE 100?s heavyweights weighed on the index. Shell and BP fell 1.3% and 1.5% as Brent prices fell. HSBC lost 1.7% after Barc

European equities declined heading into Tuesday afternoon, as investors anxiously await a key US inflation report later.Meanwhile, robust UK unemployment data encouraged some to rethink when the Bank of England might start cutting interest rates, supporting the pound higher.The FTSE 100 index traded 20.66 points lower, 0.3%, at 7,553.03. The FTSE 250 was down 117.64 points, 0.6%, at 19,086.29, tho

Stocks in London were down at the close on Tuesday, amid disappointing manufacturing data from both the US and the UK.The FTSE 100 index closed down 11.72 points, 0.2%, at 7,721.52. The FTSE 250 ended down 177.83 points, 0.9%, at 19,511.80, and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.77 points, or 0.2%, at 761.55.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 770.31, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1.2% at 16,966.88, and

It is the best of times, and the worst of times for investment trust fans. Discounts are at their widest since the financial crisis, at an average of 16.9%, according to data compiled in early November by the Association of Investment Companies.That's not good news for anyone looking to sell out, but on the face of things, it's manna from heaven for hungry buyers, especially those with a contraria

European equities were on the decline on Thursday afternoon, with equities unnerved by events in the Middle East, as well as some caution ahead of key US data and a eurozone interest rate decision.The European Central Bank announces an interest rate decision in just under an hour at 1315 BST. It is expected to enact its first pause in over a year, halting a steep hiking cycle.Among individual shar

Stocks prices in London ended in the red on Friday as a higher-for-longer narrative around interest rates and heightened tensions in the Middle East weighed on market mood.The FTSE 100 index closed down 97.39 points, 1.3%, at 7,402.14. The FTSE 250 ended down 180.41 points, 1.1%, at 17,032.73, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.84 of a point, or 0.1%, at 682.93.Over the past week, they are down 3

Stocks in Europe were on the up heading into the afternoon, with traders looking ahead to the release of a key US inflationary measure, which could threaten to spoil the Friday feeling.Supporting equities on Friday was a calmer bond market, as well as favourable data from the UK and eurozone.The FTSE 100 index rose 70.96 points, or 0.9%, at 7,672.61. So far this week, the blue-chip benchmark has l

Stock prices in London were higher at Thursday's open, lifted by 'record' results from Nvidia late Wednesday, as well as a more positive outlook ahead of the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole event.The FTSE 100 index opened up 38.72 points, 0.5%, at 7,359.25. The FTSE 250 was up 149.88 points, 0.8%, at 18,376.37, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.48 points, 0.3%, at 736.95.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5%, t

The FTSE 100 kicked off the day in a muted fashion, though European peers surged on Thursday morning with markets optimistic ahead of a US inflation reading.It was a selection of stocks that went ex-dividend, which means new buyers would not qualify for the latest payout, that weighed on London's large-cap index.Shares in Spirax-Sarco Engineering and gambling firm Entain also fell.The FTSE 100 ind

London's FTSE 100 ended higher but peers in Frankfurt and Paris struggled for traction, as European equities underwhelmed at the start of the week amid little progress in US debt ceiling talks.'It's rather bonkers that US politicians seem to be playing a game of chicken with the US economy. Not reaching an agreement on raising the debt ceiling is unthinkable, but right now neither the Republicans

The dollar was on the rise and equities were under pressure globally on Wednesday, as the possibility of the US defaulting on its federal government debt loomed as an increasing possibility.'The first ever default on US debt is unthinkable and the likeliest outcome is an eleventh-hour deal, but, as the beginning-of-June deadline for raising the debt ceiling signalled by US secretary of the Treasur

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREAuthor: Rhys Davies, Fund Manager and Senior Credit AnalystWhen a bond is issued, its price is usually set at 100 and a coupon is agreed - this is the amount the borrower will pay each year as a reward to the lender until the bond matures and the debt is repaid. The higher the investment risk, the higher the coupon. Simple so far, but what happens next is where things

European share prices continued to recover early Friday, though the FTSE 100 in London remains down for the week as a whole, amid a crisis of confidence in the banking sector.A wild week saw banking stocks plunge in light of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and liquidity worries at Credit Suisse. US officials have sought to reassure depositors and markets, however.The FTSE 100 index opened 96.0

It has been difficult to ignore the renewed sense of optimism creeping into stock markets this year. Misery has been replaced by a watchful brightness, and nowhere has this sheen reflected better than among software growth stocks.After tumbling more than a third in 2022, the US-listed iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV:BATS), comprised of many of the major enterprise software players,

The FTSE 100 index was higher at midday on Wednesday, putting London's blue-chip equity benchmark in position to end the year in positive territory.The FTSE 100 was up 72.63 points, or 1.0%, at 7,545.64, as it caught up with European markets that had reopened on Tuesday.With three days to go in 2022, the club of large-cap stocks is up 0.5% in the year so far.The FTSE 250 was up 85.67 points, or 0.

Stocks in London closed down on Wednesday, as investors nervously look towards a key interest rate decision from the US Federal Reserve later this evening.The FTSE 100 index closed down 0.1%, or 6.96 points at 7,495.93. The FTSE 250 ended down 0.3%, or 48.37 points, at 19,037.92, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.2%, or 2.04 points, at 836.55.The Cboe UK 100 ended up slightly at 750.01, the Cboe

Another red-hot UK inflation report put retail shares under pressure on Wednesday, with Next and JD Sports among the worst London-listed blue-chip performers in a drab day for global stock markets.The UK inflation data put the Bank of England under the spotlight and focus will also turn to the UK government, ahead of Thursday's autumn statement.Investors were earlier troubled by the news of a miss

- Cybersecurity firm ups guidance for sixth time in succession- Global turmoil highlighting digital risks to buyers- Shares jump 8% but remain 14% down on the yearEnterprise cybersecurity company Darktrace (DARK) continues to defy stock market Cassandras after raising full-year revenue and profit guidance for the sixth time in succession.The Cambridge-founded business told investors that it antici