London equities finished in the green on Monday, outpacing its European peers, ahead of the Federal Reserve?s eagerly awaited interest rate decision on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 7.20 points, 0.1%, at 8,147.03. The FTSE 250 ended up 260.63 points, 1.3%, at 20,084.79, and the AIM All-Share closed up 8.05 points, 1.1%, at 763.33.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 814.08, the Cboe UK 250 cl

London?s FTSE 100 achieved a record close on Monday, as sabre-rattling in the Middle East began to die down, while the pound struggled on renewed hope that the Bank of England is taming UK inflation.Among individual shares, there was some M&A impetus for Tyman and Hipgnosis Songs Fund. A bullish broker note lifted some UK high street and grocer stalwarts, though model train maker Hornby went off t

Investors in London showed confidence on Monday, as Ocado boosted the FTSE 100 despite shareholder pressure to move its listing to the US, while takeover talks drove Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Tyman in the FTSE 250.Amongst individual stocks, Ocado boosted the FTSE 100 on pressure to move to the US. The FTSE 250 got a boost from takeover talks for both Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Tyman.The FTSE 100 inde

Stock prices in London improved at the open on Monday, with FTSE 250 stocks Hipgnosis and Tyman rising on news of prospective takeovers for both firms, while investors more widely shook off nerves ahead of a key US inflation reading later this week.The FTSE 100 index opened up 96.75 points, 1.2%, at 7,992.60. The FTSE 250 was up 152.32 points, 0.8%, at 19,543.62, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.13

UK stocks look cheap on so many different valuation metrics, not just one or two, suggesting a robust, genuine investment opportunity is available to long-term investors. So why does nobody seem convinced?This article explores the scepticism surrounding the UK?s market?s attractive valuation and examines the underlying evidence to support it. Shares concludes UK stocks really are a compelling inve

Weak first-half sales priced inProfit seen ?significantly? higher New finance director appointedShares in ASOS (ASC) rallied 10% to 366.2p in early dealings after the online fast-fashion retailer maintained its full-year 2024 guidance and flagged progress in shifting its mountain of excess stock as chief executive Jose Calamonte?s turnaround plan gains traction.Nevertheless, the retailer?s transit

Shares down 59% over the past yearCEO Kenny Wilson to step downChallenging performance in the USShares in Dr. Martens (DOCS) fell 31% at one point to 66p in morning trading - a new 52-week low - as the iconic British footwear brand issued a profit warning.The Camden Town-headquartered company said US wholesale revenue ?is anticipated to be double-digit down year-on-year,? adding ?the decline in wh

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics could revolutionize the industrial sector, leading to a significant increase in the use of automation. Automation is expected to transform production lines, likely elevating human workers to manage robots, boosting overall productivity and output. Capital investments spurred by government policies and corpor

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE The mining sector is not homogenous. On the BlackRock World Mining Trust, we believe this year its fortunes may be particularly disparate, as a range of factors weigh on individual commodities and regions. As we see it, there are three key factors that will determine the performance of mining companies for the remainder of 2024: geopolitics, global growth and infras

US-listed large-caps shone last year with shares in mega-caps, and the ?Magnificent Seven? in particular, surging higher. However, this outperformance only widened the valuation gap between US large and small-caps and left shares in the latter cohort languishing at the low end of historical valuations.Over one and five years, the Russell 2000 index of US small-cap stocks is up 14.6% and 30.5% at t

Multi-billion dollar subsidised investment agreed in ArizonaNew plant will make world?s most advanced AI chipsNvidia believed to be TSMC?s biggest customerShares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (2330:TPE) surged to a record high on 9 April 2024 after the world?s largest contract chipmaker unveiled plans for a new chip fabrication plant in the US state of Arizona as part of the Biden

Siemens confirms it will not make offerShares fall 4% and remain 35% below highsRenishaw remains a takeover targetWith so many UK firms being picked-off by foreign buyers and private equity, it is refreshing to see German industrial giant Siemens (SIE:ETR) walk away from making an offer for engineering group Renishaw (RSW).That said, investors were not best pleased with the shares falling 4% to £

International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) 162pMarket cap: £7.98 billionUnloved by investors during the pandemic British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) has experienced a revival of fortunes due to strong consumer demand and holidaymakers paying higher ticket prices. Despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis ? people are still prioritising holidays.In a recent full year tra

The world of fantasy is clearly having a moment. The rise of ?romantasy? authors like Sarah J Maas, who has been a big part of UK publishing outfit Bloomsbury?s (BMY) recent success, have taken the genre out of its previous male-dominated realm to a whole new audience.Bloomsbury?s surging sales and the ongoing phenomenon that is Games Workshop (GAW) are two examples on the UK market which show the

It has been a busy time for shareholders in Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (SMT), but it has been a fruitful time too with the shares hitting new 12-month highs in March.First, the board announced it would buy back at least £1 billion worth of shares in order to help narrow the discount to NAV (net asset value).Then, Delaware-based Elliott Advisors revealed it had taken a 5% stake in the trus

Stock prices in London closed slightly higher on Wednesday, as investors continue to tread water ahead of a key US inflation reading on Friday.Amongst individual stocks, DS Smith rose on the back of takeover talks with International Paper. Diploma climbed, as shareholders were pleased with its £236 million acquisition.The FTSE 100 index closed up 1.02 points at 7,931.98. The FTSE 250 ended up 33.

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Against a backdrop of higher valuations, covered call option strategies can provide opportunities to hedge positions and generate current income.Covered Call BasicsCovered call strategies involve purchasing equities and selling a corresponding call option on those assets. A call option gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy a security at a pre-de

Oil prices recently hit a four-month high with Brent crude topping $86 per barrel after US inventories came in lower than expected and amid reports of attacks on Russian facilities.Yet the FTSE 350 Oil & Gas Producers sector is pretty much flat, like the wider UK market. In the US, energy stocks are underperforming the S&P 500 with a 7.4% gain against 9.4% for the wider market.Writing in mid-March

Ice cream demerger plannedMajor productivity programme launchedFocus on ?unmissably superior? brandsShares in Unilever (ULVR) topped the FTSE 100 leader board on Tuesday, gaining 3.7% to £39.51 after the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) goliath announced plans to demerge its ice cream division under a drive to ?maximise? shareholder returns.Less than a year into his tenure, chief executive Hein

Recent sales better than expectedFull year PBT to be ?at least? £115 millionGreek disposal on trackElectricals retailer Currys (CURY) has upgraded its full year profit forecast for the second time in three months following the end of takeover interest from Elliott Advisors and JD.com (JD:NASDAQ), news that sparked a 4% share price rally to 59p.In an unscheduled update, the washing machines, mobil