Leading UK shares edged higher on what is expected to be a relatively quiet day, given that US markets are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, with ex-dividend stocks acting as a brake on larger gains. At 9.00am, the benchmark FTSE 100 was 7.5 points or 0.1% at 7,294.13 despite worries about further lockdowns in Europe, particularly Germany, and the continuing pricing pressures which are ...

UK shares closed higher on Wednesday, spurred on by US economic data which showed personal spending rose more than expected and weekly US jobless claims were the lowest since 1969, signaling continued strength in the economy. The latest minutes from the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee meeting, are due after the market close. At the close the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was up ...

UK shares gave back early gains as markets braced for a torrent of US economic data due to be released later today and ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow when US markets will stay closed. As well as the weekly jobless numbers, investors will receive updates on the core latest inflation data, durable goods orders, and personal consumption trends, providing further evidence of economic ...

Shares in chemical company Johnson Matthey (JMAT) drifted 0.98% to £21.60, following the announcement of first half results that revealed a loss which reflected a write down in assets following the group’s decision to exit the battery materials business. In many respects today’s first half results have been pre-empted by last week’s profits warning, and news that Chief Executive Robert ...

Analysts have taken a sharp knife to forecasts for compound wafer maker IQE (IQE:AIM) after it slashed revenue and earnings guidance. The chip components supplier projected a 40% fall in annual core profit on Wednesday as the Cardiff-based firm’s smartphone-making clients place fewer orders due to supply chain issues. The warning from IQE, which makes semiconductor wafers for chips used in ...

Shares in soft drinks giant Britvic (BVIC) bubbled up 4p to 882p as the Robinsons, Tango and London Essence maker served up a near-30% annual profits surge driven by a second half rebound in its out-of-home business as economies reopened. The FTSE 250 drinks firm also flagged encouraging current trading, with volumes ahead of the comparative periods in full years 2020 and 2021 in the first six ...

Shares in global animal genetics company Genus (GNS) sank 15% to £44.34 on Wednesday after the company said it expected full year pre-tax profit to be modestly below prior expectations. The company had already flagged volatile pig prices when it reported full year numbers in September, saying it expected the headwind to last for some months, which would reduce growth below its medium term ...

A strong third quarter performance from testing and certification firm Intertek (ITRK) helped lift the shares 5.7% to £54.52. Today’s rise follows a period of underperformance for the shares which are down 3.8% over the last 12 months against a gain of 14.1% for the FTSE All-Share. The company which is the largest tester of consumer products globally, operating 1,000 labs in 100 ...

UK shares continued to climb on Wednesday with the FTSE 100 rising 0.5% back above the 7,300 level thanks to buying of oil majors and mining stocks. Meanwhile, investors were awaiting the release of minutes from the US Federal Reserve’s latest Open Market Committee meeting, due after the market close, for clues as to the pace of interest rate hikes after recent strong inflation and jobs ...

UK stocks closed marginally higher on Tuesday despite most European markets sinking deep into the red and a weak opening on Wall Street. Investors seemed to put their faith in the UK's booster vaccination programme, while European Covid cases rise sharply leading to the re-imposition of government measures to curb the virus's spread. In the US, the re-appointment of Fed chairman Jerome ...