Crude oil could cost over $150 a barrel if conflict in the Middle East intensifies, according to the World Bank's recent warning. Brent crude (which we'll use as the benchmark through this feature) last hit those sorts of elevated levels in the summer of 2008, when per barrel prices went close to $147. That was just before irresponsible bank lending blew a massive hole in the global economy, trigg

Shares in Bakkavor (BAKK) are trading 20% lower than their February year-to-date high, with strike action being the latest issue to worry investors.Production staff in its London pizza factory have voted to down tools in a dispute over pay. This could affect supplies for big name clients including Sainsbury's (SBRY), Tesco (TSCO) and Waitrose.Bakkavor was hit by a slowdown last year in the UK fres

Construction equipment rental specialist Ashtead (AHT) has setitself quite a high bar when it comes to its first-quarter earnings report on 5 September.The firm has beaten revenue forecasts in nine out of the last 10 quarters. Moreover, the comparison with the same quarter last year is a tough one as rental revenue was up 26% to just over $2 billion and adjusted pre-tax profit was up 29% to $555 m

AdmiralInvestors are hoping the insurer doesn't deliver the scale of bad news served up by Direct LineOver the past year, a nasty profit warning by Direct Line (DLG), the cancellation of its dividend and suspension of a share buyback programme have put the shivers into anyone holding shares in the general insurance sector. The company was hit by a rise in claims and an increase in costs associated

When supermarket giant Tesco (TSCO) posted its first quarter trading update, chief executive Ken Murphy made a reference to 'changing customer behaviour as a result of the inflationary environment'.His comment reverberated through the market, unsettling investors who had come to rely on the grocery sector as dull but dependable - after all, whatever else is happening in the world, we all must eat.

After more than a decade of domination for growth stocks, global markets are finally seeing a shift into value.This in turn has benefited funds pursuing a value investing style. Growth performed relatively well through the initial course of the pandemic with technology stocks leading the way, but the key catalyst for the long-awaited rotation into value was 'Pfizer Monday' on 9 November last year.

London's FTSE 100 finished Tuesday's session down 2% at 6,859.87 as stronger sterling and resurgent concerns about the course of the global Covid-19 pandemic weighed on investor sentiment, while tobacco stocks remained weak amid reports of US regulatory pressure. On Wall Street the S&P 500 was down 0.9% at 4,128.07 by 4.30pm UK time.TOBACCO STOCKS TUMBLEShares in British American Tobacco (BATS) an

UK stocks continued to slide on Tuesday following some mixed company updates and modest profit-taking after the big gains of last week, with weakness also reflecting the pound's continued rise on UK recovery hopes and share price declines for London's two tobacco firms.By midday, the FTSE 100 was down 1.1% at 6,923.5 points while the FTSE 250 was off 0.7% at 22,339.TOBACCO STOCKS TUMBLEShares in B

The FTSE 100 dipped back below 7,000 in early trading on Tuesday following some mixed company updates and modest profit taking after the big gains of last week.The UK's benchmark index fell 0.2% to 6,986.18, taking its cue from Wall Street where stocks also fell overnight, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropping 1% and even the Dow Jones falling 0.3% as banks, energy firms and consumer-facing companie

The news on 9 November of successful early trials of a coronavirus vaccine sent global markets soaring with the most beaten-down sectors like travel, leisure and hospitality, energy and banks enjoying their best daily or weekly performance in years. This has been followed by further positive news on other vaccines in development.It remains the case, however, that many of the top-performing stocks

Shares in Bakkavor (BAKK) softened 2.1% to 77.15p on Friday after the supermarket pizzas-to-salads supplier warned the outlook for the second half of the year was fraught with 'significant' uncertainty.This caution overshadowed a fairly positive trading update from the fresh prepared food play, in which it assured investors sales volumes have stabilised and are 'showing early signs of recovery in

Stocks around the world took something of a pause today after a heavy sell-off yesterday, though the FTSE remains volatile, with markets concerned over a second wave of coronavirus infections.US markets all closed over 5% lower last night, with the Dow Jones tumbling 6.9%, as pockets of the country battle with a rapidly rising number of cases again, something which appears to be happening in some

Yesterday saw the latest FTSE Russell quarterly index review, resulting in significant changes to the composition of both the FTSE 100 large-cap index and the FTSE 250 mid-cap index.Four stocks left the FTSE 100 - cruise ship operator Carnival (CCL), utility group Centrica (CNA), low-cost airline EasyJet (EZJ) and aerospace firm Meggitt (MGGT).Travel related stocks bore the brunt of the sell-off i

FTSE bounced on Thursday, up 0.6% at 5,460 points, driven by energy stocks after China increased US Crude Oil purchases, snapping up cargoes at the widest discounts ever as sellers seek to offload supplies in Asia.Brent Crude jumped 9% to $25.3 lifting UK oil stocks with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) up by 7% to £14.5 and BP (BP.) 6% higher at 353p. Premier Oil (PMO) was 11% higher at 17.5p and Tullow

The FTSE 100 confounded expectations by opening lower this morning, despite the US and China signing off on the first phase of their trade deal.US stocks rallied last night following the signing with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones hitting all-time highs, but UK stocks evidently haven't followed suit.Perhaps the market is more concerned about what's not in the trade deal rather than what is, with agreem

UK stocks gained for the eleventh day running on Friday after US shares hit record highs overnight. The Nasdaq index topped the 9,000 level for the first time yesterday helped by Amazon.com which reported 'record-breaking' sales for the holiday season.The FTSE 100 index of leading shares added 28 points or 0.4% to 7,660 led by miners Antofagasta (ANTO) up 1.4% to 943p, Glencore (GLEN) up 1.9% to 2

Pizzas, salads and hummus supplier Bakkavor (BAKK) is on the back foot again on Friday.Its negative share price momentum is continuing - the shares are off another 4.8% to 122.6p - as investors digest a bearish assessment on the fresh prepared food leader from Berenberg.In a note headed 'Not as tasty as they look', the investment bank downgrades Bakkavor from a 'hold' to a 'sell' and pares its pri

London's FTSE 100 trades 59 points lower at 7,048 on Thursday as markets around the world take a step back amid disappointment over Donald Trump's failure to reach a deal with North Korea and weak manufacturing data from China.The blue chip benchmark is also hit by several large companies trading without the rights to the latest dividend including AstraZeneca (AZN), off 2.2% at £61.46 and Micro F

European and Asian markets catch a ride on the same tailwind which lifted US stocks last night, namely hopes that the US could ease tariffs on China. That would be positive for commodity producers, which is why miners and oil stocks are among the biggest risers on the UK market on Friday, the FTSE 100 firming 53 points to trade at 6,888.2.In corporate news, budget airline Ryanair (RYA) loses altit

Having joined the stock market at 180p in November 2017, shares in food group Bakkavor (BAKK) have since drifted down to 164p.One possible explanation is a negative read-across from quoted peer Greencore (GNC) which has had mixed fortunes with its UK and US expansion.Also weighing on the share price are tough market conditions, concerns about input cost volatility and the supply chain post Brexit,