Shares in Irish building materials group Kingspan (KGP) touched an all-time high of €80.60, up 4.7% on the day, after it published a half-year update showing trading ahead of expectations. The firm reported that the first quarter’s strong momentum, which it flagged in its April trading update, had continued into the second quarter with ‘most key markets strongly ahead of the first half of ...

BlackRock Throgmorton (THRG) 916.59p Gain to date: 30.4% Original entry point: Buy at 702.79p, 26 November 2020 Our call to buy investment trust BlackRock Throgmorton (THRG) for its focus on quality companies which had been sold off in the initial value rally has proved a canny trade. The portfolio is dominated by small and mid-cap names which have performed strongly in the interim. A ...

It’s been a relatively quiet week for director deals with little in the way of buying or selling, but two companies in particular have seen notable activity after surges in their share price. One such company is FTSE 250 building products firm Grafton (GFTU). Chief executive Gavin Slark has sold £2.15 million worth of shares in the group, at a price of £11.98 each, after results last week ...

London’s FTSE was flat at the open on Tuesday, edging a mere 0.03% higher to 6,800.19, as concerns over the economic impact of a third nationwide lockdown were offset by a flurry of earnings upgrades. KINGFISHER CLIMBS Home improvement retailer Kingfisher (KGF) climbed 2.7% to 287p as the B&Q-to-Screwfix owner assured it is ‘comfortable’ with the top end of current market ...

Optimism surrounding Covid-19 vaccines combined with positive factory data from China and the UK to send the FTSE 100 higher on the first trading day of December, the blue chip benchmark ending the session 1.9% up at 6,384.73. Gold regained its shine again amid a rare down day for cryptocurrency Bitcoin, while US shares were in demand with the S&P 500 up 1.3% to 3,669.14 by 4.30pm UK ...

The FTSE 100 was 2.1% firmer at 6,396.64 on Tuesday, the blue chip benchmark buoyed by positive factory data from China and the UK, although sterling remained volatile with Brexit talks going down to the wire. CORPORATE NEWS In corporate news, department store Debenhams announced it is entering liquidation after JD Sports (JD.) pulled out of a deal to buy the group out of ...

Following on from recording its biggest monthly gain in three decades in November, London's FTSE 100 started December in bright fashion with blue chip stocks soaring in early trade. At around 8.30am, the UK's benchmark index jumped 1.44% to 6,356.15, as positive Chinese factory data fueled global economic recovery hopes that are already supported by upbeat coronavirus vaccine ...

Building supplies and garden centre firm Grafton (GFTU) gained 7% to 845p as it upped guidance thanks to a home improvement boom. The company said it experienced ‘exceptional growth’ for the four months to the end of October due to very high demand for home maintenance and improvement products. The owner of the Woodie’s DIY, Home and Garden business revealed that its performance was ...

Online retail firm The Hut Group, the Manchester-based owner of the Lookfantastic website, is to raise £920 million in a stock market listing, valuing the business at £4.5 billion. The planned share offering would be the biggest this year on the London market and the first since the coronavirus pandemic, though in our view, there are several red flags around this offering. Hut Group, whose ...

Shares in building products distributor and retailer Grafton (GFTU) climbed 5.7% to 789p after the firm posted a resilient first half trading update and said it expected second half operating profits to reach a similar level to last year. The group reported sales for the first half down 19% to £1.058 billion on a continuing operations basis as its UK distribution business – which accounts ...

UK stocks drifted on Thursday as all eyes turned towards the annual meeting of US Federal Reserve bankers and a speech by chairman Jerome Powell. Sterling held firm at $1.32, close to its recent highs after its best weekly performance since June. Brent crude oil prices hit five-month highs of $46 per barrel as hurricane Laura forced the closure of most production and refining facilities in the ...

The FTSE 100 was down 0.1% to 6,149.04 early on amid continuing negative news on Covid-19 from the US and as chancellor Rishi Sunak warned of 'difficult times ahead'. Aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce (RR.) has tumbled 8.4% to 263.6p after it reported a free cash outflow of £3bn in the first half as widebody engine flying hours fell by approximately 75% in the second quarter. In a trading ...

Shares in builders’ merchant and tool-hire firm Travis Perkins (TPK) had a bumpy ride last quarter thanks to negative sentiment in its sector caused by profit warnings from building supplies firm SIG (SHI) and a drop in UK housebuilding activity amid uncertainty over Brexit and the general election. With the election out of the way and Brexit due to be formalised later this month, the ...

UK stocks opened slightly lower today with the FTSE 100 off 0.17% at 7,600.4 while the FTSE 250 index was flat at 21,720. Gambling stocks were on the back foot following the banning of credit cards which comes into effect on April 14. GVC (GVC) was trading off 0.24%, William Hill (WHM) was 2% lower while Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) shares were 0.8% softer. Online fashion retailer Boohoo ...

The FTSE 100 index of leading stocks opened marginally higher on Thursday adding 0.1% to 7,173 points, helped by a weaker pound. In contrast the FTSE 250 index, which has enjoyed a strong run of late, gave up 0.5% to 20,087 points on the weaker exchange rate. Consumer-goods giant Unilever (ULVR) delivered steady sales growth of 2.9% in the third quarter driven in equal parts by price ...

Markets continued to claw back some of the month’s losses following signs yesterday from China and the US that they would resume trade talks. The FTSE 100 was trading up 0.4% at 7,212 while the FTSE 250 advanced by a similar amount to 19,370. Selco-owner Grafton (GFTU) reported an uptick in half-yearly profits on improved margins strength in its merchanting and retailing businesses in ...

UK stocks open weaker on Wednesday with the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks drifting off by 0.2% to 7,522 due to softness in Beverages, Personal Goods, Tobacco and Utilities Housebuilder Barratt Developments (BDEV) delivers a positive trading update for the year to 30 June and forecasts annual pre-tax profit above the current market consensus of £884m thanks to a big improvement in operating ...

UK markets open softer on Wednesday as with the FTSE 100 large-cap index easing back by 0.2% to 7,245 while the FTSE 250 mid-caps eases by 0.1% to 19,434. Most sectors are in the red bar Miners and Oil Producers with Food Retailers and Utilities each giving up over 1%. Tobacco giant Imperial Brands (IMB) reports a solid first half performance with net revenues up 2.5% to £3.66bn despite a ...

LED lighting and electricals manufacturer Luceco (LUCE) is on track to roughly double pre-tax profit in 2019 as it bounces back from a series of problems. These challenges have included retail-facing customers running down existing LED stocks and price increases on key raw materials, particularly copper. But it was the disastrous stock and currency mis-management that really hurt, smashing ...

UK stocks are in modest decline in early trade on Thursday as investors come to terms with the can being kicked down the road again on a Brexit outcome following last night’s extension to the end of October. Many businesses may be breathing a sigh of relief at a possible side-stepping of a more draconian deal. Travel stocks are certainly leading the charge, with budget airline EasyJet ...