In 2022 there was a 'white gold' rush as lithium prices soared thanks to huge Chinese demand. The chemical element is a key component in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles and the storage of energy generated by renewable sources. China is at the forefront of battery production.Many analysts are forecasting a decline in lithium prices, but several executives have told Shares...

After a busy week it's a quiet start in London with few significant corporate or macro-economic announcements. The FTSE 100 is slightly higher, up 0.3% to 7,575.54 in early trading.Overnight in the US Republicans unveiled details of its tax reform plan which would lower the corporate rate from 35% to 20%. Shares in consumer electronics business Apple hit a record high as pre-sales of its new...

Global stock markets approach the end of the week on a sour note. The FTSE 100 dips 0.3% at the market open to 7,363 on Friday, following a poor performance in Asia and surrounding areas.Markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea and Australia all pulled back.London Stock Exchange (LSE) reported 17% rise in total income for 2016 to £1.65bn. It says work continues on the proposed merger with...

With many trading desks deserted in the run-up to the New Year volumes are light amid the expected dearth of corporate news in early trade on Friday. In the final trading day of 2016 the blue-chip FTSE 100 index staggers around 24 points lower, or roughly 0.3%, to 7,096, having closed at a record 7,120.26 on Thursday, boosted by precious metals miners such as Fresnillo (FRES) and Randgold...

Clarity on the Brexit timetable by Prime Minister Theresa May sends the pound down 0.3% against the dollar at $1.2936 and triggers a small sell-off in banks and housebuilder shares. The latter overshadows expectations that Chancellor Philip Hammond will unveil a £5 billion housebuilding stimulus package later today at the Conservative Party conference.Fund manager Henderson Global Investors...

Tungsten producer Premier African Minerals (PREM:AIM) says it may spin off its Zulu lithium project as a separately-listed business.The company has initiated a review of the project with a new drilling programme and appointment of natural resources entrepreneur David Lenigas who has been tasked with trying to find strategic investors and/or joint venture partners.The news sends Premier African...

AIM miners hot for lithiumSmall cap miners are cashing lithium projects to play the latest hot commodity. Ironridge Resources (IRR:AIM) has bought an exploration project in Ghana, saying global demand for the lithium is increasing at an 'unprecedented rate'. Kodal Minerals (KOD:AIM) has struck a deal for a second lithium exploration project in Mail. (DC)Jackpotjoy IPO loomsToronto-listed...

The housebuilding sector is once again in focus as Berkeley (BKG) and Redrow (RDW) update on trading. Their mixed fortunes build on the conflicting messages recently coming out of the sector with McCarthy & Stone (MCS) having last week warned on a pullback in trading versus positive messages from other housebuilders.Berkeley says reservations were down 20% in August year-on-year reflecting...

Shares in London look set to finish the week with gains, up 1.1% at 6,015, after a solid overnight lead from markets in the US and Asia.The S&P 500 finished 0.3% higher, Japan's Nikkei 225 was up 1.1% and shares in mainland China advanced 0.4% as US economic data on inflation and manufacturing production came in roughly as expected.A volatile session in currency markets sees sterling trade...

UK share indexes surrender the rump of yesterday's gains in early trading on what looks likely to be a relatively quiet Friday session. Blue-chip retailers are out of favour, as are several insurers and banks. Asia bourses eased overnight, while Wall Street was mixed.The FTSE 100 is off around 85 points, or 1.3%, at 6,111, while midcaps are down similarly, the FTSE 250 falling 161 points to...

London shares tank in early trade on Friday as Greece is once again thrust into the limelight. Greek prime minister Alex Tsipras has stood down from his post in response to the most recent bail out deal with the rest of the EU, paving the way for new elections and putting investors worldwide into a spin. This, plus fears of a slowing global recovery, saw a big sell-off overnight in the US,...

UK shares nudge lower in early trade on Thursday with a quiet session anticipated on the macro economic front, while corporate earnings announcements remain mixed. Several blue-chip stocks going ex-dividend also drags on the London market. The FTSE 100 is trading down around 20 points, or 0.3%, at 6,928 early on, although midcaps buck the weak blue-chip trend, edging a fraction up to 17,863.On...

The rich pipeline of companies preparing to join the stock market is great for investors seeking new ideas. But as many flotations over the few past years have seen their share price rocket, many investors now assume that all initial public offerings (IPOs) will be a success. This is unlikely as the euphoria surrounding floats means we may soon start to get lower-quality companies joining the...

Could Morrisons (MRW) be broken up? That's the question posed by Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Mike Dennis who makes a very bullish switch on the stock, going from 'sell' to 'buy' and raising his price target from 229p to 330p. This is on the back of yesterday's disappointing Christmas trading update. The market is intrigued as shares in the Bradford-based grocer rise 1% to 236.8p. Dennis reckons...

Market commentators reckon Tesco (TSCO), Marks & Spencer (MKS), WH Smith (SMWH) and Debenhams (DEB) could be among the retailers with disappointing trading updates for the Christmas period. Marks & Spencer ran large promotions on its clothing lines in the run up to Christmas which implies that sales weren't good and action was needed to get the tills ringing. Marks & Spencer retreats 0.3% to...