Investors in London were not deterred by continuing concerns of higher for longer US interest rates, as stocks were up heading into the afternoon.The FTSE 100 index was 14.38 points higher, 0.2%, at 7,862.37. The FTSE 250 was up 63.75 points, 0.3%, at 19,403.89. The AIM All-Share was up 0.59 of a point, 0.1%, at 743.71.The Cboe UK 100 was a touch higher at 785.28, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.1% at 16

If you had £10,000 to invest in a single fund, which would you choose ? one of the most popular with retail investors for more than a decade, or a relative new kid on the block with a similar asset allocation approach?In a manner of speaking, it is what billionaire City grandee Michael Spencer challenged formidable money man and Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7) founder Terry Smith at the end of 2023, t

The FTSE 100 was lower on Monday at midday as the oil price declined despite high tensions between Iran and Israel, while the FTSE 250 was a tad higher.The FTSE 100 index was down 33.43 points, 0.4%, at 7,962.15. The FTSE 250 was up 12.21 points, 0.1%, at 19,733.45, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.01 points, 0.5%, at 751.90.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 795.86, the Cboe UK 250 was marginally d

London?s FTSE 100, the outperformer on Friday as investors fretted over a possible escalation in the Middle East, was the laggard on Monday in the wake of Iran?s strikes on Israel over the weekend, as the blue-chip index?s oil majors tracked crude prices lower.Large-cap benchmarks in Frankfurt and Paris, which fell on Friday, were on the up on Monday. Stocks in New York tumbled at the end of last

At the centre of the current boom in generative AI (artificial intelligence) is chip maker Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ).It designs some of the fastest computer chips in the world which are needed to run data hungry LLMs (large language models) capable of understanding natural language.Readers may be familiar with Nvidia?s historical link to the gaming industry, but less familiar with the US giant?s connec

CFP SDL Free Spirit (BYYQC27) 160.7pAssets: £66.9 millionInvestors seeking to position portfolios for a re-rating of UK small and mid cap companies and a return to favour for the quality growth style should buy the CFP SDL Free Spirit (BYYQC27) fund. Admittedly, the sister vehicle to Sanford DeLand?s bigger CFP SDL Buffettology (BF0LDZ3) fund lags the IA UK All Companies sector over one and three

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

Boohoo, ASOS, George didn?t break lawRelief as legal action avoidedFashion trio pledge to use ?accurate and clear? claimsShares in Boohoo (BOO:AIM) ticked up 1.8% to 36p in early dealings on Wednesday after the CMA (Competition & Markets Authority) concluded the online fast fashion retailer, and rivals ASOS (ASC) and George at Asda, hadn?t breached consumer protection law with their green claims.I

Stocks in London extended gains at midday as the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged, with no officials now deeming a rate rise necessary.Sterling was quoted at $1.2744 shortly after midday on Thursday, higher than $1.2717 at the London equities close on Wednesday. Before the decision, the pound was trading at $1.2753.The FTSE 100 index was up 113.17 points, 1.5%, at 7,850.55. The FTSE 2

French conglomerate flags slowdownAsia Pacific disappointsGucci turnaround remains uncertainEuropean luxury stocks were marked down on Wednesday after French conglomerate Kering (KER:EPA) warned its first-quarter sales were expected to tumble by 10%, dragged down by its flagship brand Gucci which is in the early stages of a turnaround.Kering shares plunged 15% to ?362.3 in early Paris trading on t

Stock prices in London remained mixed at midday on Thursday, as the interest rate decision from the European Central Bank due later this afternoon continued to hold attention.The FTSE 100 index was down 19.30 points, 0.3%, at 7,660.01. The FTSE 250 was up 103.41 points, 0.5%, at 19,576.63, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.18 points, 0.2%, at 738.81.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 767.42, the Cboe U

Shares in publishing outfit Bloomsbury Publishing (BMY) hit a record level on 14 February after the firm raised its guidance for the year ending 29 February 2024.Over the past year, Bloomsbury shares have gained 22% and over five years 137% to sit at 536p. The publisher has clearly benefited from the revival of reading which started during the pandemic and the ability to tap into popular genres li

Revenues fall 20% Profits down over 40%Company cooperating with CMAShares in Taylor Wimpey (TW.) were down over 3% to 135p in morning trading as the UK housebuilder said pre-tax profit had fallen 42.8% to £473.8 million for the year to 31 December compared to £827.9 million in the same year ago period.The company?s share price performance today contrasts with a 10% gain over the past year.

Equities in London closed lower in a nervy start to the week, with a US inflation reading to come, though stocks in New York traded slightly more confidently.The FTSE 100 index closed down 21.98 points, 0.3%, at 7,684.30. The FTSE 250 ended down 57.64 points, 0.3%, at 19,126.92, and the AIM All-Share lost 1.96 points, 0.3%, at 745.81.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 769.56, the Cboe UK 250 fell

Stock prices in London were largely in the red around midday Monday, as the FTSE 350 fell amid the UK competition watchdog investigating a ?persistent under delivery of new homes.?The FTSE 100 index was down 24.14 points, 0.3%, at 7,682.14. The FTSE 250 was down 60.60 points, 0.3%, at 19,118.96, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.17 of a point at 747.94.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 769.39, the Cbo

Stock prices in London were mixed at the start of the week, as housebuilders declined after the UK competition watchdog launched a probe into suspected anti-competitive behaviour.The FTSE 100 index opened up 1.27 points at 7,707.55. The FTSE 250 was down 17.42 points, 0.1%< at 19,162.14, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.54 points, 0.2%, at 749.31.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 772.04, the Cboe UK 250 w

Fantasy and sci-fi demand lift salesRevenue of £291.4 million expectedShares gain 7% to new life-highShares in Bloomsbury Publishing (BMY) were up over 7% to a new all-time high of 527p in morning trading as the book publisher said it expected revenue and pre-tax profit to be ?significantly ahead' of upgraded market expectations for the year ending 29 February 2024.The book publishers? board expe

Equities in London were on the back foot on Wednesday afternoon, as unease in markets continued amid a less favourable US interest rate outlook.It would be a ?mistake? for the US Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates too soon, despite its recent progress against inflation, a senior Fed official said Tuesday.On Tuesday, Cleveland Fed president Loretta Mester, who is a voting member of the

Stocks in London climbed on hopes earnings from two of the biggest names in US business would spark further upward momentum in equities.The FTSE 100 index closed up 33.57 points, 0.4%, at 7,666.31. The FTSE 250 ended up 38.34 points, 0.2%, at 19,349.50, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.61 points, 0.6%, at 754.89.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 766.38, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.3% at 16,807.59,

European equities headed into Tuesday afternoon on the front foot, while equities in New York are called to open a touch lower, as events in the US over the next two days take centre-stage.Tech earnings and Fed decision are on the docket over the next on Tuesday and Wednesday.?The next two days will test investor sentiment thanks to the publication of financial results from two of the biggest name