The FTSE 100 finished strong on Thursday, coinciding with a successful day for New York stocks in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve's status quo interest rate decision on Wednesday evening. The FTSE 100 index closed up 50.91 points, 0.6%, at 8,172.15. The FTSE 250 ended up 125.74 points, 0.6%, at 20,052.33, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.13 points, 0.4%, at 768.11. The Cboe UK 100 ended...

London's blue-chips made steady progress on Thursday, whilst mid-caps struggled for direction, as investors took stock of the latest US interest rate call. The FTSE 100 index rose 28.57 points, 0.4%, at 8,149.81. The FTSE 250 edged down just 3.93 points to 19,922.66, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.50 of a point, 0.1%, at 765.48. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 813.60, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.2%...

When we lifted the bonnet on FTSE 250 precision equipment-maker Spectris back in March, we suggested the first-quarter update would be the first test of whether analysts were on track with their downbeat views on the firm's prospects. As expected, the group reported a decline in like-for-like revenue against a strong prior-year quarter but importantly it maintained its full-year guidance. The...

Shares in Reach were up over 9% to 81p in morning trading as one of the UK's biggest newspaper groups said it was 'on track' to deliver full year expectations. Investors seemed to ignore the 6.7% fall in group revenue with print revenue falling 6% and circulation revenue falling 3.4% in the first quarter. The company said it was confident in delivering a reduction in operating costs of 5% to...

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B:CPH), known for its leading weight-loss drug Wegovy, delivered better than expected first quarter sales and earnings and raised its full year profit outlook. After initially opening higher the shares fell back 2% on worries over lower pricing of Wegovy in the US and slower than expected growth in the obesity franchise. Investor excitement about...

Danish jewellery brand Pandora (PNDORA:CPH) raised its full-year organic revenue guidance after first quarter sales and profits breezed past estimates with the key US market sustaining its strength. The rings-to-lab-grown diamonds seller's confident outlook demonstrated that its 'Phoenix' growth strategy, which entails 'elevating brand desirability' and a step-up in marketing and investments i...

London's FTSE 100 made a bright start to trading on Thursday, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell played down fears of an interest rate increase, although cuts remain on the back-burner. The FTSE 100 index rose 18.12 points, 0.2%, at 8,139.36. The FTSE 250 edged up just 4.56 points to 19,931.15, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.19 points, 0.2%, at 766.17. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 812...

London stocks were mixed at the closing bell, a few hours before the evening's long-awaited interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve, with Haleon hampering the FTSE 100 and a poor performance from Aston Martin dragging down the FTSE 250. The FTSE 100 index closed down 22.89 points, 0.3%, at 8,121.24. The FTSE 250 ended down 38.80 points, 0.2%, at 19,926.59, and the AIM All-Share closed...

Global specialist consultancy services provider to the asset management and insurance industries Alpha Financial Markets saw its shares almost double at one point to 460p after the company confirmed bid interest from private equity groups. Responding to press speculation the board said it had received a non-binding offer from Bridgepoint regarding a possible cash offer and confirmed Cinven Li...

Shares in Aston Martin Lagonda fell sharply in morning trading as the luxury car maker reported more quarterly losses, volumes and revenue declines, and soaring net debt that topped £1 billion. Desperately scrabbling to offer investors a positive spin, executive chairman Lawrence Stroll talked up new vehicles models due for launch later this year, but it is hard to see why investors should...

Stock prices in London were slightly down heading into the afternoon on Wednesday, as investors awaited the latest interest rate decision from the US Federal Reserve this evening. The FTSE 100 index slipped just 1.15 points to 8,142.98. The FTSE 250 was down 35.58 points, 0.2%, at 19,929.81, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.07 points, 0.4%, at 763.81. The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 813.38, the Cboe...

Amazon (AMZN:NASDAQ) became the latest tech giant to release quarterly results after-hours Tuesday (30 Apr) and largely beat expectations as interest in AI (artificial intelligence) helped drive cloud computing growth. These were robust results, showing its e-commerce business made money both in North America and overseas, something that hasn't happened since 2021, while cloud giant Amazon Web...