Investor sentiment improved in London on Thursday afternoon, following words from the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell which helped soothe market concern over the US interest rate trajectory.While Powell?s remarked did not make the timing of interest rate cuts any clearer, he did affirm they will happen if the US economy continues to move as expected.The FTSE 100 index added 32.56 points, 0.4%,

This column signed off last week by bemoaning telecoms testing specialist Spirent Communication?s (SPT) surrender to a £1 billion from US rival Viavi.As we observed, the 61% premium was not anywhere near as generous as it looked when you consider the takeout price of 172.5p was 100p less than the shares were trading for in early 2023. In the same spirit it is only right to welcome Currys? (CURY)

Car parts, bikes and tyres seller Halfords (HFD) has let investors down again. The retailer?s latest profit warning (28 February) pinned on weakening demand for bicycles as well as wet weather, which has deterred customers from visiting its stores and purchasing winter and car cleaning products in the fourth quarter.Halfords now expects to deliver pre-tax profit in the £35 million to £40 million

Demand weakened further in Q4Profit guidance lowered by 25%Flat profits expected next yearCar parts-to-bicycles purveyor Halfords (HFD) has cut its current-year profit guidance by 25% and sees flat profits next year at best, crushingly disappointing news that sent shares in the Worcestershire-based retailer skidding 26% lower to 148p.Halfords pinned the blame for the material earnings downgrade on

Sales down 4% in December and JanuaryFashion retailer unveils new CEONew broom Erver has work cut outShares in H&M (HM-B:STO) cheapened 9% to SEK153.5 (£1/SEK13.2) in Stockholm after the Swedish fashion retailer disappointed the market with news of a 4% sales slide for December and January that demonstrated there is still work to be done to turn the business round.In order to shake things up, H&M

As we approach the end of the year it is an opportune moment to shine a light on some of this year's least-loved stocks.Rather than look at the stocks which have lost the most, we have collected together those trading at or near their lows for the year along with those with the fewest friends in the analyst community and those which the hedge fund community thinks are outright shorts.If we first t

We are now a little more than a fortnight away from Christmas Day with TV adverts pushing festive products, high streets adorned with Christmas decorations and shops flush with discount offers.The so-called 'Golden Quarter' including Black Friday is the most hotly contested period of the year amongst retailers and those that suffer disappointing sales or resort to overly-promotional strategies typ

Weaker-than-expected Q3 salesUS consumer backdrop deterioratesDr. Martens pulls FY25 guidanceInvestors put the boot into Dr. Martens (DOCS) after the iconic footwear brand downgraded its year-to-March 2024 EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) guidance once again and withdrew previous guidance for high single digit sales growth in full year 2025.The shares slumped m

Revenue guidance cut amid subdued demandBut Gear4music 'well prepared' for ChristmasTargeting return to 'stronger profitable growth'Online musical instruments retailer Gear4music (G4M:AIM) remains 'confident' in the enduring consumer demand for its products and is targeting a return to 'stronger profitable growth' after pulling levers to protect margins and cut costs.However, shares in the web-bas

US primary listing shift on trackFanDuel turned a profit in first halfBut Australia revenue dip disappoints investorsPaddy Power-to-Betfair brands owner Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) posted in-line first half results and said its American FanDuel business has reached an inflection point by generating a profit.However, the shares cheapened 5.7% to £141 after the betting and gaming behemoth bemoaned

The FTSE 100 closed lower on Friday, despite a more positive mood this week, with investors believing the end of the Federal Reserve's hiking cycle is in sight.Focus was also on major US banks, with figures from JPMorgan and Wells Fargo impressing, though Citigroup suffered lower revenue.The FTSE 100 index closed down 5.64 points, 0.1%, at 7,434.57. The FTSE 250 ended down 64.90 points, 0.4%, at 1

Final dividend axed to protect balance sheetNordics division feeling pinchBaldock bemoans 'unforgiving competition'Investors hoping for a rally at unloved electricals retailer Currys (CURY) were left severely disappointed today as a cocktail of negatives in the full year results sent the shares plunging 13% to 46.6p.Not only did the white goods-to-electronics seller report a drop in sales and prof

- Lack of surprises and upgrades disappoints- Shares drift after update- Metro Bank and OSB Group rallyAfter solid gains for Barclays (BARC) and HSBC (HSBA) and a loss for shares in NatWest Group (NWG), investors were eyeing the first-quarter update from the UK's largest lender Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) to complete the picture.In the event, the results were mostly as expected and without an upgr

Stocks in London were in the green at the close on Thursday, after a sharp decline on Wednesday, buoyed by Credit Suisse receiving a lifeline from the Swiss central bank.'One minute the market is worried about a banking crisis, the next minute it is more relaxed. This hot/cold mentality creates an odd atmosphere and today we have another one of those days where investors are seemingly less worried

FevertreeCan the posh mixers maker regain some fizz when it posts 2022 results?After enjoying years of fizzing earnings upgrades and share price gains off the back of its 2014 stock market listing, posh mixers maker Fevertree (FEVR:AIM) has gone flat in recent times.In January the company downgraded 2023 guidance thanks to rising costs - this negative news coming off the back of three profit warni

- Wetherspoons yet to fully recover from Covid- Rail strikes and bad weather crimped recent sales- Chairman Tim Martin remains 'cautiously optimistic'Shares in iconic pubs chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW) weakened 2.3% to 468p despite the hard-pressed company serving up the news first half like-for-like sales were strongly ahead of last year's Omicron-marred festive period.Unfortunately, Wetherspoon's s

Stocks were climbing into the week's key risk event, the US consumer price index reading for December, due at 1330 GMT on Thursday.London shares were responding to a mostly positive set of Christmas trading updates from UK retailers.While equities climbed, the dollar struggled. Thursday's price action brings with it the threat of a stock and foreign exchange market correction if the US inflation p

- November sales fall short of estimates- Oppenheimer removes Costco from top pick list- Retailer offers a strong proposition for cash-strapped shoppersShares in Costco Wholesale (COST:NASDAQ) plunged 6.6% to $503.9 on Wall Street overnight after the Washington-headquartered retailer reported weaker than expected sales for November which suggest shoppers are feeling the pinch heading into the fest

The big turning point for US stocks over the past week came with the comments of US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on 30 November.Although he warned the fight against inflation was not over and rates would remain higher for longer, he also signalled the pace of rate hikes would slow at its upcoming meeting on 14 December. This stoked gains for US stocks.Wall Street largely consolidated those

- Cash-strapped Joules warns of potential CVA- Sales hit by mild weather- High promotions hurting marginsEmbattled clothing, footwear and homeware brand Joules (JOUL:AIM) is in talks with investors including founder Tom Joule over a much-needed cash injection as sales at the self-styled 'premium British lifestyle group' continue to disappoint despite the group highlighting 'good progress' with its