Stock prices in London opened in the green on Friday, as European stocks were boosted by a rally on Wall Street ahead of the key US nonfarm payrolls report later in the day.The FTSE 100 index opened up 39.43 points, 0.5%, at 7,661.59. The FTSE 250 was up 170.25 points, 0.9%, at 19,301.41, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.46 points, 0.3%, at 755.16.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6% at 766.55, the Cboe...

The FTSE 100 moved nearly 1% higher to 7,192 as investors awaited the publication of the minutes from the latest meeting of the US Federal Reserve. These might offer some clues into the future direction of interest rates across the pond.Plumbing group Ferguson (FERG) gained 1.6% amid reports it was considering switching to a US listing under pressure from activist investor Trian Fund...

Mid caps continue to take the lead following yesterday's rally. The FTSE 250 index rises 1% to 16,866 as the market warms to news that Theresa May will become Prime Minister. She is seen as a safe pair of hands to guide the country through difficult times.Online clothing retailer ASOS (ASC:AIM) jumps 4.7% to £45.04 on an impressive trading update. Total retail sales were up 30% in the four...

Maiden results at Orchard Funding (ORCH:AIM) on 4 November could provide a catalyst for the specialist lender which presently trades at 100p.Headed up by City financier-turned-entrepreneur Rabinder Singh Takhar, an update which merely meets expectations should be enough to drive market enthusiasm for the £21 million cap stock.Orchard Funding lends into the insurance and accountancy markets...