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 the Cbo

Q1 revenue falls less than expectedUS market share maintainedNew CEO could be announced imminentlyAfter a challenging couple of years amid pressure from activist investors to improve performance, bookmaker Entain (ENT) 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

Stocks in London started the week on the front foot, picking up strength as Monday?s trading session wore on, to post healthy gains by the close.Gold hit a new high before fading, airlines and miners were in demand, while Entain prospered on bid speculation.The FTSE 100 index closed up 32.31 points, 0.4%, at 7,943.47. The FTSE 250 ended up 128.64 points, 0.7%, at 19,854.58, and the AIM All-Share c

The FTSE 100 rose on Monday morning, albeit not as confidently as peers in Paris and Frankfurt, as investors reflect on a slew of data releases from last week, and look ahead to what could be a key few days for inflation and monetary policy developments.The FTSE 100 index rose 9.70 points, 0.1%, at 7,920.86. The FTSE 250 climbed 68.77 points, 0.4%, at 19,794.71, and the AIM All-Share advanced 4.55

Apollo looking to break up businessLeaderless status leaves firm vulnerableActivist Eminence Capital has board seatShares in bookmaker Entain (ENT) topped the FTSE 100, climbing 5% to 826p on rumours private equity groups including Apollo are eying a potential break-up of the Ladbrokes and Coral owner after it initiated a formal review of the group?s structure amid activist pressure.The Times news

London?s FTSE 100 was down a tad on Monday morning, with trade lacking in inspiration as investors moved with caution ahead of a US inflation print on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index opened down 9.32 points, 0.1%, at 7,901.84. The FTSE 250 was down just 0.09 of a point at 19,725.85, while the AIM All-Share added 2.43 points, 0.3%, at 742.48.The Cboe UK 100 declined slightly to 789.88, the Cboe UK 250

From the minute that squirming bundle of joy is placed in parents? arms life gets complicated and expensive.How will you split paternity leave, will you both go back to work full time and is that even a possibility with childcare in the UK so expensive?With the average cost of full-time nursery for a child under two coming in at an eyewatering £14,800 a year, according to a 2023 Coram Childcare r

Stock prices in Europe ended higher on Thursday, with the most convincing gains coming from the blue-chip benchmark in Paris, which topped 8,000 points for the first time.The FTSE 100?s gains were more muted, though it did extend its winning streak to three days.Interest rate optimism helped equities on Thursday. The conviction that the European Central Bank will enact its first of the cycle in Ju

Equities in Europe ended higher on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 outperforming despite a stronger pound, which perked up after UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt?s budget.Among individual shares, vape sellers shot up despite excise tax measures on the sector. ConvaTec?s annual earnings impressed, while Fresnillo struggled despite another record gold price being notched.The FTSE 100 index ended up 33.15 poin

A big increase in the average takeover premium in 2023 highlights how parts of the UK stock market continue to be undervalued. The average bid premium for UK stocks in 2023 was 51% against 37% in 2022 and 43% in 2021, according to analysis by AJ Bell.Most London-listed takeovers last year involved small-cap firms. Buyers were a mixture of private equity firms or industry players looking to buy riv

Shares gain on activist board appointmentEminence Capital has criticised the boardUrging Entain to sell MGM Resorts joint ventureShares in Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain (ENT) moved 2% higher on Wednesday to £10 after appointing Eminence Capital founder Jerry Sandler to its board as a non-independent director.Sandler?s appointment will also see him become a member of Entain?s People and Governa

The FTSE 100 mustered a small gain, but large-cap peers in Europe returned all of their progress in afternoon dealings.The mood in Europe turned cautious as the hours until the Federal Reserve?s final decision of the year ticked away.?Markets are waiting with bated breath for the US Federal Reserve?s latest interest rate decision and, crucially, the message it sends about when future rate cuts are

With the US Federal Reserve set to begin a week dominated by three central bank decisions this evening, investors in London demonstrated confidence at midday on Wednesday.This was despite downbeat gross domestic product data in the UK.The FTSE 100 index was up 22.62 points, 0.3%, at 7,565.39. The FTSE 250 was up 38.22 points, 0.2%, at 18,700.34, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.91 points, 0.3%, at 7

The FTSE 100 opened higher on Wednesday, as investors bought before this evening?s interest rate decision from the US Federal Reserve and despite falling UK gross domestic product data.The FTSE 100 index opened up 14.45 points, 0.2%, at 7,557.22. The FTSE 250 was up 48.00 points, 0.3%, at 18,710.12, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.31 points, 0.2%, at 725.22.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 754.23,

European blue chips ended the month on the front foot after easing inflation in the eurozone and the US boosted hopes that interest rates could be cut sooner than previously thought.The FTSE 100 index closed up 30.29 points, 0.4%, at 7,453.75. The FTSE 250 ended down 234.11 points, 1.3%, at 18,233.47, and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.75 points, or 0.2%, at 713.78.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% a

European equities took confidence from a cooler eurozone inflation reading, though the pound and euro surrendered some ground, with the inflation picture in the US in focus later on Thursday afternoon.The FTSE 100 index rose 41.63 points, 0.6%, at 7,465.09.The FTSE 100 snapped its streak of underperformance, with oil majors and China-exposed stocks leading the charge. A weaker pound, now sitting c

European equities closed sharply higher on a buoyant day for stocks as interest rate pauses on either side of the Atlantic boosted expectations that rates may have peaked.The FTSE 100 index closed up 104.10 points, 1.4%, at 7,446.53. The FTSE 250 ended up 581.41 points, 3.4%, at 17,767.30 and the AIM All-Share closed up 6.77 points, 1.0%, at 690.34.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 1.4% at 742.97, the Cboe

Soft trading amid regulatory headwindsUS joint venture BetMGM sales seen top of guidanceFull-year profit guidance reiteratedGlobal sports betting group Entain (ENT) gave a veiled warning on Monday after saying current trading was softer than anticipated, but maintained its full-year profit guidance.Investors got the message, with the shares rooted to the bottom of the FTSE 100 dropping 7% to 990p.

Following a better-than-expected gross domestic product read in the UK, London stock prices ended both Friday and the week in the red, as investors feared the prospect of the Bank of England keeping interest rates higher for longer.The FTSE 100 index closed down 94.44 points, or 1.2% at 7,524.16 on Friday, and ended the week down 0.5%.The FTSE 250 ended down 194.11 points, or 1.0%, at 18,799.70, c

Better-than-expected UK gross domestic product growth hurt market sentiment in London on Friday at midday, amid fears it would fuel the Bank of England's appetite to keep interest rates higher for longer.The FTSE 100 index was down 81.30 points, or 1.1%, at 7,537.30. The FTSE 250 was down 137.15 points, or 0.7%, at 18,856.66. The AIM All-Share was down just 0.21 of a point at 757.18.The Cboe UK 10