Stock prices were mixed on early Tuesday morning in London, as investors dissected UK labour data, and looked ahead to a key US inflation print.The FTSE 100 index opened down 12.28 points, 0.2%, at 7,413.55. The FTSE 250 was up 9.99 points, 0.1%, at 17,923.64, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.16 of a point at 700.71.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 739.88, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.1% at 15,490.28,

Ofcom fines Royal Mail £5.6 millionMissed delivery targets to blameIDS loses its monopoly to deliver mailThe UK's communications regulator Ofcom has punished Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services (IDS) with a £5.6 million fine for its failure to meet delivery targets over the year to March.The sanction follows a probe initiated by the regulator in May and includes a 30% reduction

Being a value manager often means taking a positive view on a stock which seems to be universally unloved and facing plenty of headwinds, which is certainly the true in the case of logistics firm International Distributions Services (IDS).The FTSE 250 company, which recently changed its name from Royal Mail Group to emphasise its international scale, has delivered a string of profit warnings and i

Nine months on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the fate of many Russia-focused stocks and funds remain up in the air.High profile names have fallen by the wayside - notably Russian gold miner Petropavlovsk.Prevented from selling its gold due to sanctions, the company entered administration and exited the UK stock market in July leaving shareholders with nothing. Real estate group Raven Prope

Plumbing products firm Ferguson (FERG), which generates 100% of its revenue in North America, is set to move its primary listing to the US after shareholders recently approved the move.This will see the company exit the FTSE 100 on 12 May as it moves to a 'standard listing' on the UK market where it will no longer qualify for inclusion in FTSE indices.Numis analyst Christen Hjorth says there is a

Stock markets were attempting a new rally on Friday, after prices were knocked on Thursday by failed peace talks between Ukraine and Russia and another hot inflation reading from the US.Helping to improve sentiment in London as a difficult week drew to a close was a report of better-than-expected economic growth in the UK at the start of 2022.The FTSE 100 index was up 59.55 points, or 0.8%, at 7,1

Stocks in London ended lower on Thursday, as US inflation remains at fever high levels, while peace talks between Russia and Ukraine conclude without progress, sapping earlier investor hopes.The FTSE 100 index closed down 91.63 points, or 1.3%, at 7,099.09. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index closed down 113.65 points, or 0.6%, at 19,955.55. The AIM All-Share index closed down 3.17 points, or 0.3%, at 983.

Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, sponsored by Turkey, led nowhere on Thursday, helping to put an end to a short-lived rebound in shares.Attention now turns to policy decision by the European Central Bank and inflation figures for February from the US.'After the big rally for equities and the euro and even bigger plunge for some key commodity prices on Wednesday, there has been a complete l

After years in the wilderness the FTSE 100 is finally coming into its own as some of the key features of the index go from being liabilities to advantages.Our analysis suggests that, in a world of inflation, rising interest rates and surging commodity prices, many of the big names which dominate the index are well placed. As well as domestic investors, this could well increase the appeal of the UK

Stocks in London on Wednesday closed higher on Wednesday, as hopes grow on a diplomatic solution to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reflected by a surge from Russia-linked stocks and a fall from gold stocks.Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday discussed diplomatic ways to settle the Ukraine conflict and the implementation of humanitarian corridors to evacua

Bargain hunting on Wednesday was giving share prices a reprieve from their downward spiral over the past month, but further market volatility may be just around the corner as Russia shows no signs of letting up its assault on Ukraine.'For now, markets are relieved by the fact we haven't had any fresh bearish news since yesterday's announcement of a ban in oil imports from Russia,' ThinkMarkets ana

The latest ratcheting upward in sanctions against Russia didn't put off equity investors early Wednesday, as markets across Europe staged a rally.New signs of life in M&A activity also helped lift spirits in London.The US and UK announced Tuesday they are cutting off imports of Russian oil, in the most far-reaching action yet by Western allies to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine.The moves mark a

UK and European equities were attempting to stage a rebound early Tuesday, despite traumatic scenes in Ukraine and soaring commodities prices, which were stoking existing concerns about the damage that inflation will cause to global economic rebound.However, markets and the situation in Ukraine remained volatile.'We would now highlight that it is in both Putin's and Russia's interest for the war t

Stocks in London ended lower on Monday as the ongoing invasion of Ukraine continues to raise prices in commodities of gold and oil, which is fostering fears of accelerating inflation and increased costs of living.As the civilian death toll mounts in Ukraine, the IMF and World Bank are warning about the consequences the conflict and the tough sanctions imposed on Russia will have on the global econ

A huge spike in oil prices and some opportunistic bargain hunting was lending some support to the FTSE 100 early Monday, but stock markets otherwise were a sea of red, as Russian continued it all-out military assault on its neighbour.Russian forces pummelled Ukrainian cities from the air, land and sea on Monday, with warnings they were preparing for an assault on the capital Kyiv, as terrified civ

Stock prices were set to end a frightening week sharply lower, after disturbing headlines about a nuclear power plant chased more money out of risk assets.Investors also were awaiting the key US jobs report for February later Friday.Ukraine accused the Kremlin of 'nuclear terror' and the West expressed horror on Friday, after Europe's largest atomic power plant was attacked and taken over by invad

Fear of a nuclear catastrophe caused by fighting at a huge power plant in Ukraine sent investors scrambling for safe havens early Friday, ahead of the key US jobs report later in the day.The FTSE 100 index was down 116.56 points, or 1.6%, at 7,122.29 early Friday. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index was down 259.70 points, or 1.3%, at 19,820.61. The AIM All-Share index was down 13.17 points, or 1.3%, at 99

Equity markets went into reverse again on Thursday, despite new ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, as oil prices neared $120 a barrel.Russian forces have taken the Black Sea port of Kherson in southern Ukraine, the first major city to fall after a string of setbacks for Moscow. Ukraine's second city Kharkiv continues to come under heavy Russian shelling, with police and university buildin

Share prices were higher in London and the rest of Europe on Thursday morning, despite more distressing scenes from Ukraine, as UK company earnings attracted early market attention.The FTSE 100 index was up 13.71 points, or 0.2%, at 7,443.27 early Thursday. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index was up 56.84 points, or 0.3%, at 20,832.66. The AIM All-Share index was down 3.57 points, or 0.4%, at 1,024.12.In m

It was a better close for London stocks on Wednesday, with oil majors continuing to prosper from rising prices as the invasion of Ukraine continues, while Polymetal rebounded from consecutive falls in its share price.However, the Russian gold miner is still in danger of losing its place in the FTSE 100.In the central banking space, Fed Chair Jerome Powell is testifying before US lawmakers, offerin