Among the various IPOs (initial public offerings) of the last few years, building materials distributor Lords Group Trading (LORD:AIM) seemed one of the more promising, but unfortunately the damage inflicted on the residential property market by 2022's mini-budget and subsequent regulatory changes have undermined the firm's business. In the six months to the end of June the group posted a 6%...

UK stocks dropped at the open on Tuesday as the fuel crisis sweeping the country showed no signs of easing. To make matters worse, Brent crude oil prices surged to a three-year high over $80 per barrel, pushing up prices at the pump, and UK and European natural gas price hit new records.By 8.45am the FTSE 100 index was down 30 points or 0.4% to 7,035 points as weakness in miners and...

One of the very few positive effects of last year's pandemic was an increase in consumers spending on the repair, maintenance and improvement of their flats and houses.Having been confined indoors for months at a time, it didn't take long for people to set about redecorating and adding more indoor or outdoor space so they could live and work remotely more comfortably.That led to an explosion...

UK stocks were marginally lower on Tuesday as higher oil prices and a rally in the pound unnerved investors. At 8.30am the FTSE 100 index was down 10 points or 0.1% at 7,155 points with weakness in real estate and financial stocks offsetting gains in retailers and energy producers.Oil prices spiked as the OPEC+ cartel failed to agree on a deal to increase production. Brent crude futures topped...