The UK FTSE 100 plunged in late trading on Thursday as investors mulled weak earnings from firms like Rolls-Royce (RR.), which underlined the extent of corporate damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic. There was little sign of any impact from a firm start for US stocks, although the anticipated speech from Federal Reserve Chief Jerome Powell brought few surprises. The US Fed on Thursday ...

UK markets remained modestly on the back foot at lunchtime on Thursday as investors turned their attention towards the annual meeting of US Federal Reserve bankers and a speech by chairman Jerome Powell. Sterling held firm at $1.3193, close to its recent highs after its best weekly performance since June. Brent crude oil prices dipped slightly through the morning session but remain close to ...

London’s FTSE 100 falls back 69.8 points to 7,660.5 as investors return to their desks after the Bank Holiday, political chaos in Italy weighing on sentiment in early dealings. Electricals-to-telecommunications retailer Dixons Carphone (DC.) crashes 27.2% to 170p as new CEO Alex Baldock issues a nasty profit warning alongside a fourth quarter trading update highlighting 4% like-for-like sales ...

Pubs, gaming firms and gold miners are among the handful of UK-quoted companies largely escaping Tuesday's stock market sell-off. Gold prices rose 0.7% at $1,342 per ounce on Tuesday. Gold is typically seen as a ‘safe haven’ during geopolitical crises or stock market crashes so it comes as little surprise that investors are today turning to the metal. Today's increase in the gold price ...

Under fire support services firm Carillion (CLLN) has buckled under the strain, entering into compulsory liquidation. Trading in the company's shares is suspended on Monday as accountants move in to salvage any saleable assets. You can read what the implications will be for shareholders in Shares news story here. The shock waves reverberate across the the sector with tools hire business ...

The FTSE 100 is down 5.88 points to 7,441,94 following a rare day of poor trading on Wall Street. The markets will be looking at Prime Minister Theresa May’s meeting with EU leaders in Brussels hoping that trade talks can begin. In corporate news, FTSE 100 communications services company BT (BT.A) gains 1.4% to 277.73p as it announces a deal with Sky (SKY). The company has agreed a multi-year ...

London shares fall in early trade on Thursday on financials and house builders as miners gain, with the session rich with ex-dividend stocks. This after the Nikkei fell when Bank of Japan held off on further stimulus and left rates unmoved, while a dovish Fed also stayed rates. The FTSE 100 index tumbles more than 90 points, or 1.5%, to 6,227, while midcaps and smaller companies post similar ...

Mobile gambling company Gaming Realms (GMR:AIM) looks set for a significant boost in revenues in 2016 after signing a trio of deals with brands including X Factor and Deal or No Deal. The £52 million cap is capitalising on the growth opportunities presented by its acquisition of US-based social slots-bingo brand Slingo in August 2014. It has signed a three-year agreement with Freemantle Media ...

Investors wanting to play the rapid growth in mobile gambling should seek out ‘mobile first’ stocks like Gaming Realms (GMR:AIM) and Nektan (NKTN:AIM) as well as companies with a multi-channel offering like Rank (RNK). Mobile gambling is the primary growth driver in the online gambling market with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 27%. It’s expected to reach $19 billion and ...

Investors looking to back a company with high growth prospects should consider Gaming Realms (GMR:AIM), which is trading at a significant discount to the online gaming sector. The £61 million cap, which specialises in mobile bingo, grew revenue by 89% in the first half and narrowed its adjusted EBITDA loss by 20% to £2.8 million. Average daily revenue has reached £74,000 since its ...

Takeover time for RSA Swiss outfit Zurich Insurance (ZURN:VTX) is weighing up a bid for home, motor, pet, marine and construction insurer RSA (RSA), sending the latter’s shares up 11% to 486.9p (28 Jul). Shares previously flagged (18 Jun) that the FTSE 100 member could be a bid target. RSA, which trades as More Than in the UK, has struggled amid falling premium ...

As the 20th birthday celebrations for AIM get into full swing, now is a perfect time to reappraise the junior market. Within the myriad of small, growing companies is a healthy number of high-quality businesses which look attractive investments. If you’re nervous about picking the wrong stock and losing a big chunk of your money in one go, a solution is to get diversified exposure and tap into ...

Early gains on London markets fade fast as shares hit the skids in morning trade on Wednesday, pulling the rug from under record highs for UK blue-chips as Tesco's (TSCO) record losses drag. The FTSE 100, which touched a high of 7,092.34 early on, falls 40-odd points, or 0.6%, to 7,021, with midcaps sliding similarly to 17,632. Yet shares in the UK's grocery titan Tesco actually rise 2.65p ...

Crowdfunding is quickly becoming a well-oiled cog in the world of investment, moving from niche to mainstream at rapid pace. One of the biggest players in the sector, Crowdcube, says the number of registered users on its platform increased by 50% between November 2014 and March 2015 to 150,000, illustrating the growing popularity of being able to get a slice of tomorrow’s next big ...

Cash joy for Quindell Shareholders in Quindell (QPP:AIM) could get at least 100p per share cash windfall if the insurance services group completes a £637 million asset sale to SGH. The shares shot up on the news (30 Mar) to 171p but had eased back to 153.4p as Shares went to press. (DC) 888 goes live stateside Gambler 888 (888) has launched the first interstate online poker network in ...

London markets resume their positive momentum in early trade Tuesday, bucking the wider down trend of markets in the US and in trading in Asia. The UK's benchmark FTSE index rallies back over the psychologically important 7,000 again, rising around 25 points, or 0.3%, to 7,061, having first breached the landmark on Friday, closing at a record-breaking 7,022.51. Video games retailer GAME Digital ...

Eagle Eye (EYE:AIM) 165p AIM is littered with strugglers chasing the mobile commerce dream but Eagle Eye is off to a decent start. SMS marketing and vouchers space has potential, but this is also high-risk territory. Earthport (EPO:AIM) 45.25p New management is key to ending years of failure and cash calls. Making rapid progress to promised global platform for medium-sized cross-border ...

UK stocks labour to modest gains in early trade Thursday as investors scale back on risk ahead of central bank meetings in the UK and Europe. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index edges barely 7.5 points higher to 6,724, with several Footsie company shares weak as they go ex-dividend, including London Stock Exchange (LSE), Severn Trent (SVT), Next (NXT), Land Securities (LAND) and Royal Bank of ...

Mike Ashley's European retail powerhouse Sports Direct International (SPD) has scored again, rising 5.6% higher to 755.75p on another strong trading statement. The UK's biggest sports retailer by sales and operating profit reports 11.2% overall sales growth to £655.4 million over the 13 weeks to 26 January. Gross profits power 14.6% ahead to £280.7 million, helped by its value proposition and ...