European stocks declined on Friday morning after reports of explosions in Iran, fuelling worries of a conflict escalation. The FTSE 100 index opened 50.93 points lower, 0.7%, at 7,826.12. The FTSE 250 was down 178.53 points, 0.9%, at 19,272.14. The AIM All-Share was down 4.15 points, 0.6%, at 741.14. The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.7% to 781.46, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.8% at 16,706.81, and the Cboe...

London stock prices mostly recovered on Thursday from the threat of higher for longer US interest rates, while initial jobless claims remained stable. The FTSE 100 index closed up 29.06 points, 0.4%, at 7,877.05. The FTSE 250 ended up 110.53 points, 0.6%, at 19,450.67, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.17 points, up 0.3%, at 745.29. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 786.93, the Cboe UK 250 clos...

Pest control and hygiene firm Rentokil underwhelmed investors with its first-quarter trading update despite a more stable performance in its key North American market. The shares eased 13p or 3% to 433p, taking them to the bottom of the FTSE 100 leader board and eradicating almost all the gains since it published its full-year results in early March. SLOW AND STEADY Revenue for the first thre...

Shares in EasyJet gained over 3% in morning trading to 535p after the low-cost airline said winter losses for full year 2024 had been reduced by more than £50 million as summer demand continued. EasyJet now expects a headline pre-tax loss of between £340 and £360 million which is an improvement despite 'headwinds from fuel cost per seat inflation of 6% and the conflict in the Middle East'...

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%...

Casino and bingo operator Rank said like-for-like net gaming revenue for the third quarter to 31 March increased by 6% to £182.3 million, with trading continuing to improve in April. Shares in the Grosvenor Casinos and Mecca Bingo operator increased 2.6% to 72.9p and sit around 4% lower than the start of the year compared with a 1.5% gain in the FTSE-All Share index. Chief executive John O'R...

Leader in the UK's fragmented homewares market, Dunelm said it delivered continued sales growth and market share gains in its third quarter as the retailer also nudged up its full year gross margin guidance. Why then, did shares in the affordable curtain, quilt and kitchenware seller cheapen 5% to £10.20 in early dealings today? Dunelm flagged 'more challenging and volatile market conditions...

Stock prices in London opened in the green on Thursday, with some positive corporate updates helping lift the FTSE 100, a far cry from the sell-off New York tech shares suffered overnight. The tech sector comes into focus again, with streaming service Netflix, traditionally one of the FAANG stocks alongside Facebook owner Meta, Amazon, Apple and Alphabet, reporting quarterly earnings later. Th...

Stock prices in London closed largely up on Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 shrugged off hotter-than-expected UK inflation data. The FTSE 100 index closed up 27.63 points, 0.4%, at 7,847.99. The FTSE 250 ended down just 4.40 points at 19,340.14, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.84 points, or 0.7% at 743.12. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 785.06, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.1% at 16,784.15, and t...

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%...

Global luxury goods leader LVMH (MC:EPA) eked out a small increase in first-quarter revenue against strong comparable sales in the same period last year, sending its shares up 3% to €807 and temporarily arresting the downtrend of the past month. Growth was the weakest since the rebound from the pandemic in early 2021, held back by sluggish sales in China, although spending by Chinese tour...

Chip stocks have been gunning it this year thanks to booming demand for the most advanced AI (artificial intelligence) technology. The US SOX semiconductor index, which measures the world's meaningful chips stocks, has rallied 15% since the start of January, so ASML's (ASML:AMS) revenue miss has got investors worried. The Dutch tech firm dominates the market for lithography systems, machines w...