- Mixers minnow partners with major China distributor- Supercharges focus on premium Chinese drinks market- Margins holding up well despite inflationary pressuresShares in East Imperial (EISB) fizzed 28% higher to 4.1p after the ultra-premium mixers minnow signed a long-term distribution deal with Wen Hua Hang Wine Spirits Company, one of China's biggest distributors.This stirred interest in East

The soft drinks sector has long been a fruitful place to make money. Some of the best-known brands are available to investors via shares in UK and overseas-listed companies.Once again, the soft drinks market is proving its resilience in volatile times, though the companies face headwinds in the form of regulation, an uncertain consumer spending outlook and the threat from private-label products, w

UK shares finished higher on Friday with the FTSE 100 index of leading shares closing 0.3% higher at 7,304, taking the gain over the last month to 4.3% and closing in on a new two year high.US markets made new all-time highs across the board with the economically sensitive Russell 2000 index particularly strong, rising 1.4% reflecting renewed confidence in the strength of the economy after positiv

UK and European stocks continued their ascent on Friday as investors digested the more dovish tones seen from both the US Fed and the Bank of England.All eyes will be on the monthly US non-farm payrolls data due out over lunchtime with investors looking for an acceleration of job hires in October. Meanwhile positive US earnings reports gave a boost to pre-market futures.Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer

London's FTSE traded 0.43% higher at 7,311.38 points early on Friday, as banks rebounded after yesterday's falls, triggered by the Bank of England's surprise decision to leave rates on hold, while telecoms titan BT (BT.A) rose again after reinstating the dividend yesterday.Following the central bank led excitement of the past few days, investors' attentions turned to the keenly-watched US jobs fig

London's FTSE 100 finished Monday's session 0.56% higher at 7,068.43 points as a risk appetite rebound took oil prices higher and drove demand for index heavyweights Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and BP (BP.), shares in both improving by more than 2% to £14.57 and 302.3p respectively.Amid the FTSE 250 ranks, low-cost airline EasyJet (EZJ) fell 14% to 586.4p on a UBS downgrade, having announced a £1.2

Reports that the Post Office has inked a deal to deliver for Amazon helped push Royal Mail (RMG) to the top of the FTSE 100 leaderboard on Monday.By midday, the blue chip benchmark was up 0.8% at 7,086.07 points.Amid the FTSE 250 ranks, low-cost airline EasyJet (EZJ) fell 14% to 587p on a UBS downgrade, having announced a £1.2 billion rights issue last week.MARKET NEWSShares in specialist science

Shares in ultra-premium mixers play East Imperial (EISB) fizzed 13.2% higher to 13.75p on Friday after the posh tonic water, ginger beer and grapefruit soda company announced a series of 'significant' new supply agreements across Australia and New Zealand.Admittedly much smaller with a modest market cap of around £36 million, stockmarket newcomer East Imperial is rapidly building its business wit

A positive US jobs report provided markets and banking stocks with a boost, driving the S&P 500 to a record high across the pond.However, London's FTSE 100 was subdued on Friday, despite gains for NatWest (NWG), Lloyds (LLOY), Barclays (BARC) and HSBC (HSBA).The blue chip benchmark finished the session broadly flat at 7,122.95 points, which was enough to ensure its best weekly performance since Ju

Equity markets were muted on Friday after racking up solid gains in the earlier part of the week, with investors awaiting the all-important US monthly non-farm payroll report due out this afternoon.Last night, US markets hit new highs on growing optimism after a fall in weekly unemployment claims and a record high reading on the services PMI as spending shifted from goods to services.Investment ba