Stock prices in London rose on Thursday morning, in anticipation of crucial US inflation data, as festive updates from UK grocery companies received a mixed reception.The FTSE 100 index opened up 38.25 points, 0.5%, at 7,690.01. The FTSE 250 was up 81.38 points, 0.4%, at 19,361.46, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.44 points, 0.2%, at 751.15.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at 768.44, the Cboe UK 250 was

UK stocks consolidated their gains on Monday after comments from Bank of England members over the weekend hinting at an early rise in interest rates to head off persistently high inflation.US markets were weaker on Friday after a weak jobs report, but the mood was brighter in Asia where China, Hong Kong and Japan all posted solid gains of between 1% and 2%.After climbing steadily throughout the se

UK stocks edged higher again on Monday despite comments from Bank of England members over the weekend hinting at an early rise in interest rates to head off persistently high inflation and a subsequent rally in sterling.US markets were weaker on Friday after a weak jobs report, but the mood was brighter in Asia where China, Hong Kong and Japan all posted solid gains of between 1% and 2%.At midday

Monday morning trading on the UK equity market was distinctly subdued with the FTSE 100 index edging 0.2% higher to 7112.17, whilst the FTSE 250 drifted -0.2% lower to 22,474.27.There were fears UK investors could be rattled by comments over the weekend from external MPC member Michael Saunders who argued the rapid rise in energy markets coupled with labor shortages were fueling inflationary press

Investors must be exasperated as tiny UK technology business CyanConnode (CYAN:AIM) once again trawls round the City with its cap in hand.It has today confirmed plans to raise £5.6m of fresh funding, with more than 10m new shares needed to be issued, priced at an 18.5% discount to yesterday's 12.25p close to lure investors in.Hence today's 15% slump in the share price to 10.4p.This is not really

UK and international online supermarket Ocado (OCDO) rallies to the top of the FTSE 100 leader board in early trade on an otherwise fairly quiet Tuesday for corporate hews.Shares in the company rise close on 4% to 947.6p after Ocado reported retail sales growth of 11.5% for the 13 weeks to 2 September. The company also said that its online grocery business received on average 283,000 orders per we

The FTSE 100 opens in positive territory, up 9.45 points to 7,679.22. The UK's leading index has been buoyed by statements from the US Federal Reserve and better than expected Chinese service sector data.Embattled department store operator Debenhams (DEB) crashes 23.9% to 27.08p after revealing its like-for-like sales fell in the 17 weeks to 30 December. In its Christmas trading update, the retail

Smart metering software minnow CyanConnode (CYAN:AIM) may have found a new route to markets in India. The company has struck a $150,000 deal with Indian integrator Innologix, which supplies electronic kit and software that helps connect electricity grid to users. Integrators could be a new channel beyond existing utility company agreements.

Donald Trump's surprise victory in the hotly contested US presidential election has sent shockwaves through many industries including the energy sector.Fears have been sparked that clean, green fuels - such as solar, wind, hydro, fuel cells - are for the chop, with the threat that the current administration's commitment to policies on climate change facing reverse.Not necessarily so. There are goo

Further delays to the Government-backed programme to roll out millions of smart meters across the UK is unlikely to affect technology specialist Cyan (CYAN:AIM).The UK strategy should see every home and business offered an energy smart meter by the end of 2020, but an IT project to provide the vital communications link between smart meters and energy suppliers won't now be ready until the autumn.

Cambridge-based Cyan (CYAN:AIM) is an AIM-quoted Internet of Things (IoT) hopeful looking to play the theme via smart metering solutions. Today it has unveiled ambitious plans to buy Swedish peer Connode in a not insignificant £6.8 million deal, with a £12.6 cash call to boot. Here are some initial thoughts...1) The deal is being funded by a complex financing arrangement that includes a £10.1 m

London shares make modest gains in early trade on Tuesday as traders sniff out value buys after yesterday's sell-off. It remains unclear whether the positive bias will continue through to the close. Wall Street fell overnight, as did Japan.The benchmark FTSE 100 index rises around 25 points, or 0.45%, to 5,714,although midcaps continue to struggle, the FTSE midcap 250 index down 43 points at 15,45

UK shares extend gains made on Tuesday in early deals Wednesday, with midcaps rallying to heights not seen since August, and blue-chips risers led by a string of pharma stocks. Wall Street was up overnight, while Asia was mixed, but most of the main European markets follow Lodon's lead higher.The FTSE 100 index rises around 20 points, or 0.3%, higher to 6,416, while the FTSE 250 index makes a 64 p

Have you registered to attend The Stock Market Show on Saturday 12 September yet? If not, make sure you visit www.thestockmarketshow.com and click the 'Register Now' tab to secure your free ticket to the Shares-run event at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London.One of the speakers is Robert Barnes, chief executive officer of Turquoise, a trading platform majority owned by London Stock Ex

It is always interesting to spot a once-sleepy company that gets new leadership who is able to instigate major changes and breath some life into the business. This is exactly what happened with packaging supplier Essentra (ESNT) whose share price has more than trebled since CEO Colin Day took charge in 2011. In the mining sector, there are now signs that Vast Resources (VAST:AIM) could be headed i

UK stocks make solid gains in early deals Thursday, matching the strong progress of Wall Street overnight after the Federal Reserve calmed nerves over monetary policy tightening. The benchmark FTSE 100 index is trading roughly 50 points higher, or 0.7%, at 6,389, its third straight trading session of gains, easing investors concerns after the recent sell-off on falling oil prices and other macro w

Academic publisher Pearson (PSON) rises 3.5% to £11.39 on better-than-expected interims. Restructuring benefits are beginning to flow through and the North American operations are showing encouraging underlying growth.Part-nationalised lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) jumps 12.4% to 369.8p on pre-tax profits doubling to £2.6 billion in the first half of the year. Shares examines the results i

Discount retailer Poundland (PLND) - a running Shares Play of the Week - jumps 4.4% to 343.1p as investors like full-year results. Trading has been very good in the first three months of its new financial year with 18% rise in sales. Its trial store in Spain has launched this week.Drug-maker Shire (SHP) improves 1% to £45.93 on newspaper gossip suggests would-be suitor AbbVie (ABBV:NDQ) is courti

Richard Wyckoff's approach focuses on how the technical picture unfolds, bar by bar. This explains his emphasis upon reading what was then chattering ticker tape and is now the computer screen to get a real glimpse into the inner working of the market.He constantly looked for price break outs that followed a period of range trading and came amid raised dealing volumes, as he felt this pattern hera

Investors looking for gold mining equity ideas may want to consider Australia-quoted Orbis Gold (OBS:ASX). The Burkina Faso-focused small cap has interesting exploration assets and RFC Ambrian reckons there is potential for the counter to more than double.The A$66 million cap announced (29 Jan) a new gold target in its Bantou prospect, adding to an already-rich list of exploration interests. A la