How low can you go? Typically asked during a game of limbo, it has been a question increasingly posed by investors in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Pitched as a simple way to invest at a cheaper price than using the services of a fund manager, ETFs can invest in stocks for a charge as low as 0.04%, equating to 4p for every £100 invested. That figure could get even smaller as the price war ...

Shares in fledgling clean fuel and energy storage firm ITM Power (ITM:AIM) jumped 9.3% to 47p after it managed to bag a big chunk of funding from gas giant Linde. Sheffield-based ITM makes things called electrolysers, which are a low carbon way to produce hydrogen, making them an attractive option for industries which use hydrogen and are looking to decarbonise the way they do things. A ...

Investors who prefer to entrust capital allocation decisions to a professional money manager as opposed to buying individual stocks are exceptionally well served by the FTSE 350. Within its ranks, you’ll find a highly-diverse batch of investment trusts spanning all the key asset classes. Shares’ number-crunching reveals a grand total of 57 investment trusts within the FTSE 350 – that is ...

UK markets were weaker on Thursday with the FTSE 100 down 0.5% to 7,545 despite a much-anticipated cut in US interest rates overnight. The major US stock indices lost more than 1% after the chairman of the US Federal Reserve said that the 0.25% rate cut did not mark the beginning of a lengthy easing cycle. The Hong Kong central bank cut rates by 0.25% in line with the Federal ...

London’s FTSE 100 firms 37.4 points to 7,272 on Friday, boosted by miners which are up on hopes that the US and China are making progress with trade talks. Continued strength with oil prices is also giving the blue chip benchmark support with both BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) ticking higher. Drugs giant AstraZeneca (AZN) cheapens 4.2% to £62.21, despite inking a $6.9bn agreement ...

The FTSE 100 gets off to a strong start as macro events such as the French election and potential US interest rate hikes are put to one side for the time being. The index is being aided by a host of bluechip companies releasing good results. HSBC (HSBA) is among the top risers as shares are up by almost 3% to 664.2p. The bank released its earnings update showing growth in Asia and a ...

London's FTSE 100 trades 33.64 points higher at 6,987.9 on Tuesday. Commodity stocks are up in early deals following better-than-expected Chinese factory data and with the market's oil majors taking centre stage. FTSE 100 heavyweight Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) gains 3.6% to £21.12 as it reports a first quarterly sales increase for three years on firmer oil prices and a contribution from its £52bn ...

London’s blue chip index is flat in early trading on Friday, despite strong gains made in the US and Asian markets overnight on rising oil prices. Investors appear to be bracing themselves for the latest construction data, which could make difficult reading after manufacturing figures were worse than expected for July. Disappointing Chinese industrial output and retail sales for July could ...

It’s good news at last for income-hungry investors. The Media sector is on course for a whopping 50% hike in ordinary payouts in the second quarter and the outlook for the rest of the market is surprisingly positive. An upbeat report by Markit suggests the Media sector will benefit from the dividend initiation from Auto Trader (AUTO) and increases close to 70% from the likes of Zoopla ...

Dividend cuts at some of Britain’s largest blue chip companies are leaving slim pickings for the country’s investors – and 2016 could be another poor year for income hunters. Internationally, the picture is better according to Henderson’s survey of the world’s 1,200 largest companies. Global dividends hit $1.15 trillion ($816 billion) in 2015, down 2.2%. But most of the reduction was a ...

London shares storm higher in early trade on Thursday snatching back losses made on Wednesday as miners, oilies and financials clock in with gains of 2%-plus. Wall Street and Asia were mixed overnight, and Europe is mildly higher this morning. The Bank of England issues it interest rate call at noon, although nobody really anticipates a change to the status quo. Oil majors trace Royal Dutch Shell ...

RSA Insurance (RSA) declines 1.9% to 422.9p following fears that it could receive significant claims on insurance policies following severe flooding in many parts of the UK. Initial estimates put losses at £900 million to £1.3 billion but this could top £1.5 billion if there is more heavy rain with insurers set to pick up about two-thirds of the cost.   Alaska-focused oil and gas ...

UK stocks are on the up in early trade on Monday after better-than-expected Chinese data on retail sales and industrial production over the weekend. Retail sales in the world’s second largest economy jumped 11.2% in November, beating the 11.1% forecast and following a 11% rise in October. The benchmark FTSE 100 index rallies more than 40 points, or close to 0.7%, although just fails to break ...

Mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity in the UK is surging even as the country’s stock markets take a turn for the worse. Deals totalling a staggering $282 billion (£184 billion) were sealed in the UK during the first nine months of 2015, up 58% on a year earlier, according to research from analysts at professional services firm Deloitte. The latest mega money bid tabled by ...

Dublin-headquartered distribution specialist DCC (DCC) reports half year results next week (10 Nov) with analysts looking for a steer on full year profit currently pitched at £244 million pre-tax. Shares in DCC have gained 53% year-to-date including dividends after strong operating performance and investor enthusiasm for its €464 million (£338 million) acquisition of French liquefied ...

Expect the UK’s strong start to the first-half earnings season to lose steam as more commodity and energy-related businesses report results. Companies with 31 December year-ends are reporting results for the opening six months of 2015 over the coming weeks, including FTSE heavyweights, Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) today (30 Jul) and HSBC (HSBA) on Monday (3 Aug). Upside surprises among those first ...

London’s blue chip FTSE index falls 10 points to 6,728 as oil prices hit a three month low. Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) sheds 3p to £18.15 on the news, while BP (BP.) falls 0.4% to 426.7p and BG Group (BG.) drops 0.3% to £10.67. Financial recruitment consultant Michael Page International (MPI) sheds 2.5% to 541p on a second quarter trading update covering the three months to 30 June. Net fee ...

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are back, a trend that has bankers licking their lips and which should tantalise investors, so long as they do their due diligence, stick to careful stock selection and invest in businesses with undoubted attractions for a buyer as well as compelling prospects as a stand-alone business. James Crux and the Shares team survey the increasingly feverish M&A scene ...

Mining and energy companies have helped lift the FTSE 100 by 20.25 points, or 0.27%, to 6,981 in early trading. BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) benefited from a rising oil price on the back of conflict in the Middle East rising 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, silver miner Fresnillo (FRES) gaining 3.7% to 780.2p on a positive update. There was some bad news with diversified ...

London markets make a cautious start to trade early on Thursday ahead of a key policy meeting of the European Central Bank. In early deals the FTSE 100 nudges 10 points higher to 6,928, barely 1% off the potentially significant 7,000 mark. Midcaps are stronger, the FTSE 250 rallying around 80 points, or 0.5%, to 17,219. Life insurer Aviva (AV.) heads the blue-chip leader board as the shares jump ...