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...

Shares in Saga (SAGA) were marginally higher this morning as the over 50s travel and insurance company reported a 146% rise in underlying pre-tax profit to £38.2 million for the year ending 31 January 2024 lifted by forward bookings from their cruise and travel businesses. Underlying revenue for Ocean Cruise grew by 28% to £215.9 million compared with 2022/3, supported by a load factor of 88...

After a challenging couple of years amid pressure from activist investors to improve performance, bookmaker Entain said first quarter net gaming revenue including its 50/50 joint venture with BetMGM fell 3%. Consensus analyst expectations compiled by the company were looking for a bigger drop in net gaming revenue of between 4% and 6%, giving the shares a welcome boost, up almost 2% to 821.4p...

Shares in ASOS rallied 10% to 366.2p in early dealings after the online fast fashion retailer maintained full year 2024 guidance and flagged progress in shifting its mountain of excess stock as CEO Jose Calamonte's turnaround plan gains traction. Nevertheless, the retailer's transition to a new operating model is inflicting short term pain, as demonstrated by a plunge in first half sales, wid...

Stock prices in London opened mixed on Wednesday, as UK consumer price inflation ebbed, but not by how much economists were expecting, prompting investors to rethink their Bank of England interest rate expectations. The reading followed numbers showing UK wage growth was loftier than expected in the three months to February. Sterling traded higher early Wednesday. The FTSE 100 index opened jus...

Stock prices in London closed lower on Tuesday as hopes continued fading for three US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year, and as tensions between Iran and Israel added to investors' fears. The FTSE 100 index closed down 145.17 points, 1.8%, at 7,820.36. The FTSE 250 ended down 354.35 points, 1.8%, at 19,344.54, and the AIM All-Share closed down 12.00 points, down 1.6%, at 738.28. The...

Shares in Dr. Martens fell 31% at one point to 66p in morning trading - a new 52-week low - as the iconic British footwear brand issued a profit warning. The Camden Town-headquartered company said US wholesale revenue 'is anticipated to be double-digit down year-on-year,' adding 'the decline in wholesale has a significant impact on profitability, with a base assumption being in the region of...