London’s blue chip benchmark ended Wednesday’s session in positive territory despite the result of the US election hanging in the balance, with postal ballots still being counted. A change at the White House is still on the cards, despite Donald Trump’s victory claim, but not before a possible wave of recounts and legal spats. Today’s gains also reflected the fact that a Joe Biden ...

With the result of the US election still in doubt as postal ballots continue to be counted the FTSE 100 shrugged off the uncertainty to move higher by midday on Wednesday. The blue chip benchmark joined other European markets amid signs challenger Joe Biden could be pulling ahead in the race despite Donald Trump’s victory claim. By lunchtime, the FTSE 100 was up 5,846.87, while the FTSE ...

London’s FTSE 100 began the day in a cautious mode as the US presidential election goes to the wire with both sides claiming victory. The election race remains tight, with Republican candidate Donald Trump declaring a ‘big win’ having held onto the vote in Florida, seen as a must-win state for his re-election bid. But Democrat Joe Biden has also declared himself ‘on track’ to claim ...

UK stocks rallied during the afternoon session finishing the day slightly positive, up 0.1% to 6,043 points, helped by a positive opening for stocks in the US. Markets were anticipating more stimulus measures when central bankers meet virtually at Jackson Hole tomorrow. Meanwhile a report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday showed an uneven recovery in investment as spending moved away ...

UK stocks were subdued at lunchtime Wednesday as investors weighed stimulus measures and vaccine progress against climbing Covid-19 cases in Europe. The focus now turns to the U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's address at the virtual Jackson Hole Symposium on Thursday, where he is expected to provide an update on the U.S. central bank's future monetary policy approach. At 12:00, the ...

Hopes of a 'V-shaped' recovery in the UK stock market look to be fading as shares continue to take a beating, while dividend wipe-out across the market continues. The benchmark FTSE 100 index opened 3.7% down at 5,602 this morning, with investors hopes also dented by a warning from the Bank of England that the UK economy is set for long-term damage as a result of the coronavirus ...

UK stock markets stayed virtually flat at the start of a relatively quiet Wednesday with investors having relatively thin corporate news to provide direction and eyes firmly being fixed on the imminent signing of an initial US-China trade deal. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said tariffs on Chinese goods would not be repealed until the completion of a Phase 2 agreement, planting some ...

UK stocks trod water at the opening following gains overnight in Asia and in Friday’s trading in New York. After finishing up more than 100 points or 1.4% on Friday, the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks slipped 0.1% to 7,230. The week ahead sees the UK hold its third election in four years as well as interest rate decisions from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the US Federal Reserve ...

Investors in LF Woodford Equity Income Fund (BLRZQ62) will have to wait until at least December before they can access their money. Buying and selling in the fund has been suspended since 3 June and will stay that way until later this year while fund manager Neil Woodford restructures the portfolio to focus mainly on large and mid-cap stocks in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices. Analysis of ...

At 502.6p shares in sub-prime lender Provident Financial (PFG) may be in recovery mode after it successfully fought off a hostile takeover by smaller rival Non-Standard Finance (NSF) but there are several reasons why investors should not get carried away. Non-Standard is walking away having failed to secure the regulators’ approval for the deal. However, there remain question marks over ...

Shares in sub-prime lender Provident Financial (PFG) surge 14% higher to 504p after Non-Standard Financial (NSF) drops its hostile takeover due to the regulatory capital requirements of the enlarged group. It has become apparent that because of the low level of acceptances, and large majority interests, the enlarged group would not meet it capital requirements. Shareholders opposing the ...

The FTSE 100 has opened 0.44% higher this morning to 7,246.24 following a rally in global stock markets overnight, but the big news has come from the FTSE 250. Shares in doorstep lender Provident Financial (PFG) have continually climbed in early morning trading and are now up over 10% to 490p after smaller rival Non-Standard Finance (NSF) ended its hostile takeover bid. Provident’s board ...

It’s a fairly slow start for UK stock markets following the bank holiday weekend with attention very much focused on where European elections leave UK investors. The FTSE 100 opens the trading week up 19 point (about 0.2%) up at 7,296.73 while the midcap FTSE 250 makes modest single digit declines to around 19,118 in the wake of gains made across European markets on Monday and positive Asian ...

The FTSE 100 is flat in early trading at 7,418.37 as investors await the start of the US first quarter earnings season with JP Morgan and Wells Fargo set to report later. Contracts-for-difference broking house Plus500 (PLUS) tumbles 36% as its first quarter revenue plunges 82%, owing to 'extremely subdued' trading in financial markets. Bus and train company National Express (NEX) gains ...

Retail shareholders in Provident Financial (PFG) might have been jumping for joy initially at the news that the company has received a bid, but on closer inspection there’s little to get excited about. Subprime lender Non-Standard Finance (NSF) has made an all-share offer which values Provident at no more than last night’s closing price of 511p. Provident shareholders are being ...

Investors have a couple of interesting takeovers to concentrate on in early trade on Friday as lender Provident Financial (PFG) and Cathedral City cheese maker Dairy Crest (DCG) recommend bids to shareholders. Provident, the £1.3bn business behind Vanquis credit cards, accepts a £1.3bn offer tabled subprime lending peer Non-Standard Finance (NSF). Interestingly, NSF was founded in 2014 by ...

News of Chinese stimulus helps support the FTSE 100 as investors await the outcome of today's crunch vote on Brexit later. Theresa May's draft deal is widely expected to be voted down. The FTSE 100 is currently 0.2% higher at 6,867.15, though the more domestic-facing FTSE 250 reverses earlier gains to trade 0.2% lower. House builder Persimmon (PSN) dips 1% to £22.07 as it guides for annual ...

UK and European are ending the week on a mixed note after the Dow Jones Industrial index dropped 300 points overnight on global growth fears. The FTSE 100 managed to nudge up 0.2% to 7,042. At one point last night the US benchmark was down more than 470 points while the CBOE Vix Index or ‘fear gauge’ jumped 15% as investors took a view that volatility in US stocks is set to rise. A ...

One of the most well-known payday loan companies, Wonga, is understood to be in financial trouble following a surge in customer compensation claims relating to loans taken out before 2014. The situation is likely to result in increased regulatory pressure on the sector which includes several listed companies. Wonga’s problems are ‘very company specific’, relating to historically mis-sold ...

Reports that Amazon could enter the insurance price comparison market have spooked investors in three UK-listed companies active in this space. Shares in GoCompare (GOCO), Moneysupermarket (MONY) and Confused.com owner Admiral (ADM) fell hard at the UK market open in response, although their losses have since been pared back. GoCompare initially slumped by nearly 10% but the losses have ...