Stock prices in Europe closed mostly in the green on Thursday, as oil prices recovered during quiet Thanksgiving trade and after the release of European Central Bank minutes.The FTSE 100 index closed up 14.07 points, 0.2%, at 7,483.58. The FTSE 250 ended up 0.66 of a point at 18,480.83, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.18 points, or 0.2%, at 718.08.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 747.41 and the

There have been a couple of bits of retail news over the last few weeks that bear real consideration. The first was that Swedish 'flat pack' maestro Ikea was taking over a massive shopping centre in the heart of Brighton and the second that after 137 years of calling, beauty products seller Avon is setting up shop in the UK.By themselves they might not raise much of an eyebrow amongst investors bu

Stocks closed lower on Friday in London as investors looked increasingly risk averse amid an expectation that interest rates will stay higher for longer and clashes continue in the Middle East.The FTSE 100 index closed down 45.18 points, or 0.6% at 7,599.60 on Friday but finished the week 1.4% higher.The FTSE 250 ended down 381.47 points, or 2.1%, at 17,454.22 and closed the week down 1.6%.The AIM

Stocks in London closed lower on Tuesday, as a stalemate in US debt ceiling talks hurt market sentiment for yet another day.The FTSE 100 index closed down 8.04 points, 0.1%, at 7,762.95. Gains for oil majors and international earners, amid a muted pound, shielded London's blue-chip index from a sharper decline.The FTSE 250 lost 65.03 points, 0.3%, at 19,208.31, and the AIM All-Share ended down jus

As an investor, you should be willing to sell shares in a company should you believe its best days are in the past. You will inevitably get things wrong from time to time and/or the investment case can change and, in these circumstances, you must summon up the courage to click the sell button.Buying low and selling high is the key objective when it comes to investing in shares, but even experience

Can retail stalwart Marks & Spencer maintain its positive momentum?High street fashion-to-foods seller's results provide investors with their next chance to check on the health of the UK consumerForthcoming results (24 May) for the year ended 2 April 2023 from Marks & Spencer (MKS) will give investors another opportunity to take the temperature of the UK consumer, with upbeat guidance probably req

The common factor across the latest trading updates from the big housebuilders is they are all forecasting fewer completions and land purchases this year.That could spell trouble for the various trades which support the new-build home industry, from legal services to building materials and equipment hire to fitted kitchens and bathrooms.With mortgage costs soaring after repeated interest rate incr

Among the strategies that can richly reward those investors with a bit of patience is dividend growth investing.At its heart this involves putting money to work in companies that compound their earnings over time and convert a high proportion of profits into the cold, hard cash needed to fund consistent increases in the shareholder reward.One fan of this investing style is legendary US fund manage

More leaks have been found in the pipeline bringing Russian gas to Europe, scuppering what had promised to be a positive open for stock markets.'There are two leaks on the Swedish side and two leaks on the Danish side,' a Swedish Coast Guard official said, after three leaks were confirmed earlier this week on the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.Suspicions of sabotage emerged after the leak

- Shares gain after positive trading update- Challenging backdrop drives growth in insolvencies- Progress in integration of recent acquisitionsShares in business advisory group Begbies Traynor (BEG:AIM), moved 3.4% higher following the release of an encouraging trading update covering the three months to the end of July.Management reiterated its confidence in meeting market expectations of adjuste

London's blue-chip index lagged behind its European counterparts on Wednesday, as falls in oil and mining stocks offset gains for energy suppliers.The FTSE 100 index ended down 62.61 points, 0.9%, at 7,237.83 on Wednesday. London's blue-chip benchmark failed to make it a fourth successive day in the green.The mid-cap FTSE 250 index fell 9.36 points, or 0.1%, at 18,811.48. The AIM All-Share index a

Power suppliers Centrica and SSE were helping the FTSE 100 index in London to recover some of its opening loss on Wednesday at midday, as the UK awaits a government plan to tackle runaway energy prices.'Action on energy bills continues to be widely trailed as new prime minister, Liz Truss, prepares for an official announcement on her policy. Given the big package that is expected, anything short c

Stock market investors were confronted with multiple yellow signals on Tuesday, after a US social media company warned about ad revenue, UK power companies were added to the cross hairs of a windfall profit tax, and surveys suggested economic growth in the UK and eurozone slowed this month.The FTSE 100 index was down 21.65 points, or 0.3%, at 7,491.79 midday Tuesday, benefiting as sterling lost gr

London shares were being sold early Tuesday, after another US technology stock issued an earnings warning and saw its stock punished.The FTSE 100 index was down 74.37 points, or 1.0%, at 7,439.07 early Tuesday. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index was down 198.55 points, or 1.0%, at 19,947.63. The AIM All-Share index was down 3.37 points, or 0.4%, at 960.48.The Cboe UK 100 index was down 0.7% at 742.95. The

Investors were in risk-off mode ahead of US Federal Reserve meeting minutes to be released later on Wednesday, with markets spooked by some hawkish comments from policymaker Lael Brainard.Fed governor Brainard, who is considered a dove, said bringing US inflation down from 40-year highs was of 'paramount importance' and that the bank was 'prepared to take stronger action' if warranted.Brainard als

Military equipment business Avon Protection (AVON) continues a worrying run of profit warnings going back to the back end of 2020.Having attained all-time highs around £45 then, the shares now trade at less than a quarter of that level.A 22% drop to £10.38 wipes out gains the company enjoyed along with the rest of the defence sector in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Today's post-close

London stocks drifted lower early Wednesday with markets awaiting fresh Western sanctions on Russia and US central bank meeting minutes.Ahead of the minutes, Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard warned the US central bank was 'prepared to take stronger action' if warranted to reign inflation in and could move to reduce the Fed's massive bond holdings as soon as its May meeting.'Brainard's commen

We believe that many smaller companies have fallen too far amid the indiscriminate sell-off this year, and that there is real scope to pick up many well-run, high-quality business at knock-down prices.One of the best ways to take advantage, in our view, is to buy the BlackRock Throgmorton Trust (THRG), one of the very best smaller company investment trusts available.This is a multi-award-winning t

For now, the escalating conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of easing. After the initial shock, markets were hopeful the economic impact of the war might be contained as the West's opening salvo of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion (24 Feb) were weaker than some had anticipated.However, any relief soon dissipated as Ukraine put up stiff resistance against the Russian invaders and sanctions

Defence firm Avon Protection (AVON) ticked up 1% to £10.58 as it gave an in-line update on trading and unveiled plans to buy back £18.5 million of its own shares.However, the company, which specialises in respiratory equipment, including gas masks, head protection and body armour, said it expected revenue to be weighted toward the second half of 2022 amid continued longer order lead times.Shareh