Both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 barely budged on Wednesday morning, while the pound edged up, after a more robust than expected UK inflation reading. The FTSE 100 index traded just 1.14 points higher at 8,939.46. Almost immediately after the opening bell on Tuesday, it topped 9,000 points for the first time in its 41-year history, peaking at 9,016.98. It only briefly flirted with that level,...

Stocks in London were lower around midday on Monday, amid fears about China's economy and high interest rates in the US that could linger for longer.The FTSE 100 index was down 48.43 points, or 0.6%, at 7,635.48. The FTSE 250 was down 170.26 points, or 0.9%, at 18,436.61, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.44 points, or 0.2%, at 737.99.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 761.70, the Cboe UK 250 was...

With the FTSE 100 hitting new all-time highs and global stock markets in the ascendency since the Autumn it has arguably become more difficult to find stocks which offer good value.This article delves into the unloved parts of the UK stock market to search for opportunities which investors may have missed. A problem with looking at cheaper stocks is they may be cheap for good reason and they...

For now, the escalating conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of easing. After the initial shock, markets were hopeful the economic impact of the war might be contained as the West's opening salvo of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion (24 Feb) were weaker than some had anticipated.However, any relief soon dissipated as Ukraine put up stiff resistance against the Russian invaders and...

A late move higher saw the FTSE 100 close Thursday's session up 0.26% at 7,168.55 points, the blue chip benchmark taking its cue from a strong start on Wall Street where the S&P 500 rose 0.4% to 4,541.62 by 4.30pm UK time.MELROSE ON THE MOVEEngineering firm Melrose Industries (MRO) gained 7.1% to 184.1p to top the risers on the FTSE 100 after it confirmed alongside first half results it was...

London's FTSE 100 remained flat at midday on Thursday at 7,145.94 points, with shares in mining titan BHP (BHP) down 6.3% at £20.91 as it traded without the rights to its dividend.The high-flying FTSE 250 was 0.25% lower at 24,189.71 points by lunch.CORPORATE NEWSEngineering firm Melrose Industries (MRO) gained 4% to 179p to top the risers on the FTSE 100 after it confirmed alongside first...

The FTSE 100 index opened Thursday's trading session on a slightly firmer note, trading up by 0.07% at 7154.8, but lacking any real momentum or direction.This partly reflected the mixed performance of American equity markets. The S&P 500 index ended the session marginally higher at 4524.09, with the NASDAQ Composite also closing 0.33% firmer at 15,309.38.The Dow Jones Industrial index ended...

The coronavirus pandemic has forced businesses around the world and across the industrial divide to pull emergency levers to conserve cash.As most private investors will be acutely aware, a hefty toll has fallen on company dividends, with billions of pounds worth of planned payouts from UK stocks now taken off the table and out of investor's pockets.James Dow of Scottish American Investment...

London's blue-chip benchmark firms 31.4 points to 7,341.4 on Monday, opening on the front foot following a generally positive session on Wall Street on Friday, as investors around the world appeared to be coming to terms with the ongoing tensions between the US and North Korea.Corporate news is fairly thin on the ground, although one eye-catching mover is smart home technology tiddler...

If an investment loses half of its value you need it to go back up by 100% just to get hit break-even. This bit of logic might seem simple but it is one of the most important ideas to keep in your head when you are investing.Avoidance of loss is a critical element to making money out of shares. You can pick all the winners you like and still be tripped up by just a handful of losers.Over the...

Consumer goods giant Unilever (ULVR) is to accelerate and widen its vast restructuring strategy. On Thursday it unveiled plans to exit its spreads business, increase margin targets, raise its dividend and review its dual-headed legal structure, as it aims to prove it can deliver near-term growth on its own.This comes in response to the swiftly rejected takeover bid in February from US colossus...

New management, a restructured balance sheet and a more regular payment schedule for its crude exports makes now the perfect time to reappraise former retail favourite oil stock Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP).Through a period which has seen the company nearly go bust and its share price fluctuate between little more than a penny and more than £4, one thing has remained consistent about the...

Debt-laden oil exploration and production (E&P) company Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) is up 3% to 2.1p as interims confirm a restructuring of the group's borrowings is on track ahead of a crunch vote of the company's creditors later today.As we explain in today's issue of Shares, we have shifted from our cautious view of the stock as we look through to the conclusion of the group's painful...

The completion of an oversubscribed $25 million open offer (16 Sep) suggests there is still appetite for Kurdistan oil producer Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP)despite a torrid period for the company.For existing shareholders the ongoing implementation of a debt restructuring is very painful but there could be an opportunity for risk tolerant investors willing to look through to the conclusion of...

RESULTS > INTERIMS > 22 SEPTEMBERGulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) 2.09pAs Xcite Energy (XEL:AIM) looks set to become the latest exploration and production company to launch a punishing debt-for-equity swap (13 Sep), attention will soon be on a sector peer which ploughed the same furrow with the publication of Gulf Keystone Petroleum's (GKP) interim results.In July 2016, Gulf Keystone rejected a...

Markets look set to end the week flat as a busy few days for corporate results provides no seriously nasty surprises.Blue chip stocks in London trade 0.1% higher in early deals at 6,730 despite modest gains in sterling overnight against the dollar.Key features of a mixed Friday trading session include two profit warnings and a couple of takeover attempts in the commodities sector.Industrial...

Stake building by US asset management giant Capital Group fails to bolster struggling Kurdistan-focused oil play Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) ahead of a refinancing vote on 5 August.Capital Group bought 54 million shares, worth around £2.2 million at current prices, increasing its stake to 12%.Shareholders in Gulf, including Capital Group, are in line for heavy dilution after the business...

An uptick in the oil price is helping support a modest recovery in the exploration and production (E&P) sub-sector. Out of a universe of around 60 E&P companies with market caps of £10 million or more, 17 have managed double-digit advances since the beginning of March 2016.Investors need to decide if this is a dead cat bounce or if valuations really have begun to bottom out. Our view is that...

London shares are largely flat as cautious traders look to talks in Brussels over reforming the UK's place within the EU. Safe-haven gold races higher and UK gilt yields tighten. The benchmark FTSE 100 index nudges 5 points higher to 5,979, while midcaps and smaller companies also find little momentum to drive them either way.Among the blue-chip benchmark's main risers was Coca-Cola HBC (CCH),...

Small cap broker SP Angel says oil producer Genel Energy (GENL) is the obvious candidate to acquire its Kurdistan peer Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) as both companies report export payments for their crude oil from the Kurdistan Regional Government.Despite this seemingly good news a fresh 11-year low for oil prices sees shares in both companies under pressure - Genel down 2.3% to 163p and Gulf...