Margin falls less than fearedBank buys Metro mortgage bookFull-year forecasts increasedAfter seeing shares in high-street rival Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) sag yesterday on mixed results, investors in NatWest Group (NWG) had low expectations coming into today's first-half update so the strong performance came as a pleasant surprise.The shares, which had already gained more than 50% this year, powe

On 17 July, Sir Keir Starmer's new Labour government announced its plans for the first year of the new parliament, with growth and wealth creation the priority.King Charles' speech at the State Opening of Parliament included a total of 39 bills under a new legislative agenda which includes speeding up the delivery of 'high-quality infrastructure and housing' and nationalising railway operators.Sta

So far 2024 has been a decent year for investors ? most major global indices are in positive territory as inflationary pressures have eased and some central banks have pulled the trigger on rate cuts.KEY DATES FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2024Bank of England meetings: 1 August, 19 September, 7 November, 19 DecemberFederal Reserve meetings: 31 July, 18 September, 7 November, 18 DecemberUK Budget: September

Deal priced at a 53% premiumNews caps stunning Ascential returns this yearStrong strategic logic behind takeoverAfter a remarkable start to the year in terms of shareholder returns, investors in events and analysis firm Ascential (ASCL) woke to the news today that the board had agreed a £1.2 billion conditional bid for the company from rival Informa (INF).Ascential shares jumped 116p or 26% to 56

Revenue growing by 10%Contract wins up over 80%Operating margin to riseFacilities management group Mitie (MTO) delivered a pleasing first-quarter trading update showing double-digit revenue growth and a solid order book thanks to new contract wins.The shares eased 1.7p or 1.4% to 121p, having notched up gains of 25% year-to-date, as the overall market got off to a soggy start. BIG WINS WITH

Stock prices in London closed predominantly higher on Monday, joining European peers in a relatively upbeat finish, following news that US President Joe Biden will not stand for re-election.Amongst individual stocks, airlines slid after Ryanair's warning. Rentokil led the FTSE 100 higher, though, after former BT boss eyed a bid to take over the pest control firm.The FTSE 100 index closed up 43.06

Markets in Europe shook off nerves on Monday, following Joe Biden leaving the US presidential race.The FTSE 100 index was up 62.43 points, or 0.8%, at 8,218.22. The FTSE 250 was up 108.13 points, or 0.5%, at 21,175.81, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.93 of a point, or 0.1%, at 785.06.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.0% at 820.39, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.8% at 18,494.63, but the Cboe Small Companies was do

European markets ended in the red on Friday, after the fallout from a global IT outage sapped risk appetite.The FTSE 100 index ended down 49.17 points, 0.6%, at 8,155.72. The FTSE 250 ended down 166.48 points, or 0.8%, at 21,067.68, and the AIM All-Share fell 3.54 points, 0.5%, at 784.13.For the week, the FTSE 100 fell 1.2%, the FTSE 250 shed 0.6% and the AIM gave back 0.3%.The Cboe UK 100 ended d

Stock prices in London were lower at midday Friday, as investors grappled with a large IT outage on a global scale that affected a plethora of businesses and trade.Companies around the world reported technical issues, with planes grounded, trains disrupted, and television and radio broadcasters taken offline, while Microsoft Corp said it was taking mitigating actions after service issues.As AJ Bel

So far, China's Year of the Dragon hasn't brought investors a great deal of prosperity with the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index of Chinese shares up by less than 3% against a 15% gain for the FTSE World Index.Recent data also suggests the economy is slowing with second-quarter GDP (gross domestic product) only rising by 4.7%, its slowest pace for five quarters and well below economists' forecasts

London's FTSE 100 index dropped on Monday, as poor Chinese economic data weighed on mining stocks, and shares in luxury fashion house Burberry tumbled.The FTSE 100 index ended down 69.95 points, 0.9%, at 8,182.96. The FTSE 250 closed down 13.37 points, 0.1%, at 21,189.52, and the AIM All-Share edged down 0.69 of a point, 0.1%, at 785.48.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.9% at 816.46, the Cboe UK 250 fe

Stock prices in Europe were in the red midday Monday, after markets reacted relatively calmly to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.The FTSE 100 index in London was dragged down by Burberry, after it announced a profit warning.The FTSE 100 index was down 15.32 points, 0.2%, at 8,237.59. The FTSE 250 was down 11.00 points, 0.1%, at 21,191.89, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.72 of a point,

UK soft drinks maker Britvic (BVIC) looks set to become the latest FTSE 250 mid-cap company to exit the London stock market after agreeing to an improved £3.3 billion offer tabled by Danish brewer Carlsberg (CARL-B:CPH) on 8 July.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in

US media firm Paramount Global (PARA:NASDAQ) and Californian-based film and TV production company Skydance Media have finally agreed merger terms, opening a new chapter for one of Hollywood's oldest studios.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-heig

Full year profit guidance raisedImplies 13% profit growthNew three-year banking facilityLow-cost gym operator GYM Group (GYM) said it expected to deliver results for the year to 31 December at the top end of market forecasts after a positive first half which saw revenue grow by 12% to £112.1 million.Investors welcomed the positive pre-close trading update, marking the shares 6% higher to a new 12

London's blue chip index outperformed its European counterparts on Wednesday morning, as investors eagerly await another testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.The FTSE 100 index opened up 16.62 points, 0.2%, at 8,156.43. The FTSE 250 was up 50.64 points, 0.3%, at 20,695.66, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.15 points, 0.2%, at 773.09.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 813.09, the Cboe UK 250

European stock prices were in the red on Tuesday afternoon, as the political deadlock in France continued following the election.Amongst individual stocks, BP took a hit on the FTSE 100 index after warning of a hit to refining margins.The FTSE 100 index was down 6.21 points, 0.1%, at 8,187.28. The FTSE 250 was down 15.55 points, 0.1%, at 20,782.77, and the AIM All-Share was down just 0.070 of a po

Stocks in London opened mixed on Tuesday ahead of the testimony by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, while BP and Shell fell as BP expects a $2 billion impairment charge.The FTSE 100 index opened up 18.23 points, 0.2%, at 8,211.72. The FTSE 250 was down 16.05 points, 0.1%, at 20,782.27, and the AIM All-Share was down just 0.20 of a point at 774.96.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 818.02, the C

Stocks in Europe failed to hold early gains on Monday, closing lower, as investors assessed the implications of an expected political gridlock in France.The FTSE 100 index ended down 10.44 points, 0.1%, at 8,193.49. The FTSE 250 rose 11.67 points, 0.1%, at 20,798.32, and the AIM All-Share edged up 0.77 of a point, 0.1%, to 775.16.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 816.60, the Cboe UK 250 closed down

New delivery hub will go live in 2027Relief rally after bad news on CanadaOcado shares down 53% year-to-dateShares in Ocado (OCDO) were up nearly 6% to 346p as the online grocery retailer said it planned to build a third CFC (customer fulfilment centre) in Kuki-Miyashiro prefecture in Japan.The new CFC will go live in 2027 and will be developed with hypermarket group AEON (8267:TYO). SIGN O