London?s FTSE 100 edged lower after the opening bell on Wednesday, as investors moved with trepidation as eyes turn to a US inflation reading due later in the week.The FTSE 100 index opened down 13.02 points, 0.2%, at 7,917.94. The FTSE 250 was down 23.35 points, 0.1%, at 19,754.29, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.27 of a point at 739.79.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 791.57, the Cboe UK 250 was

Indices in London were largely unmoved at the start of trading ahead of a batch of US data due on Thursday afternoon.Among individual shares making waves, however, Trainline jumped as it expects revenue growth to beat expectations. OSB Group tumbled on poorly-received earnings and a tepid outlook.The FTSE 100 index rose just 2.97 points to 7,775.14. The FTSE 250 climbed only 4.07 points to 19,567.

Stock markets have been making new all-time highs in the US, Europe and Japan and investors are asking whether they are witnessing a new global bull market for stocks which began in November 2023.Momentum is a powerful factor in stock markets. Prices tend to trend in the same direction which mean buying winners and selling losers can be a profitable strategy.It is not only about price but also ear

Gold markets were where the impetus was on Tuesday, after an underwhelming equity trading day in Europe, as investors look ahead to what Wednesday?s UK budget has in store.Among individual shares, gold miners were some of the shining stars in London on Tuesday, while Ashtead tumbled on an underwhelming third-quarter. FTSE 250-listed Spirent Communications jumped after backing a £1.01 billion take

European equities pushed higher on Friday, with Standard Chartered the best-performing London blue-chip, though the FTSE 100?s gains were unable to stave off a weekly loss for it.At the end of the eighth Friday of 2024 so far, London?s large-cap benchmark has only mustered two weekly gains, suffering six losses.The market euphoria following Nvidia?s well-received results suggested a weekly gain wa

Stock prices in London traded solidly higher on Friday afternoon, supported by a robust UK retail sales reading, as well as a profit beat from lender NatWest.NatWest shares stuttered off the starting block on Friday morning, but investors warmed to the numbers as the day wore on.The FTSE 100 index jumped 79.17 points, 1.0%, at 7,676.70. The FTSE 250 was up 100.30 points, 0.5%, at 19,199.92, and th

Stocks in London opened in the green on Friday, after receiving a boost from a report that showed UK retail sales grew sizeably in January, a day after it was announced the nation fell into a recession last year.The reading calmed some nerves about the health of the UK economy and supported shares in the retail sector.NatWest sent lenders higher, meanwhile, though the stock itself had somewhat of

London?s FTSE 100 ended higher on Tuesday, registering its first daily gain since hawkish words from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell last week all but ensured there would be no March rate cut from the Federal Reserve.His words echoed around markets on Thursday, and there was a red-hot US jobs report on Friday, the final nail in the coffin for March rate cut hopes. Markets still digested that r

London investors appeared indecisive on Tuesday, as markets reacted to falling UK government borrowing and the sterling closed down against the dollar.The FTSE 100 index closed down 1.98 points, marginally down, at 7,485.73. The FTSE 250 ended down 83.02 points, 0.4%, at 18,992.62, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.5%, or 3.67 points, at 739.01.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 748.77, the Cboe U

Equity prices in Europe were on the decline heading into Wednesday afternoon, with the mood in London hurt by a slight uptick in UK inflation, while shares in mining and luxury goods firms were among those hurt by tepid Chinese economic data.The UK data means traders may need to re-think their expectations of a May interest rate cut. In the eurozone, meanwhile, the European Central Bank president

European equities struggled to find their groove on Tuesday, as the FTSE 100 finds gains hard to come by in a tricky January so far, while stocks in New York are set for a tepid return to trading.The FTSE 100 index was down 36.20 points, 0.5%, at 7,558.71. It has fallen over 2% since the start of the year. Heading into Tuesday, it had 10 days of trading in the new year. It rose in just three of th

European equities ended lower on Friday, though the pound and euro climbed, as Federal Reserve interest rate expectations swung to-and-fro after contrasting US data in the afternoon.A stronger employment report meant some rethought their rate cut expectations for March. Interest rate nerves were soothed later, however, after an underwhelming reading of the US service economy.Among individual share

The FTSE 100 went into the afternoon on the back foot in tepid trade with US data and Federal Reserve meeting minutes ahead.The FTSE 100 index was down 69.86 points, or 0.9%, at 7,651.66. London?s large-cap index turned 40 on Wednesday.The FTSE 250 was down 174.90 points, 0.9%, at 19,336.90, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.84 points, 0.8%, at 755.71.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 764.47, the Cb

London?s FTSE 100 made a tepid start to 2024, with underwhelming manufacturing data from the UK and eurozone doing little to lift sentiment.Equities in New York are called to open lower ahead of a key week for the US interest rate outlook. The latest Federal Reserve meeting minutes are released on Wednesday, before the official US jobs report on Friday.The FTSE 100 index was down 29.34 points, 0.4

London?s FTSE 100 declined slightly on Thursday, returning some of its year-to-date, though it is on track to still register a rise for 2023, as fears over higher for longer interest rates recede.The FTSE 100 index closed down just 2.21 points at 7,722.74. So far this year, however, it has added 3.6%.It has been a mixed year for the large-cap index, with interest rate and inflation worries hinderi

As we move into another year there is plenty for investors to consider. Are we on the other side of inflationary pressures? Will rates be cut in 2024? What will happen with the US presidential election? In this article we address these and some other big questions for the year to come.IS THE BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION OVER, WILL RATES BE CUT IN 2024 AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE DOLLAR?A big question

The FTSE 100 mustered a small gain, but large-cap peers in Europe returned all of their progress in afternoon dealings.The mood in Europe turned cautious as the hours until the Federal Reserve?s final decision of the year ticked away.?Markets are waiting with bated breath for the US Federal Reserve?s latest interest rate decision and, crucially, the message it sends about when future rate cuts are

Stock prices in London opened lower on Monday, with the FTSE 100 underperforming European peers as its heavyweight miners struggled following underwhelming China data.Focus for the week will be on major central banks. The Federal Reserve kicks off the central banking bonanza by announcing its latest interest rate decision on Wednesday.It will follow Friday?s slightly hotter-than-expected US jobs r

Investors in London showed some confidence at the open on Friday, looking ahead to US jobs data later in the day.The FTSE 100 index opened up 18.77 points, 0.3%, at 7,532.49. The FTSE 250 was up 57.82 points, 0.3%, at 18,676.56, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.82 points, 0.3%, at 722.68.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 752.22, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 16,205.44, and the Cboe Small Companies was

Stocks in London climbed on Wednesday afternoon, buoyed by softer US employment data which strengthened the case for the Federal Reserve to move interest rates lower soon enough.Investors are increasingly pricing in a similarly dovish outlook for the European Central Bank, hurting the pound but lifting stocks in mainland Europe.?The rate cut narrative continues to gather pace, leading to a fresh b