The FTSE 100 ended higher in London, with hope of UK interest rate cuts in the summer picking up, while US stocks were largely higher despite an inflation caution from the Federal Reserve chair.Investors also had a trade war worries to contend with, as the US slapped tariffs on billions worth of Chinese imports, including in the electric vehicle and chip spaces.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.14 points

Stocks in London were largely flat at midday on Tuesday, on the back of boosts at Burberry and Vodafone, as hopes for a summer interest rate cut were bolstered by supportive comments from the Bank of England?s top economist.The FTSE 100 index was up 5.85 points, 0.1%, at 8,420.89. The FTSE 250 was up 14.46 points, 0.1%, at 20,574.80, and the AIM All-Share was little changed at 786.60.The Cboe UK 1

Like-for-like sales up 7.3%Cash generation cuts net debtSales growth continues in 2HPubs group Marston?s (MARS) revealed continued outperformance of the wider market with like-for-like sales up 7.3% in the first half and underlying pub operating profit 22% higher at £52.7 million.The shares have performed strongly over the last week ahead of the results, inviting some profit taking today with a f

Future dividend ?rebased? from 9 euro cents to 4.5 euro centsWriting has been on the wall for monthsShare price has spent more than a decade in declineNew broom management get one chance to sweep away previous aspirations and problems and reset market expectations. Chief executive Margherita Della Valle, appointed to the top Job at Vodafone (VOD) just over a year ago, has now laid out the script o

Value market challengingHigh street market competitive for B2B salesOverheads increased by £1.3 millionShares in On The Beach (OTB) fell as much as 9% to 151p in morning trading as the online package holiday provider?s first-half results showed it is feeling the pressure from the cost-of-living crisis and competition on the UK High Street.It was not all ?doom and gloom? however, as the beach holi

Like-for-like sales in positive territoryThird consecutive upgrade in 2024Shares trading above Elliott?s top bidRebuffing a takeover bid can heap pressure aplenty on a board, so the fact electricals retailer Currys (CURY) has upgraded profit guidance in the wake of batting off foreign interest is helpful to management?s credibility.Shares in the washing machines-to-smartphones seller sparked up 9.

Stocks in London started off steady on Tuesday, with Vodafone leading the FTSE 100 on the back of better-than-expected annual results, as new data showed a slight increase in the UK unemployment rate.The FTSE 100 index opened up 9.70 points, 0.1%, at 8,425.78. The FTSE 250 was up 20.22 points, 0.1%, at 20,580.56, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.15 points, 0.2%, at 785.11.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.

Breedon purchase related to non-exec chairmanSofcat sale related to current chief executiveLight Science Technologies director buys sharesA PCA or person closely associated to Amit Bhatia, non-executive chair of construction materials giant Breedon (BREE:AIM), bought 1.1 million shares at 383p for a total value of £4,210,250 on 10 May.The purchase was made through Abicad Holding Limited, similar

London stocks were mixed at midday on Monday, ahead of Wednesday?s US consumer price reading, though analysts believe potential London floats by Shein and Raspberry Pi could be a game-changer for UK-listed equities.The FTSE 100 index was up 7.05 points, 0.1%, at 8,440.61. The FTSE 250 was down 33.65 points, 0.2%, at 20,611.59, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.45 points, 0.1%, at 789.42.The Cboe UK

Stocks in London kicked off at a more tepid level on Monday following a week of all-time highs, balanced by success at Diploma and a downturn at BAE Systems, as investors await Wednesday?s US inflation data.The FTSE 100 index opened up 9.34 points, 0.1%, at 8,441.86. The FTSE 250 was up 14.63 points, 0.1%, at 20,660.01, and the AIM All-Share was up 4.37 points, 0.1%, at 4,590.66.The Cboe UK 100 wa

London?s FTSE 100 and its blue-chip peers in Paris and Frankfurt hit record highs on Friday, riding a wave of interest rate optimism, though it was a slightly more cautious start in New York, where stocks traded mixed.The FTSE 100 index closed up 52.41 points, 0.6%, at 8,433.76, after hitting a record high 8,455.77 earlier. The FTSE 250 ended up 114.08 points, 0.6%, at 20,645.38, and the AIM All-S

Customer numbers growingFull-year guidance confirmedShares fall on ad revenue forecastInvestors in property portal Rightmove (RMV) must be getting used to the market taking a glass-half-empty view of the business, with today?s trading update a prime example.Despite positive news on users and advertisers, the shares have been knocked to the bottom of the FTSE 100 performance table with a loss of 32

Investors are feeling more chipper as the week comes towards its close after latest economic data left US markets largely happy with the macro outlook.Crashing recession avoided, interest rate cuts coming - it might not be quite the Goldilocks outcome hoped for but good enough. Thursday?s S&P 500 move higher left the crucial US index to close above the 5,200 level for the first time in a month and

Stocks in London started strong on Friday following the Bank of England?s dovish hold on interest rates on Thursday, as new data showed UK gross domestic product reached a stronger-than-expected level in March.The FTSE 100 index opened up 43.05 points, 0.5%, at 8,424.40. The FTSE 250 was up 68.41 points, 0.3%, at 20,599.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.06 points, 0.3%, at 785.76.The Cboe UK 100

Stock prices in London surged on Thursday afternoon, shaking off a muted morning, as a dovish tilt to the Bank of England?s latest rate hold supported equities.Threadneedle Street maintained bank rate at a 16-year high of 5.25% for the sixth meeting in-a-row. However, two members of its Monetary Policy Committee backed a 25 basis point cut. Seven, Governor Andrew Bailey included, supported the hol

Q1 revenue and profit ahead of expectationsBut Q2 outlook falls shortGrowth to pick up ahead of busy summerGlobal vacation booking platform Airbnb (ABNB:NASDAQ) saw its shares drop 8% in the pre-market despite revealing its most profitable quarter ever with net income more than doubling to $264 million, comfortably ahead of analysts? estimates of $152 million.Good news was tempered by a weak outlo

?Milestone? deal in luxury branded jewellery strategyRoberto Coin is sixth biggest jewellery brand in USEarnings and margin-enhancing acquisitionWatches of Switzerland (WOSG) has splashed out $130 million (£104 million) to buy Italian handcrafted jewellery business Roberto Coin Inc in a deal that skews the FTSE 250 firm?s sales mix a bit more towards the lucrative branded jewellery market.Shares

Group revenue down 7%Studios revenue down 16%Shares up 20% this yearShares in ITV (ITV) gained nearly 2% in morning trading despite the free-to-air broadcaster reporting a 7% fall in total revenue to £887 million for the three months to 31 March 2024.A ?sore point? for the free-to-air broadcaster came from ITV Studios which reported a 16% fall in total revenue to £382 million in the first quarte

The last couple of years have seen outsized returns for stocks, especially those in the US, but that doesn?t mean now is a bad time to invest. The truth is there is never a bad time to invest as long as you are looking to stay invested for the long term.From its inception in 1984 to 2022, the FTSE 100 index has gained around 5.5% per year in price terms and 7.5% per year in terms of total return,