London stock market investors were sinking their teeth into a groaning board of company updates early Wednesday, lifting prices, as they await two key reports: the Gray inquiry into 'partygate' in the UK and the minutes of the most recent US Fed policy meeting.The FTSE 100 index was up 31.91 points, or 0.4%, at 7,516.26 early Wednesday. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index was up 94.83 points, or 0.5%, at 1

Both the blue chip FTSE 100 index and the FTSE 200 mid-cap index were unable to maintain their earlier gains and finished Tuesday's trading session in negative territory.This was despite the latest employment data which showed the UK jobless rate had fallen to 4.2% from 4.3% with the claimant count falling by a better than expected 49,700.Market sentiment was negatively impacted by a warning from

Both the blue chip FTSE 100 index and the FTSE 200 mid-cap index managed to hold onto their earlier gains at lunchtime, taking comfort from the latest employment data which showed the UK jobless rate had fallen to 4.2% from 4.3% with the claimant count falling by a better than expected 49,700.Investors are focused ahead of key interest rate decisions due from central banks later this week, with th

UK stocks opened higher on Tuesday as unemployment fell and investors continued to await interest-rate decisions due later in the week from a host of central banks. The UK jobless rate fell to 4.2%, down from 4.3% previously, with the claimant count falling by a better-than-expected 49,700.After falling back around 60 points on Monday, the FTSE 100 has recovered some of the lost ground in early tr

UK stocks edged lower into the close on Wednesday as investors awaited clues to the speed of a possible US rate rise from the publication of the latest meeting notes from the Federal Reserve.At 4.45pm, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 12 points or less than 0.2% at 7,169, with losses for miners offsetting gains for house builders after more strong data on home prices.COMPANY NEWSPersimmon (PS

UK stocks edged higher in early trading on Wednesday as any optimism generated by another batch of positive earnings updates was offset by concerns about the spreading Delta coronavirus variant.At 08.15am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 4.28 points, or less than 0.1%, at 7,185.39.The modest rise came after the release of inflation data, with the UK's consumer price index up 2.0% in July, miss

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE OIL MARKET?It's very strange times for the oil market and there could be further trouble ahead. Unless demand picks up dramatically in the coming weeks then mid to late May could see a repeat of the recent scenario where people had to pay others to take oil off their hands.In this article we will explain what is going on with oil, what it reveals about the economy and what

British business supplies distributor Bunzl (BNZL) posts a modest 3.9% rise in first half pre-tax profit to £257.9m, driven by gains from recent acquisitions.The FTSE 100 company completed three acquisitions in the period, and there's another one announced today. Bunzl has snapped up Oslo-based catering equipment supplier Enor, whose customers include hotels, restaurants, hospitals and fast food

The FTSE 100 is down 5.88 points to 7,441,94 following a rare day of poor trading on Wall Street. The markets will be looking at Prime Minister Theresa May's meeting with EU leaders in Brussels hoping that trade talks can begin.In corporate news, FTSE 100 communications services company BT (BT.A) gains 1.4% to 277.73p as it announces a deal with Sky (SKY). The company has agreed a multi-year deal

SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) 52pGain to date: 35.9%Original entry point: Buy at 38.23p, 2 February 2017North African oil and gas producer SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) is heading in the right direction again after announcing a discovery on its West Garib concession, onshore Egypt.The Rabul 2 well looks to have identified a larger find than that delivered by the Rabul 1 well drilled in July, with 105.1 feet of net

SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) 60pGain to date: 56.9% Original entry point: 38.23p, 2 February 2017A negative reaction to the latest results from drilling on SDX Energy's (SDX:AIM) South Disouq concession in Egypt's Nile Delta is eating into the gains on our trade but we remain bullish.Chief executive Paul Welch told an audience at a Shares investor evening in Edinburgh on 15 May that testing of the gas dis

SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) 67pGain to date: 75%Original entry point: 38.23p, 2 February 2017Our original article on SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) on 2 February cited broker Cantor Fitzgerald as saying investors could double their money within a year on this stock. We're already three quarters of the way to achieving that goal.The Egypt and Morocco-focused oil and gas producer is riding high after drill results r

SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) 48.3pGain to date: 26.3%Original entry point: Buy at 38.23p, 2 February 2017Our positive call on North African oil and gas producer SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) is already off to a positive start. It has now commenced drilling a well which could act as a further catalyst for the share price.The SD-1X well on the South Disouq concession in Egypt's Nile Delta is targeting up to 100 mil

Oil and gas producer SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) is on course for a step change in scale. The company has secured $40m in an over-subscribed placing (27 Jan) to fund the acquisition of assets in Egypt and Morocco from financially distressed peer Circle Oil (COP:AIM). Buy the shares at 38.23p.Broker Cantor Fitzgerald believes the company will be worth 78p a share in a year's time, implying that investors

Egyptian oil producer SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) continues to make progress as it lays the groundwork for low risk exploration drilling on its South Disouq concession. Initial findings from a 3D seismic survey suggest there is potential for both gas and oil. At 28.25p the shares are already up 56.9% since joining AIM in May. (TS)

Few oil exploration and production companies could be cash generative down to an oil price of $15 per barrel but AIM newcomer SDX Energy (SDX:AIM) says it can as a result of low-cost production onshore Egypt.Debt-free and with some clear catalysts over the coming 12 months, SDX could be a winner for investors.The company, already listed in Toronto, raised $11 million alongside its admission to the

Hotel Chocolat checks inPremium chocolatier Hotel Chocolat's (HOTC:AIM) shares enjoyed a tasty AIM debut (10 May), bid up 29% to 191p from their 148p issue price. Sentiment towards the maker and retailer of innovative and affordable chocolates, co-founded by CEO Angus Thirlwell and Development Director Peter Harris, is clearly positive. It is worth remembering Thorntons struggled for years before