After almost closing at a new high in early April, the UK?s blue-chip FTSE 100 has finally made it into the ranks of indices hitting new all-time highs thanks to a 4.5% gain since the start of January.On 22 April the index reached its highest ever close and on 23 April it moved through its previous intra-day high.The UK clearly isn?t in the same league as the US, where the S&P 500 has notched up n

Profit at both firms tops forecastsAviva announces £300 million buybackBeazley plans $325 million buybackShares in FTSE 100 insurance groups Aviva (AV.) and Beazley (BEZ) were among the gainers after both firms posted positive results and announced plans to buy back their shares.Aviva shares climbed 4% to 473p while Beazley shares added 2.5% to 670p. AVIVA ON SOLID GROUNDAviva reported ful

It was a generally positive Thursday for London and European stocks, as markets reacted to the latest European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve meetings.The FTSE 100 index closed up 21.98 points, 0.3%, at 7,684.49. The FTSE 250 ended up 144.53 points, 0.8%, at 19,263.50, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.06 of a point at 749.96.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 769.77, the Cboe UK 250 closed u

Stock prices in London were in the green at midday Thursday, as UK purchasing managers? index data indicated that the UK recession is ?already? over.Eye are now on US jobless data, which will be released at 1330 GMT.The FTSE 100 index was up 20.96 points, 0.3%, at 7,683.47. The FTSE 250 was up 135.16 points, 0.7%, at 19,254.13, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.86 of a points, 0.1%, at 750.88.The Cbo

Combined portfolio valued at £6.4 billionMerged group would be worth £3.9 billionPromotion to the FTSE 100 could followIn a sign consolidation in the UK real estate market is far from over, LondonMetric Property (LMP) and LXI REIT (LXI) have confirmed market rumours they are in talks over a possible all-share merger.Shares in potential acquirer LondonMetric traded sideways at 197p, giving it a m

The FTSE 100 was held back by miners and oil firms on Tuesday, while other stocks finished on the up, amid a slight recovery for the dollar.The FTSE 100 index closed down 7.72 points, 0.1%, at 7,410.04. The FTSE 250 ended up 14.24 points, 0.1%, at 17,761.71, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.75 of a point, or 0.1%, at 698.63.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% at 739.72, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.1%

Quarterly review due in weeks Four likely winners and losersA further three stocks could drop outWe may only be half-way through the third quarter, but already it looks as though there will be quite a few changes to the benchmark FTSE 100 index when the topic comes up for review next month.Promotion to, and demotion from, the index can have a big effect on the share prices of the firms concerned a

The events of the past three years have completely altered the investment backcloth against which fund managers are trying to earn above-average returns.Fund managers can have an investment framework to operate within, but what do they do when a 'black swan' lands? How do they adapt their strategies and reshuffle portfolios when a once-in-a-century event happens - like a global pandemic or an outb

Stock prices in London climbed on Wednesday as softer-than-expected UK inflation lifted hopes for a lower peak for interest rates, while large-cap overseas earners got a boost from a weaker pound.The FTSE 100 index opened up 88.26 points, 1.2%, at 7,541.95. The FTSE 250 was up 460.88 points, 2.4%, at 19,079.10, and the AIM All-Share was 4.52 points, 0.6%, at 758.88.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.2% at 7

I think the legendary US investor Warren Buffett once said, 'an investor must understand a company's products and its business model before making an investment' which loosely translates to 'buy what you know'.I tried to adopt this strategy when filling my SIPP (self-invested investment plan) in 2019 after combining several smaller pension pots from former employers.WHAT IS IN MY SIPP?I chose a mi

Investec Bank CEO sells shares as he readies for retirementDowlais CEO snaps up shares with a value just under £500,000 Beazley non-executive director sells £60,000 worth of sharesRichard Wainwright, CEO of the banking arm of Anglo-South African wealth management and international banking group Investec (INVP), sold two tranches of shares on the 19 June - 110,144 at 459p worth a total of £505,0

Each year, natural disasters around the world destroy assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars.According to German reinsurance giant Munich Re (MUV2:ETR), losses incurred from natural disasters amounted to $270 billion last year with less than half that figure covered by insurance.For insurers, it is essential to have in-depth knowledge of risks and how they are developing in order to be able

The FTSE 100 closed higher on Wednesday, as investors hope that a cool-than-expected US inflation reading may indicate that rate hikes may end soon.The FTSE 100 index closed up 39.12 points, or 0.5% at 7,824.84 on Wednesday. The FTSE 250 ended up 46.68 points, or 0.3%, at 19,002.73. The AIM All-Share closed up 2.53 points, or 0.3%, at 819.38.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 782.52, the Cboe UK 250

Share prices in Europe recovered some ground on Friday, paring recent losses, though an end to post-new year optimism and a bout of investor caution will be what this week will be remembered for.The year started with optimism over inflation and hope of an easing of rate hikes by central banks, economic data has led to recessionary fears.Data is suggesting a slowdown is occurring in the US - with n

- Three new faces in the FTSE 100- Five stocks join the FTSE 250- Changes take effect from 19 DecemberIndex compiler FTSE Russell, owned by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), has just released the results of its December quarterly review.Three stocks are being promoted to the FTSE 100 large-cap index, meaning three stocks are leaving to join the FTSE 250 mid-cap universe, as Shares explains.WHO I

The last couple of years have been tough for the motor industry as a whole. While Covid only brought production lines to standstill for a limited period of time the following supply chain snarl-ups created a real headache for just-in-time operators and the dearth of crucial parts like semiconductors sent prices skyrocketing.The more established names were able to use their size to muscle their way

Mid-cap companies have always attracted investors. Seen as large enough to compete on a global scale, but not so big that their capacity for growth is capped, like many FTSE 100 stocks, an increasing number of investors spend time researching stocks on the FTSE 250 index, or simply buy the index through the handful of inexpensive targeted ETF tracker funds that are available.While many investors m

- Share price rallies on consensus beating earnings- Combined ratio guidance upgraded for 2022.- Cyber insurance drives profitabilityShares in insurer Beazley (BEZ) jumped over 10% in early trading after the group reported results ahead of market expectations, and upgraded its combined ratio guidance to the high 80's for 2022 from a previous guidance of around 90%.Profit before tax of $22.3 millio

Just when it seemed as if Russia's standing in the international community couldn't sink any lower, evidence of war crimes in Ukraine has seen the US and its allies take an even tougher line.As well as imposing harsher sanctions on Russian banks and state-owned enterprises, the US has proposed a blanket ban on all new investment in the country. The UK has done the same.'The goal is to force them t

Shares in insurer Beazley (BEZ) drifted 2.2% to 487p despite the firm announcing better than expected full year results.Profit before tax was $369.2 million for the full year 2021, representing a 19% beat versus market expectations. The dividend of 12.9p was 11.2% ahead of consensus.Beazley, which provides casualty and property, cyber and political risk insurance, had a combined ratio, a key metri