As the old saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and investors in Metro Bank (MTRO) cheered the news the company had not only secured a financial lifeline via a share placing but had raised its cost-cutting target in order to keep it on a firmer footing in the future. The shares, which have been bumping along sub-40p for the best part of a month, jumped more than 5% to 41p on...

London's FTSE 100 made a muted start to the day on Thursday, while the euro came under some pressure following another batch of tamer inflation data from the continent, this time in France. Inflation remains the theme of the day going forward, with a wider eurozone consumer price index reading to come. There is also the latest US personal consumption expenditures data. The core PCE reading is...

The FTSE 100 closed lower on Wednesday, with China-exposed stocks on the decline, though its blue-chip peer in Frankfurt surged as automotive firms rallied and the retail sector shone on a cooler German inflation reading. Some hawkish comments from a US monetary policymaker sucked some of the initial enthusiasm out of stocks in New York. They cut the dollar some slack, though, with the pound n...

Blue-chip stocks in mainland Europe were on the up early Wednesday afternoon, though the FTSE 100 sat this rally out, while the dollar regained some composure with a US gross domestic product reading ahead. China-exposed shares hurt the FTSE 100, and though the pound slipped, some of the index's heavyweights which also do business outside the UK, were lower. The FTSE 100 index traded down 8.26...

Shares in Deliveroo (ROO) were marginally higher in morning trading despite lowering medium-term guidance for gross transaction value (GTV) growth to mid-teens from 20% to 25% previously. Deliveroo aims to reach an adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) margin of more than 4% by 2026, 'with further upside potential beyond 2026.' The takeaway platform a...

Cybersecurity company CrowdStrike (CRWD:NASDAQ) has been on a tear this year as investor bet on years of AI-powered growth. They were not left disappointed. The Austin, Texas-based company announced better-than-expected results in the third quarter to 31 October, producing earnings of $0.82 per share on revenue up 35.3% year-on-year to $786 million. Analysts had been anticipating $0.74 on $777...

Acquisitive veterinary services group CVS (CVSG:AIM) said first quarter total sales increased 11.9% year on year with comparable sales up 5.8% reflecting positive performance across all parts of the business. The company said it has made a good start to its new financial year with adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) in the four months to 31 October r...

Car parts-to-bicycles retailer Halfords (HFD) has warned annual profits will fall short of previous guidance after seeing weak sales of discretionary big ticket products such as bicycles and tyres in the past few months as consumers contend with higher interest rates and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The warning from Worcestershire-based Halfords, which has reportedly received takeover in...

Stocks in London saw mixed fortunes at Wednesday's market open, with the flagship FTSE 100 held back by a strong pound. The FTSE 100 index opened down 37.16 points, 0.5%, at 7,418.08. The FTSE 250 was up 71.67 points, 0.4%, at 18,458.67, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.6 points, 0.2%, at 714.19. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 740.29, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.4% at 15,998.72, and the Cboe Smal...

Some largely dovish words from US monetary policymakers supported equities, giving stocks in New York a decent start and sending shares in Europe to session highs before the close, though the dollar suffered. The pound edged to only ever-so-slightly below the $1.27 mark, while the euro topped $1.10. The comments from the Federal Reserve cemented the notion that the central bank has enacted its...

Blue-chip equities in Europe were lower early Tuesday afternoon, with comments from central bankers, who have so far fallen short of declaring victory against inflation, hurting the mood. 'Markets are going through a one step forward, one step back motion at present, struggling to sustain a proper breakout despite investors increasingly taking the view that central banks are done with raising...

With investment trust shares in the doldrums and discounts to NAV (net asset value) at their widest level for some time, we have been predicting a wave of mergers among sub-scale funds. Expect 2024 to see more mergers of sub-scale investment trusts Today we had further confirmation that consolidation is the way forward with the news Abrdn China Investment Company (ACIC) would be absorbed into...