The FTSE 100 stood flat at midday on Friday, supported by upbeat UK retail sales, while mixed signals from Wall Street kept broader sentiment in check. The FTSE 100 index was down 5.05 points, 0.1%, at 8,402.35. It has risen for the last nine trading days, its best run since December 2019. The FTSE 250 was up 69.64 points, 0.4%, at 19,574.60, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.21 points, 0.3%, at...

London's blue chip index was mostly flat at the market open on Friday, while its peers in Paris and Frankfurt rose, as data showed UK car production declined in the first quarter, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Washington for economic talks with the US. The FTSE 100 index opened down 0.70 points at 8,406.74. The FTSE 250 was up 48.43 points, 0.3%, at 19,552.80, and the AIM All-Share was...

Stocks in London closed mostly higher on Thursday as investors weighed earnings and kept an eye on the latest developments in the US' trade dispute with China. 'It was a fairly muted day for UK stocks which isn't a bad thing given the wild swings we've seen on financial markets in recent weeks,' said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell. The FTSE 100 index rose 4.26 points,...

Stocks in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red at midday on Thursday, after Russia launched an overnight attack on Kyiv, while investors await US durable goods and jobless data. The FTSE 100 index was down 8.00 points, 0.1%, at 8,395.18. The FTSE 250 was down 29.26 points, 0.2%, at 19,453.79, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.54 points, 0.8%, at 670.94. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at...

Stocks in Europe were lower on Thursday morning, as Beijing said any claims of ongoing trade talks with Washington were 'groundless,' emphasising there were no current economic negotiations between the US and China. The FTSE 100 index opened down 13.40 points, 0.2%, at 8,389.78. The FTSE 250 was down 99.61 points, 0.5%, at 19,383.44, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.14 points, 0.8%, at 671.34....

London stocks closed higher on Wednesday, following a backtrack by US President Donald Trump on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and increased hopes of improved relations with China. The FTSE 100 index rose 74.58 points, 0.9%, to 8,403.18. The FTSE 250 firmed 244.81 points, 1.3%, at 19,483.05, and the AIM All-Share climbed 4.69 points, 0.7%, at 676.48. The Cboe UK 100 rose 1.0% at 836.52,...

London's blue chip index was in the green at Wednesday midday, but trailed its peers in Paris and Frankfurt, as flash UK PMI data showed that the UK's services business activity unexpectedly declined in April. The FTSE 100 index was up 106.40 points, 1.3%, at 8,435.00. The FTSE 250 was up 228.10 points, 1.2%, at 19,466.34, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.93 points, 0.4%, at 674.72. The Cboe UK...

Stocks in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the green on Wednesday morning, as China said the 'door for talks is wide open,' after US President Trump signalled readiness for discussions. The FTSE 100 index opened up 112.03 points, 1.4%, at 8,440.63. The FTSE 250 was up 240.33 points, 1.3%, at 19,478.57, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.35 points, 0.2%, at 673.14. The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.4% at...

The FTSE 100 ended higher on Tuesday, as US stocks rallied somewhat ahead of 'a crunch week in the US earnings season'. The FTSE 100 index rose 52.94 points, 0.6%, at 8,328.60. The FTSE 250 fell 11.77 points, 0.1%, at 19,238.24, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.85 points, 0.4%, at 671.79. The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.4% at 828.24, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.2% at 16,818.16, while the Cboe Small Companies...

London stocks were mixed at midday on Tuesday, as UK firms put the brakes on investment plans amid US tariff concerns, while sterling hit a seven-month high against the dollar. The FTSE 100 index was up 14.97 points, 0.2%, at 8,290.63. The FTSE 250 was down 26.91 points, 0.1%, at 19,223.10, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.85 points, 0.4%, at 671.79. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 823.46, the...

London's blue chip index outperformed its peers in Paris and Frankfurt at the open on Tuesday after the long Easter weekend, as gold reached a new record high amid a weakening dollar. The FTSE 100 index opened up 11.41 points at 8,287.07. The FTSE 250 was down 54.96 points, 0.3%, at 19,195.05, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.46 points, 0.5%, at 672.40. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 821.98,...

London remained broadly flat at Thursday's close against red European markets, as investors digested a European Central Bank rate cut in line with expectations. The FTSE 100 index rose just 0.06 points at 8,275.66. The FTSE 250 fell 15.80 points, 0.1%, at 19,250.01, and the AIM All-Share declined 0.94 of a point, 0.1%, at 668.94. The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.1% at 824.58, the Cboe UK 250 nudged 0.1%...

London stocks drifted lower on Thursday, with investor sentiment weighed down by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's warning that US tariffs could stoke inflation and put the central bank's mandate under pressure. Also, investors are waiting for the fast-approaching European Central Bank interest rate call in the afternoon, followed by a press conference. The FTSE 100 index was down 62.02...

London stocks fell on Thursday morning after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's warning that tariffs could generate increased inflation, while updates from Sainsbury and Dunelm offered bright spots. Lloyds Bank analyst meanwhile commented: 'Powell's comments after the London close, warning of an essentially stagflationary outlook, roiled markets further as his message emphasised the...

London's FTSE 100 remained in the green on Wednesday after a last-minute rally, in the wake of a softened domestic inflation reading and further updates to the US-China trade war. The FTSE 100 index rose 26.48 points, 0.3%, at 8,275.60. The FTSE 250 fell just 2.13 points to 19,265.81, and the AIM All-Share advanced 3.87 points, 0.6%, at 669.88. The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.3% at 823.85, the Cboe UK...

London stocks slipped on Wednesday as investors digested cautious updates from WH Smith and Bunzl, while fresh US probes into Chinese imports and semiconductor controls reignited trade war fears. The FTSE 100 index was down 29.39 points, 0.4%, at 8,219.73. The FTSE 250 was down 107.02 points, 0.6%, at 19,160.92, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.73 points, 0.1%, at 665.28. The Cboe UK 100 was...

UK stocks edged lower on Wednesday morning as inflation eased more than forecast and Bunzl slumped on a downbeat trading update. Meanwhile, trade disputes between the US and China continue. Bloomberg previously reported that Beijing has ordered airlines not to take further deliveries of jets from US aviation major Boeing. More recently, Trump ordered a probe that may result in tariffs on...

London stocks closed in the green for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday, as investors remain hopeful for a potential trade deal with the US and the pound rises amid a slow-down in wage growth. The FTSE 100 index rose 114.78 points, 1.4%, at 8,249.12. The FTSE 250 jumped 277.52 points, 1.5%, at 19,256.03, and the AIM All-Share advanced 6.99 points, 1.1%, at 666.01. The Cboe UK 100 rose 1.5%...

London equities were higher at midday on Tuesday, lifted in part by suggestions of tariff flexibility for the motor sector. The US, meanwhile, is 'certainly working very hard with Starmer's government' on negotiating a trade deal, Vice President JD Vance has said. Vance told website UnHerd: 'The President really loves the UK. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very...

London stocks opened higher on Tuesday, with UK unemployment holding steady in the latest quarter. The FTSE 100 index opened up 37.85 points, 0.5%, at 8,172.19. The FTSE 250 was up 97.15 points, 0.5%, at 19,075.66, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.01 points, 0.3%, at 661.03. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6% at 814.10, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.9% at 16,642.96, and the Cboe Small Companies was flat at...