One of the chocolate industry?s seasonal peaks, Easter is upon us with eggs from the world?s major brands adorning retailer?s shelves.Chocolates are tough for consumers to resist at this time of year, but is this an opportune time to put money to work with purveyors of one of the world?s most popular little luxuries?SWEET CONSUMER CATEGORYAccording to MarkNtel Advisors, the global chocolate market

Stock prices in London rose around midday Monday, including the FTSE 250, despite shares of Marshalls shedding due to a profit dive.The FTSE 100 index was up 21.69 points, 0.3%, at 7,749.11. The FTSE 250 was up 33.85 points, 0.2%, at 19,546.76, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 737.02.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 775.52, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.4% at 16,968.64, and the Cboe S

New-build and RMI markets weakNo sign of a recovery in 2024Final dividend cut by 42%After a 50% rally in its shares over the last six months or so, FTSE 250 building materials firm Marshalls (MSLH) delivered a disappointing set of results for 2023, cut its final dividend and warned 2024 wouldn?t be any better.The shares dropped 12% out of the gate to 256p but recovered marginally to trade down 10%

Stock prices opened mixed on Monday, with the FTSE 250?s landscaping products company Marshalls plunging amid a profit dive, as investors prepare for a week full of interest rate decisions.The FTSE 100 index opened up 3.59 points at 7,731.01. The FTSE 250 was down 39.45 points, 0.2%, at 19,473.46, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.29 points, 0.3%, at 736.02.The Cboe UK 100 was up slightly at 774.01

London stocks closed in the red on Friday, with Reckitt shares sinking after a verdict was passed in its baby formula lawsuit.The US Federal Reserve will announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday, followed by the Bank of England the following day.Amongst individual stocks, Reckitt Benckiser plummeted on Friday, after it said it will pursue all options to overturn a $60 million verdict by an

Full-year results from Greggs (GRG) on 5 March painted a picture of a company doing so well in its domestic territory that one has to ask when it might export the successful business model abroad.Greggs? profits and market share are growing, it is investing in manufacturing and distribution expansion, and shareholders are getting a special dividend. While the company is confident it can add at lea

The IT reseller industry has enjoyed a strong bounce back from the world?s Covid reopening as customers line up to put in place digital strategies and adopt the latest technologies, and AI (artificial intelligence) levers are being pulled left, right and centre.International player Computacenter (CCC) said in September 2023 that it sees another record year for profits and analysts have been quick

The unveiling of a new British ISA helped give domestic stocks a modest lift after its announcement in the Budget.The £5,000 limit on the new tax wrapper, which can only be invested in UK assets, will be in addition to the existing £20,000 ISA allowance.The key test will be whether this provides a meaningful boost in terms of flows into UK equities and helps improve what has been a very difficul

Warren Buffett?s antipathy toward gold as an investment is well known, thanks in part to a speech the Sage of Omaha gave at Harvard in 1998. Buffett acidly asserted that: ?Gold gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace. Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their he

NI cut by 2% as predictedFuel and alcohol duty frozenTobacco tax increaseWith the UK having recently experienced a technical recession after two quarters of negative growth to December last year, and the spectre of a general election looming, today?s Budget decisions are ?more critical than ever? says the AccountancyAge website.?This budget is anticipated to navigate the tightrope of stimulating e

London?s FTSE 100 achieved a minor gain on Thursday, after a somewhat mixed US inflation reading in the afternoon.The year-on-year core personal consumption expenditure index grew at a slower pace in January, though monthly growth picked up.The FTSE 100 index inched up 5.04 points, 0.1%, at 7,630.02. The FTSE 250 rose 41.29 points, 0.2%, at 19,054.87, and the AIM All-Share ended down 1.54 points,

London stocks were mixed but broadly positive at midday Thursday, as Bank of England data showed an unexpectedly large increase in UK mortgage approvals.The FTSE 100 index was up 19.99 points, 0.3%, at 7,644.97. The FTSE 250 was up 82.15 points, 0.4%, at 19,095.73, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.44 of a point, 0.1%, at 737.60.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 766.43, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.6% at

Equities in London closed lower in a nervy start to the week, with a US inflation reading to come, though stocks in New York traded slightly more confidently.The FTSE 100 index closed down 21.98 points, 0.3%, at 7,684.30. The FTSE 250 ended down 57.64 points, 0.3%, at 19,126.92, and the AIM All-Share lost 1.96 points, 0.3%, at 745.81.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 769.56, the Cboe UK 250 fell

Stock prices in London were largely in the red around midday Monday, as the FTSE 350 fell amid the UK competition watchdog investigating a ?persistent under delivery of new homes.?The FTSE 100 index was down 24.14 points, 0.3%, at 7,682.14. The FTSE 250 was down 60.60 points, 0.3%, at 19,118.96, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.17 of a point at 747.94.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 769.39, the Cbo

CMA CGM ups offer to 480pWincanton board backs increased bidMystery suitor emergesShares in Wincanton (WIN) accelerated 11.4% to an all-time high of 500p on Monday after agreed buyer CMA CGM upped its offer for the UK logistics company and an unnamed third party threw its hat into the ring.This has set the scene for a bidding war over the Wiltshire-based business.French shipping group CMA CGM, whi

London?s FTSE 100 was higher in the aftermath of the Bank of England keeping UK interest rates unmoved, in an unsurprising move, though there was a dramatic vote split.Sterling was quoted at $1.2657 shortly after midday on Thursday, lower than $1.2715 at the London equities close on Wednesday. Before the decision, the pound was trading at $1.2635.The FTSE 100 index was up 30.05 points, 0.4%, at 7,

Profit guidance upgraded againBrands have positive momentumEuan Sutherland to succeed Roger WhiteOne of Shares running Great Ideas selections, Irn-Bru-to-Rubicon drinks maker AG Barr (BAG) served up another full-year profit upgrade which sent the shares up 1.5% to a 52-week high of 576p.The beverages business behind iconic Scottish tipple Irn-Bru as well as take home cocktail offering FUNKIN and c

December like-for-like sales up 15.2%, year to date 8.4% aheadFull year outcome expected to be inline with expectationsWages and energy costs remain key challenge across the industryPubs group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) continued its slow and steady recovery from the pandemic putting up a good festive performance as like-for-like sales increased 15.2% in December compared with 8.8% for the market.For th

London investors appeared indecisive on Tuesday, as markets reacted to falling UK government borrowing and the sterling closed down against the dollar.The FTSE 100 index closed down 1.98 points, marginally down, at 7,485.73. The FTSE 250 ended down 83.02 points, 0.4%, at 18,992.62, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.5%, or 3.67 points, at 739.01.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 748.77, the Cboe U

Strong festive trading with like-for-like sales up 9.6%Total sales for 16-weeks to 20 January up 8.8%Resilient growth reflects appeal of suburban pubsPubs and hotels group Marston?s (MARS) released a brief but upbeat trading update on Tuesday covering the 16-weeks to 20 January.Total sales for managed and franchised pubs increased 8.1% reflecting ?strong? festive trading. Like-for-like sales accel