European stocks were higher on Friday morning, with mid-cap housebuilder Bellway on the rise, as data from the US on Thursday offered some relief for investors.A below-expected US nonfarm payrolls report for July on Friday last week set off a global sell-off in markets, but the weekly initial jobless claims report on Thursday provided reassurance.In the week ending August 3, the advance figure for

Defence and banks stocks top tableM&A wave creates big winnersConsumer stocks on the skidsIt hasn't been a vintage year for the UK stock market, but there are signs investors are coming back attracted by the cheap valuations on offer compared with the US as well as decent earnings prospects for UK companies.The FTSE 350 index is up 5.5% year-to-date, with the FTSE 100 large-cap benchmark up 5.6% j

Blue-chip equities in Europe traded higher on Thursday morning, as investors breathed a sigh of relief after Nvidia scored an earnings beat.The hotly-anticipated figures from a company at the heart of an artificial intelligence revolution could have threatened jitters in markets if they fell short of lofty expectations.The FTSE 100 index opened up 8.89 points, 0.1%, at 7,671.40. The FTSE 250 was u

By his own admission, Nick Train, manager of Finsbury Growth & Income (FGT), isn?t one for nostalgia, whether that is reflecting on past glories or the ?melancholy fact? as he puts it that the popular investment trust has underperformed the FTSE All-Share index for the last three years.Moving into 2024, the trust has again lagged the benchmark with a share price return of -1.9% in January against

Following on from our coverage of Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7) and the fact it has lagged its benchmark for three years running, another popular fund with retail investors, the Nick Train-run Finsbury Growth & Income (FGT), has also failed to outperform over the last three years.As the manager says in his December factsheet: ?This is disappointing to me and all my colleagues, because we work hard, w

As we approach the end of the year it is an opportune moment to shine a light on some of this year's least-loved stocks.Rather than look at the stocks which have lost the most, we have collected together those trading at or near their lows for the year along with those with the fewest friends in the analyst community and those which the hedge fund community thinks are outright shorts.If we first t

Blue-chip equities in Europe ended lower on Tuesday, despite a promising start to the day which saw the CAC 40 in Paris spike to a record high.The afternoon?s key US inflation data went largely to plan. The annual rate of consumer inflation eased, inching ever-so-slightly closer to the Fed?s 2% target. However, stubborn month-on-month price growth tempered enthusiasm.The FTSE 100 index ended down

Stock prices were up in London at midday on Tuesday, as investors showed confidence despite interest decisions from the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and European Central Bank coming up this week.Heading into the afternoon, investors also had their eye on a US inflation reading on Tuesday.The FTSE 100 index was up 39.53 points, 0.5%, at 7,584.42. The FTSE 250 was down 4.61 points at 18,745.7

Equities and currencies were hardly changed on Thursday at midday in London, as traders hunkered down ahead of some big data reports and three major central bank decisions next week.The FTSE 100 index was down just 0.75 of a point at 7,488.44. The FTSE 250 was down 35.42 points, 0.2% at 18,895.15, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.40 points, 0.3%, at 832.13.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 749.36,

- Net asset value (NAV) slides 5.8%- Second consecutive year of underperforming the benchmark- Train shows confidence by buying sharesNick Train-managed Finsbury Growth & Income Trust (FGT) suffered a disappointing 5.8% slide in its net asset value total return for the year ended 30 September 2022.This represented a second consecutive year of underperformance against the benchmark FTSE All-Share I

Equities on Monday continued to benefit from a US jobs report on Friday that showed the world's largest economy in surprisingly good health, though still suffering from rampant price inflation.Offering potential relief on that front, oil prices continued their steady fall away from $100 a barrel.In London, the FTSE 100 index was up 33.50 points, or 0.5%, at 7,473.24 midday Monday. The FTSE 250 ind

Share prices in London and elsewhere in Europe started the new week slightly higher, as investors continued to digest a blowout US jobs report on Friday that should the world's largest economy to be in surprisingly ruddy health.Adding to the positive sentiment, a large US spending package came closer to passage over the weekend, and China reported continued strong export growth.The FTSE 100 was up

Stocks in London ended lower on Friday following a strong US jobs report which surpassed expectations and raised prospects for a more hawkish US Federal Reserve.According to the latest nonfarm payrolls report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment rose by 528,000 in July, more than double the FXStreet-cited consensus of 250,000. In addition, the figure for June was upwardly revised to 398

Stock markets were on hold midday Friday ahead of the latest US jobs report, leaving oil prices the most interesting mover.Brent oil, the North Sea benchmark, was quoted near $94 a barrel, having still been above $100 as recently as Tuesday.The FTSE 100 was down 10.26 points, 0.1%, at 7,437.80 midday Friday. The FTSE 250 index was up 10.07 points, 0.1%, at 20,165.83. The AIM All-Share index was do

Stock markets lacked clear direction on Friday morning, with the week's last major risk event - US jobs figures - set for early afternoon.The data for July comes as the US Federal Reserve tightens monetary policy in a bid to quell rampant inflation. It has enacted successive 75-basis-point rate increases. On Thursday, the Bank of England approved its first 50-point interest rate hike since 1995.Th

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

For most companies on the UK stock market, annual shareholder meetings are not the big glamourous affairs one might assume them to be. Over the years, giants like BP (BP.) might have packed out a conference centre, but for most companies these AGM events are sparsely attended.Shares has heard stories such as a certain listed fast-food company who had laid out more pizzas for people to eat than the

London's FTSE 100 ended Monday's session in positive territory, wiping out earlier losses to trade firmly above 7,100 by the close of play and shrugging off a weaker open on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 was down 0.16% to 4,429.43 by 4.30pm UK time.COMPANY NEWSIn company news, wealth manager Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) sank 11.2% to £14.57, even as it reported an 8% rise in annual underlying profi

London's FTSE 100 was down 0.5% at 7,089.88 points by midday on Monday as weak Chinese trade figures, lower commodity prices and a rise in global coronavirus infections hit the index.The decline in gold to levels last seen in May appeared to have little impact on the sector, while crude oil's fall had a modest impact on BP (BP.), which slipped 2.2% to 301p.The more UK domestically focused mid-cap

The FTSE 100 opened the first trading session of the new week in negative territory taking its cue from Asia's main markets. The dip into the red was marginal and sustained by thin trading volumes, with miners on offer early on after anemic Chinese trade data over the weekend and a rise in global coronavirus infections.The decline in gold to levels last seen in May appeared to have little impact o