Stock prices in London closed largely up on Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 shrugged off hotter-than-expected UK inflation data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 27.63 points, 0.4%, at 7,847.99. The FTSE 250 ended down just 4.40 points at 19,340.14, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.84 points, or 0.7% at 743.12.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 785.06, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.1% at 16,784.15, and the Cbo

Equity prices in London found some composure heading into Wednesday afternoon, recovering from an uncertain start following an unnerving UK inflation reading.International Distribution Services jumped, after a billionaire shareholder?s takeover proposal that was rebuffed by the Royal Mail parent.The FTSE 100 index rose 46.18 points, 0.6%, at 7,866.54. The FTSE 250 climbed 107.23 points, 0.6%, at 1

Stock prices in London were mostly in the green at the close on Wednesday, helped by economic data from the US amid ongoing discussions about the interest rate cut trajectory.The FTSE 100 index closed up 2.35 points at 7,937.44. The FTSE 250 ended up 39.75 points, 0.2%, at 19,753.64, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.32 of a point at 742.08.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 793.01, the Cboe UK

Stocks in London were lower on Wednesday midday, as investor sentiment suffered with a persistently resilient US economy dampening expectations that US interest rates cuts will come sooner rather than later.The FTSE 100 index was down 30.55 points, 0.4%, at 7,904.54. The FTSE 250 was down 35.35 points, 0.2%, at 19,678.54, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.62 of a point, 0.1%, at 741.78.The Cboe UK

Ofcom fines Royal Mail £5.6 millionMissed delivery targets to blameIDS loses its monopoly to deliver mailThe UK's communications regulator Ofcom has punished Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services (IDS) with a £5.6 million fine for its failure to meet delivery targets over the year to March.The sanction follows a probe initiated by the regulator in May and includes a 30% reduction

The Schroder Recovery Fund (B3VVG60) aims to generate capital gains superior to the FTSE All-Share Total Return Index, net of fees, over a three- to five-year horizon by investing in 'UK companies which have suffered a severe setback in either share price or profitability'.The fund was launched back in 1970 and has stood the test of time, beating its target return over one, three and 10 years and

Firmly out of favour with investors since the Brexit vote seven years ago, the FTSE 250 index rallied strongly on the release of the latest UK inflation data (19 July). This showed UK CPI rising by 7.9% year-on-year in June, lower than forecasts of an 8.2% rise, theoretically reducing expectations for the scale of future interest rate hikes from the Bank of England.Yet even after a big one-day jum

Company ekes out first quarter revenue growthKeeps adjusted profit target for year to March 2024Group could be vulnerable to a break-upShares in Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS) have been on a tear over the last month, up nearly 40% following settlement of industrial action which has brought the company to its knees.Further positive news was delivered on Thursday after th

Cautious full year 2024 outlook sends shares lower in after marketFlat to low single digit growth expectedPrioritising cost reductions and transformation plansShares in air freight and delivery giant FedEx (FDX:NYSE) dropped 3% in after hours trading after giving a disappointing outlook despite beating fourth quarter earnings estimates.The cautious outlook calls for 'flattish' revenue and full yea

Growing confidence that US politicians will manage to avoid a destructive government debt default was giving share prices a boost globally on Thursday, though a fall in BT shares was holding back the FTSE 100 in London.The large-cap index opened up 35.60 points, 0.4%, at 7,758.83. The FTSE 250 was up 32.84 points, 0.2%, at 19,248.29, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.79 of a point at 809.99.The Cboe

Being a value manager often means taking a positive view on a stock which seems to be universally unloved and facing plenty of headwinds, which is certainly the true in the case of logistics firm International Distributions Services (IDS).The FTSE 250 company, which recently changed its name from Royal Mail Group to emphasise its international scale, has delivered a string of profit warnings and i

Royal Mail continues to be disrupted by strike action amid an escalating dispute over work, pay and conditions. With no end to the dispute in sight, it is possible that the parent company's dividend could become a political issue.The firm, which is owned by International Distributions Services (IDS), last month blamed strikes and falling parcel volumes as it swung to a loss of £127 million for th

London shares were lower at midday on Monday, with the UK domestic-focused FTSE 250 index underperforming the FTSE 100, after a positive surprise from data on the UK economy was not enough to remove concern about a coming recession.'October's bounce back was expected, and the fact the growth was a little more enthusiastic than economists had anticipated is welcome. But this is just an aside. The s

Management teams often talk the talk about streamlining a business but find it much tougher to walk the walk.Just look at Royal Mail's owner International Distributions Services (IDS) which for years has struggled to achieve the efficiencies it has promised thanks to a toxic relationship with its workforce. The combination of weak parcel volumes and an inability to push through productivity improv

- Strike action pushes IDS into first half loss- All options for the parcels business still on the table- Full year loss expectedRenamed Royal Mail-owner International Distributions Services (IDS) saw a 4% decline in first half revenues as Royal Mail income dropped 10.5% as strike threats take their toll on the business.The shares broke a two-day losing streak gaining 0.5% to 241.1p but remain aro

UK equities have had a healthy bounce in the past month with the FTSE 100 index advancing 7.6% and the FTSE 250 rallying 16% since 12 October.The reasons for the sudden about-turn are two-fold - the normalisation of UK government bond yields after they spiked following the political upheaval of the summer and disastrous mini-Budget in September, and generally better-than-expected corporate earning

Stocks in London closed higher on Monday with uncertain economic conditions doing little to damp investor enthusiasm in London even as global peers fell.Central banks take centre stage this week with interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve, Bank of England and Bank of Australia while further questions were raised of the European Central Bank - which raised rates by 75 basis points on Frid

London share prices were mixed on Monday, while the pound was lower, after eurozone inflation data provided a reminder of the pressure on central banks, ahead of two key policy decisions later this week.The FTSE 100 index was up 8.26 points, 0.1%, at 7,055.93. The FTSE 250 was down 16.02 points, also 0.1%, at 17,900.65, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.57 of a point, 0.1%, at 805.94.The Cboe UK 100

London share prices started lower on Monday, after a weak reading on the health of China's economy hurt Asian trade and ahead of a key week for central bank decisions in the US and UK.The FTSE 100 index opened down 13.19 points, or 0.2%, at 7,034.48. The FTSE 250 opened down 15.56 points, 0.1%, at 17,901.11 and the AIM All-Share down 1.28 points, 0.2%, at 804.09.The Cboe UK 100 opened down 0.1% at