London?s FTSE 100 pushed higher on Thursday, leaving peers on the continent and beyond in its wake, on share price rises for heavyweights AstraZeneca, Barclays and Unilever, as well as M&A impetus for Anglo American.Trade was underwhelming elsewhere, however, as equities struggled following a red-hot US inflation reading, which was coupled with numbers showing a slowdown in growth.The FTSE 100 ind

The FTSE 100 hit an all-time high on Tuesday, before returning some gains after somewhat hawkish words from a UK monetary policymaker.The FTSE 100 index closed up 20.94 points, 0.2%, at 8,044.81. The FTSE 250 shot up 200.33 points, 1.0%, at 19,799.72, and the AIM All-Share ended up 5.69 points, 0.8%, at 754.87.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 803.32, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.9% to 17,156.66, and the

Equity prices in London found some composure heading into Wednesday afternoon, recovering from an uncertain start following an unnerving UK inflation reading.International Distribution Services jumped, after a billionaire shareholder?s takeover proposal that was rebuffed by the Royal Mail parent.The FTSE 100 index rose 46.18 points, 0.6%, at 7,866.54. The FTSE 250 climbed 107.23 points, 0.6%, at 1

London?s FTSE 100 opened sharply lower on Tuesday, as US interest rate worries and geopolitical tensions continued to cast a dark cloud over equity markets.Only Mondi traded higher, with even packaging peer DS Smith falling despite agreeing to a takeover from International Paper, the latest twist in a takeover saga that also involved Mondi. Mondi is yet to respond to the development.The FTSE 100 i

The FTSE 100 achieved a solid gain and almost hit its best-ever level on Friday, with its mining and oil producing contingent sparing it from declines seen in equities elsewhere.Shares in Frankfurt and New York failed to find their feet as investors fretted over rising tensions and US interest rate worries.The FTSE 100 index ended up 71.78 points, 0.9%, at 7,995.58, closing below the 8,000 point m

Stocks in Europe had a weak start on Friday, as the threat of more Middle East sabre-rattling and doubt of US interest rate cut timing damaged investor morale.Perhaps in a sign of the times, BAE Systems was among only a handful of large-caps in London to trade higher.A red-hot US jobs report could damage sentiment further later. The data is reported at 1330 BST.The FTSE 100 index opened down 73.44

Stock prices in London closed lower on Monday amid rising global tensions, although conviction grows that the Bank of England will soon cut rates.The FTSE 100 index closed down 13.35 points, 0.2%, at 7,917.57. The FTSE 250 ended down 110.79 points, 0.6%, at 19,613.53, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.26 points, 0.3%, at 737.26.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% at 791.89, the Cboe UK 250 closed do

Blue-chip stocks in London were boosted on Friday by a favourable Bank of England interest rate outlook, although mid-caps inched down and trade elsewhere was mixed as New York stocks were largely down.The FTSE 100 index climbed 48.37 points, 0.6%, at 7,930.92, its best closing level in over a year. The FTSE 250 slipped 16.99 points, 0.1%, at 19,724.32, and the AIM All-Share ended down 1.12 points

Shareholder vote imminentMerger the preferred outcomeWind-down problematicThe board of industrial property investment trust Abrdn Property Income (API) has reiterated its support for an all-share merger with rival Custodian Property Income REIT (CREI) as opposed to a managed wind-down.Shareholders in Custodian have already voted through the merger with 98% in favour. CALL TO ACTIONAPI share

Blue chip stocks in London were up at the start of Friday afternoon, while mid-caps lost ground, after there were no surprises from UK and US central banks this week.Amongst individual stocks, Phoenix Group got a boost thanks to its 2023 results. Retail stocks were lower on the back of February?s ?downpour?.The FTSE 100 index was up 52.26 points, 0.7%, at 7,934.81. The FTSE 250 was down 18.04 poin

Stock prices in London opened in the green on Friday, following a busy week of economic data and interest rate decisions.Amongst individual stocks, Phoenix Group got a boost on the back of its 2023 results.The FTSE 100 index opened up 39.32 points, 0.5%, at 7,921.87. The FTSE 250 was up 1.50 points at 19,742.81, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.83 points, 0.3%, at 742.47.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5%

Stock prices in London rose around midday Monday, including the FTSE 250, despite shares of Marshalls shedding due to a profit dive.The FTSE 100 index was up 21.69 points, 0.3%, at 7,749.11. The FTSE 250 was up 33.85 points, 0.2%, at 19,546.76, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 737.02.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 775.52, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.4% at 16,968.64, and the Cboe S

At Shares, we have been flagging the potential for M&A in the investment trust space for months, not least in the REIT (real estate investment trust) sector due to the abundance of companies trading well below their net asset values.In the last month alone, three real estate mergers have been announced ? between LondonMetric (LMP) and LXI (LXI), Tritax Big Box (BBOX) and UK Commercial Property (UK

Stocks in London opened lower on Wednesday morning, amid steep falls for St James?s Place and Reckitt Benckiser, ahead of key US data.The FTSE 100 index opened down 15.96 points, 0.2%, at 7,667.06. The FTSE 250 was down 74.73 points, 0.4%, at 19,087.93, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.18 points, 0.2%, at 743.47.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 767.49, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.5% at 16,439.30, a

The FTSE 100 fell into the red in afternoon trade, as housebuilding stocks fell again, while Imperial Brands slid on a report that the UK government is sizing up a tax on vaping products.Mainland European equities ended higher, meanwhile, though stocks in New York were mixed on underwhelming US data.The FTSE 100 index ended down 1.28 points at 7,683.02. The FTSE 250 rose 36.74 points, 0.2%, at 19,

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

Stock prices edged lower in London early Monday, as investors assessed the latest economic data from China, and considered possible trajectories for US interest rate cuts.The FTSE 100 index opened down 7.26 points, 0.1%, at 7,704.45. The FTSE 250 was down 3.03 points at 19,188.90, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.05 points, 0.1%, at 757.73.The Cboe UK 100 was slightly lower at 771.49, the Cboe UK

Guidance cut comes after weak Q2 product salesCost cut plans include shedding 5% of global workforceStock falls more than 5% overnightIT network giant Cisco Systems (CSCO:NASDAQ) lost more than 5% overnight after slashing around $2.4 billion from full year 2024 guidance (to 31 Jul).Cisco?s 2024 steer had previously been pitched at $3.87 to $3.93 per share on revenues of between $53.8 billion to $5

London?s FTSE 100 opened in the green on Wednesday as UK consumer price inflation came in tamer than expected for January, giving equity market investors something to cheer about after a hotter than forecast US reading on Tuesday.The FTSE 100 index opened 37.64 points higher, 0.5%, at 7,549.92. London?s flagship index is down around 2.3% so far this year, however.The FTSE 250 was up 74.47 points,

London?s FTSE 100 struggled on Monday, as robust US services data strengthened the case for the Federal Reserve to hold off on cutting interest rates for now.The FTSE 100 index slipped just 2.68 points to 7,612.86. The FTSE 250 fell 154.09 points, 0.8%, at 19,018.55, and the AIM All-Share gave back 3.80 points, 0.5%, at 750.37.The Cboe UK 100 closed down 0.1% at 761.09, the Cboe UK 250 slumped 1.0