On 3 January 2024, the FTSE 100 celebrates its 40th anniversary. And to borrow a cliche - it seems an opportune moment to ask, will life for the index truly begin at 40 or will it be plunged into a mid-life crisis?The index was launched as a replacement for the FT-30, which as its name suggests was a grouping of 30 businesses drawn principally from the industrial and commercial sectors. The FT-30

Stock prices in London closed down on Monday, with stocks in New York following in their footsteps.The FTSE 100 index closed down 16.39 points, 0.2%, at 7,512.96. The FTSE 250 ended down 47.40 points, 0.3%, at 18,361.25, and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.05 points, or 0.2%, at 715.24.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 749.31 and the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.3% at 15,878.49. However, the Cboe Sm

Shares in pub and hotel group Marston's (MARS) are down around 18% this year, despite the business continuing to recover from the pandemic and receiving a welcome boost from the chancellor's Autumn statement which froze alcohol duties until August 2024.After revealing full-year sales on 11 October, the company is due to update investors on earnings for the year to September on 5 December.Sales ros

There are an increasing number of large firms which are thinking about changing their main share listing from the UK to the US or elsewhere, raising fears London is losing its importance.This article explains why companies are giving serious thought to this issue and who might be next to press the button.Irish building materials giant CRH (CRH) is the latest firm to decide to move its main listing

London started the week on a mixed note on Monday, after new data suggested that the US economy was in a 'two-speed' state, split by the service and manufacturing sectors.The FTSE 100 index closed down 7.29 points, or 0.1% at 7,599.99 on Monday. The FTSE 250 ended down 35.76 points, or 0.2%, at 19,113.55. The AIM All-Share closed up 1.01 points, or 0.1%, at 790.59.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% a

Wizz Air expected to report a loss for the year but hopes for recoveryBudget carrier is looking for a return to profit in the current financial yearThe European budget airline Wizz Air (WIZZ) is expected to report an overall net loss for the year ending 31 March 2023 on 8 June, hit by a range of issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well as rising maintenance and fuel costs.However Jozsef

One issue which continues to bedevil the UK market is the number of firms who are considering switching their main listing from the London Stock Exchange, usually to New York, and the potential newcomers who are opting to float stateside rather than on this side of the pond.This is leading to much handwringing and comment that London is in decline as a financial centre, as well as proposed reforms

Near-6% stake sale via discounted placingShares in London Stock Exchange tumble 4%Is London losing its public listings allure?News came today (17 May) that London Stock Exchange (LSEG) stake owners have sold a 33 million slug of stock in the UK's main stock market operator. An investor consortium, including US buyout firm Blackstone and financial data and news firm Thomson Reuters, sold 33 millio

For years, UK-listed technology and biotechnology companies moaned about how they could get a higher valuation if their shares traded on the US market. Some added a secondary listing, others ditched the UK completely and parked their shares across the Atlantic. It was a trend that bubbled away, but not a mainstream activity.That's now changing after several larger companies across non-tech sectors

- CRH unveils plans to move primary listing to New York- Blow to UK market- Company posts record results for 2022Building materials firm CRH (CRH) has signalled its intention to quit the FTSE 100 and seek a primary listing in the US which accounts for the majority of its earnings.The news is a further blow to the prestige of the UK stock market, after news overnight that chip designer ARM will als

Amid all the frenzied coverage of a possible takeover of Manchester United (MANU:NYSE) - one question occurred to this observer. Why isn't it worth more than the reported price tag of $6 billion slapped on the club by current owners the Glazers?For now, it looks as if the Qataris and their main rival bidder - the owner of chemicals firm INEOS, Jim Ratcliffe - are unwilling to meet this asking pric

The FTSE 100 was sent back down to earth on Tuesday after it outperformed at the start of the week, with fears that the Federal Reserve will keep rates higher for longer hurting investor sentiment.With a week to go before the US central bank's next policy meeting, traders are digesting a somewhat bullish reading of the US services sector, while also dealing with the fallout of the Friday's strong

It was a cautious Monday for European markets, though the FTSE 100 in London managed to kick off the week in the green.London's flagship index got a boost from news of an ease of Covid curbs in China. Miners ended higher, as did Prudential, supporting the blue-chip index and ensuring it outperformed struggling counterparts in New York and Europe.The FTSE 100 index closed up 11.31 points, 0.2%, at

The less than happy story of football clubs on the stock market has a new chapter as Manchester United (MANU:NYSE) might be put up for sale by its controversial owners, the Glazer family.Casual observers might be surprised to learn that such a significant global brand from the world's most popular sport is valued by the market at just £3.5 billion - for context that's roughly comparable with hous

As the US reporting season rolls on, what have we learnt so far about the domestic economy and the global outlook and what challenges are firms facing?We have already heard from the US banks that domestic consumers are bearing up despite higher food, energy and housing costs, and the economy is 'resilient' for the time being.CONSUMER STOCKS PAINT A MIXED PICTURECredit card issuer American Express

- Savills chair snaps up shares- Victorian Plumbing founder buys £400,000 worth of stock- Takes stake closer to 50%The chair of Savills (SVS) Nicholas Ferguson snapped up £80,000 worth of shares in the property business.Year-to-date the £1.2 billion market cap has fallen more than 40% and it is down 18% in the last month, caught up in a sell-off in the real estate sector which has been exacerba

Sterling fell to a historic low against the US dollar on Monday, though the slumping pound was good news for the FTSE 100 which benefits from overseas earnings.Against the dollar, the pound was trading at $1.0655 on Monday evening, down from $1.0869 at the London equities close on Friday. Despite the bleak day, the pound was able to stage a mini-rebound from the all-time low it fell to earlier in

The US dollar is trading at 20-year highs against a basket of major currencies. It has benefited from the twin tailwinds of big interest rate hikes from the US Federal Reserves and recession fears.When rates are rising faster in the US than in other parts of the world, the higher returns on offer attract more money into the US currency. In addition, the dollar is considered a safe haven currency a

Stocks in London plunged on Monday, with hotter-than-expected US inflation and renewed lockdown measures in China lifting fears over the fate of two of the world's biggest economies.The FTSE 100 index closed down 111.71 points, or 1.5%, at 7,205.81. The FTSE 250 ended down 489.95 points, or 2.5%, at 19,183.37, and the AIM All-Share closed down 26.86 points, or 2.8%, at 924.06.The Cboe UK 100 ended

Stocks in London fell back into the red on Thursday during a volatile week of trading, as news of slowing domestic growth sparked recession fears, while inflation and tightening monetary policy remain at the top of investors' minds.The FTSE 100 index closed down 114.32 points, or 1.6%, at 7,233.34. The FTSE 250 ended down 116,27 points, or 0.9%, at 19,480.88, and the AIM All-Share closed down 14.8