(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London were lower at midday on Monday, after an aborted uprising by the Wagner group in Russia over the weekend and hawkish moves from central banks over the past two weeks put investors in a risk-off mood.The FTSE 100 index was down 20.25 points, or 0.3%, at 7,441.62. The FTSE 250 was down 178.34 points, or 1.0%, at 17,883.99, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.94

European financial markets remained calm early Monday, after the dramatic turn of events in Russia over the weekend; however uncertainty about the fall-out from the failed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary army contributed to a risk-off investment atmosphere.'What has happened during this weekend shows that the war against Ukraine is cracking Russian power and affecting its political system,' EU fore

Shares prices in London started Wednesday on the back foot, with the Bank of England now under greater scrutiny, after data showed the stubborn UK inflation rate was unmoved last month.Threadneedle Street was expected to hike UK interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.75% on Thursday. Though Wednesday's inflation reading may have put a 50 basis point lift on the table. The BoE last hiked by 50 basi

- Sales still growing despite weak consumption- Overseas operations showing good momentum- Full year guidance trimmedDIY retail group Kingfisher (KGF) posted a solid third quarter trading update but lowered its full year profit outlook due to what it called the 'challenging' outlook for consumer spending.Having rallied 25% from their late October low, the shares gave back some ground dipping 1.6%

US retail sales posted their largest increase in eight months in October, with the value of purchases up a forecast-beating 1.3%, demonstrating the US consumer is holding up well despite rising rates and high inflation, supported by the government's pandemic stimulus package.Yet a frenetic third quarter earnings season gave fresh clues about the health of the US consumer heading into Christmas. Sh

I'm 70 and have been following the '4% rule' since I started taking an income in drawdown on my 65th birthday. However, if I keep to that plan, I'll need to increase withdrawals by 10%+ in September this year. Is that sensible or will I risk running out of money in retirement?PaulTom Selby, AJ Bell Head of Retirement Policy says:Soaring inflation affects everyone, including those in receipt of a p

Whether it's been tax hikes, the cost of living crisis, or the war in Ukraine, doom and gloom hasn't exactly been hard to find in April. The downbeat mood around household finances is palpable, and understandably so, with the price of essential items rising so rapidly.At tough times like these, we find it natural to focus on the problem at hand, and batten down the hatches. But it might also help

Inflation hit a 30-year high of 7% in March and there are expectations the cost of living will surge even higher in April.The extent of the impact of rising prices on savers and retirees will depend on a range of factors including income, spending patterns and how long spiralling prices persist.When it comes to generating a retirement income, the flexibility of your pension and whether it provides

In his spring statement, chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a surprise cut in the income tax rate, to 19%, which will take place from 2024.That will offer some relief from the frozen income tax thresholds he announced only last year, but a tax tsunami is still about to hit these shores, and it will only exacerbate the cost-of-living crunch that many households will feel this year.Sunak's cut in the i

Share prices were higher in London and the rest of Europe on Thursday morning, despite more distressing scenes from Ukraine, as UK company earnings attracted early market attention.The FTSE 100 index was up 13.71 points, or 0.2%, at 7,443.27 early Thursday. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index was up 56.84 points, or 0.3%, at 20,832.66. The AIM All-Share index was down 3.57 points, or 0.4%, at 1,024.12.In m

Well, that didn't take long. The US Federal Reserve began to pump less quantitative easing (QE) into the financial system in November and the stock market's wheels have already started to wobble after barely two months of less cheap money, let alone any move to withdraw it.Investors can therefore be forgiven for starting to ask themselves how much the US Federal Reserve can do to tighten monetary

Shares in Dove soap-to-Hellmann's mayonnaise maker Unilever (ULVR) were the biggest risers on the FTSE 100 on Monday, rallying 6.2% to £39.04 on reports feared US activist Nelson Peltz has built a stake in the embattled packaged consumer goods group.Peltz's activist hedge fund Trian Partners has form in shaking up underperforming consumer goods companies and has reportedly taken an unspecified st

The dust may be settling for now on the recent unrest in Kazakhstan, but the ructions are still being felt in the markets.Prices of oil and uranium, of which Kazakhstan is a major producer, moved higher amid the disruption. The country is a key centre for bitcoin mining and concerns over the violence helped contribute to volatility in the cryptocurrency, which recently hit a four-month low.Several

Just now investors will be interested - even concerned - to ascertain whether food prices will be the source of a sustained bout of inflation and one which may do damage to consumers' ability and desire to spend.Central bankers will want to know too, in case inflation forces their hand and requires a tightening of monetary policy in the form of a tapering of QE (quantitative easing) and higher int

A month ago (Shares, 26 Nov 2020) this column flagged how commodity prices were rising and how this could be a possible harbinger of inflation, whether it was down to near-term factors such as a La Niña weather pattern or something more deep rooted.The answer will only become clear with the fullness of time but one trend is worthy of further attention, namely the movement in the S&P GSCI Ag

UK stocks moved into positive territory by lunchtime on Thursday, having recouped earlier losses as Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled increased support for firms hit by Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions.Sunak announced significant changes to the Job Support Scheme (JSS), set to replace furlough from next month.Under the updated scheme employers will pay less and staff can work fewer hours before they

UK stocks retreated on Thursday after British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) posted a quarterly loss and investors looked to a parliament address later in the day by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on the economic outlook.The benchmark FTSE 100 fell 0.3% to a five-month low of 5,760.57, dragged lower by weak real estate and energy stocks, while defence firm BAE Systems (BA.) led th

Diversified healthcare company Uniphar (UPR:AIM) firmed 1% to €1.13 on well-received maiden interim results since listing in July 2019. These showed trading in-line with expectations, with revenues up 20% to €800.6m and profit before tax powering 175% higher to €13.8m.Chief executive officer Ger Rabbette said: 'The successful IPO of Uniphar in July provides a platform for a steady g

There has been a lot of talk in the market in recent years of value being out of favour and growth stocks firmly in the ascendancy.Investors have certainly been prepared to pay a premiumprice to secure exposure to rapidly expanding companies or at least those who are perceived to be growth stories.Temple Bar Investment Trust (TMPL) is no follower of fads or fashion. Since August 2002 the portfolio

Ironically as the world became destabilised by the twin forces of Brexit and Donald Trump - not to mention a UK general election, mounting global tensions over North Korea and an emboldened Vladimir Putin - 2017 was a year of relative tranquillity for pensions.Aside from the cut in the amount savers who have accessed taxable income from their pension can subsequently pay in each year from £10,000