Global equity fund Fundsmith (FUND:B41YBW7) delivered a total return of 8.9% in 2024, undershooting the 20.8% gain in the MSCI World index for the fourth consecutive year, resulting in the popular fund slipping behind the index on a five-year annualised basis. Eponymous founder Terry Smith is quick to highlight the longer-term performance of the £22 billion fund which has bested the MSCI World...

Retail bellwether Marks & Spencer (MKS) delivered 'another good Christmas' with sales records broken across the business as it gained market share in both food and clothing. However, shares in the high street stalwart fell 5% to 358p as third quarter clothing, home and beauty came in light of expectations and management's cautious outlook stoked profit-taking after a strong share price run. Mar...

The UK's biggest supermarket chain Tesco (TSCO) reported strong trading and its highest market share since 2016 over the third quarter, including Christmas, as hinted at by the Kantar grocery sales data released a few days ago. However, the shares slumped in morning trade, at one point losing 15p or 4% to 355p, on disappointment at the lack of a profit upgrade and widespread investor selling of...

Stock prices in London were mixed on Thursday morning, with the FTSE 100 edging higher, despite retailers Tesco and M&S falling after festive trading updates. The FTSE 100 index opened up 11.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,262.72. The FTSE 250 was down 118.85 points, 0.6%, at 19,833.39, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.63 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.48. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 827.88, the Cboe UK 250 los...

London's blue chip index edged upwards on Wednesday as BAE Systems rose amid pressure from Donald Trump on NATO to increase defence spending, but rising bond yields caused volatility elsewhere. The FTSE 100 index ended up 5.75 points, 0.1%, at 8,251.03. The FTSE 250 tumbled 398.13 points, 2.0%, at 19,952.24. The AIM All-Share fell 5.17 points, 0.7%, at 720.11. The Cboe UK 100 closed up slightly...

Shares in Johnson Matthey (JMAT) were trading slightly lower at £13.41 after the specialty chemicals company hit back at criticism from its largest shareholder, Standard Investments. The board and management team at Johnson Matthey said they remained 'resolute in their focus on improving Johnson Matthey's share price performance and delivering value for shareholders.' The specialty chemicals c...

Shares in London were lower at midday on Wednesday as US tariff jitters resurfaced, adding to nervousness caused by surging bond yields. The FTSE 100 index was down 27.54 points, 0.3%, at 8,217.74. The FTSE 250 was down 264.16 points, 1.3%, at 20,086.21, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.22 points, 0.6%, at 721.06. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 822.92, the Cboe UK 250 was 1.5% lower at 17,494...

Topps Tiles' (TPT) shares rallied 8% to 40.2p after the tile specialist reported a return to sales growth for the first quarter ended 28 December 2024, buoyed by improved trading in the run-up to Christmas. The kitchen tiles-to-laminate flooring firm also announced that CEO Rob Parker plans to retire after 18 years with the company towards the end of 2025, and that the search for his successor...

Online sports betting and iGaming group Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) said a run of customer friendly results in the NFL (National Football League) during November and December will impact full year US profit by around a third. The shares fell 3% after hours in the US while the UK shares dropped 2.6% to £199.90 today (8 Jan). The fall had a knock-on effect on Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain (E...

The FTSE 100 made a tepid-at-best start to trading on Wednesday, with Shell declining after it forecast a weaker fourth-quarter output performance for its Integrated Gas unit. The FTSE 100 index opened down just 0.69 of a point at 8,244.59. The FTSE 250 was down 24.85 points, 0.1%, at 20,325.52, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.18 of a point at 725.46. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 825.45...

Stocks in London were in the red at Tuesday midday, while the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt were in the green, ahead of US trade balance data. The FTSE 100 index was down 23.05 points, 0.3%, at 8,226.61. The FTSE 250 was down 98.05 points, 0.5%, at 20,514.60, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.88 points, 0.1%, at 728.07. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 824.19, the Cboe UK 250 was d...

First out of the blocks with its Christmas trading statement, fashion and homewares colossus Next (NXT) raised full-year profit guidance yet again following better-than-expected festive trading with online sales growth accelerating in the fourth quarter. Shares in the FTSE 100 retailer ticked up 3% to £98.40 on the news, although gains were capped as guidance for the year to January 2026 came...

GSK (GSK) announced that the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has granted Breakthrough Designation to its experimental antibody drug conjugate candidate GSK'227 for treating a rare kind of bone cancer. Breakthrough Designation Therapy is aimed at advancing the development and review of drugs which have the potential to treat a serious condition and where preliminary evidence suggests a 'su...