Directors of digital transformation company Kainos (KNOS) and paper supplier DS Smith (SMDS) were among the big boardroom sellers this week. Kainos, worth £2.38 billion, revealed that the partner of director Richard McCann, Kerry McCann, had offloaded 50,000 ordinary shares in the FTSE 250-listed digital technology firm. McCann sold the shares on 23 August at an average price of ...

Major UK stocks accelerated morning gains as markets moved into the afternoon session, bolstered by hefty dividend payout announcements and largely upbeat earnings updates. At 12.30pm, the benchmark FTSE 100 had jumped nearly 1% higher to trade at 7,079.18, led by pest control company Rentokil Initial (RTO), with oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and miner Anglo American (AAL) also firmly ...

UK markets made a bright start to a busy Thursday as encouraging earnings and huge dividend payouts from some of UK's biggest companies offset lingering worries about rising inflation and Covid-19 cases. At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 was around 25 points to the good, or 0.36% at 7,041.76, led by oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB), miner Anglo American (AAL) and pest control company Rentokil ...

UK stocks had their best week in a month, closing in on their previous highs after official figures showed the economy expanded at 2.3% in April, its fastest rate since last July, as lockdown measures eased. The service sector registered record growth of 27.6% compared with last year as non-essential retail and hospitality businesses re-opened. At the the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was ...

UK stocks traded higher on Friday after official figures showed the economy expanded at 2.3% in April, its fastest rate since last July, as lockdown measures eased. The service sector registered record growth of 27.6% compared with last year as non-essential retail and hospitality businesses re-opened. At 1pm the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was 35 points or 0.5% higher at 7,124 led by ...

UK stocks failed to keep pace with European markets on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 index down 25 points or 0.4% to 7,070 points in early trading as weakness in insurers and house builders offset meagre gains for travel and leisure stocks. Brent crude prices rose to $72.50 per barrel on signs of strong demand in the US and Europe, while concerns over Iranian supplies coming back to the market ...

We’re pleased to welcome back Malcolm from Edinburgh who is sharing his experience as someone in retirement taking charge of their investments for the first time. After a year-and-a-half of taking responsibility for investing for retirement through my SIPP and Stocks and Shares ISA, matters are becoming clearer. There is no going on endless holidays and checking my portfolio once a ...

UK stocks gave up their day's gains at the close despite strong UK corporate results and forecast-beating numbers from Apple and Facebook overnight. The FTSE 100 benchmark, which had climbed more than 50 points by early afternoon to top the 7,000 level, finished the day in negative territory at 6,961 points. Although blue-chips such as Smith & Nephew (SN.), Unilever (ULVR) and Standard ...

UK stocks traded higher at lunchtime supported by strong UK corporate results and forecast-beating numbers from Apple and Facebook overnight. The FTSE 100 benchmark climbed 51 points or 0.7% to 7,015 at 1pm, while the FTSE 250 made more modest gains, nudging 0.1% ahead to 22,465.01. Leading the gainers were blue-chips such as Smith & Nephew (SN.), Unilever (ULVR) and Standard Chartered ...

Shares in artificial knees and hips maker Smith & Nephew (SN.) topped the FTSE 100 leader board on Thursday, sprinting 6.1% higher to £15.75 after the company reported underlying first quarter revenues growth of 6.2% which was ahead of market expectations. First quarter reported revenues to 3 April 2021 grew 11.5% to $1.26 billion which benefited from a foreign exchange tailwind of ...

The FTSE 100 rallied back above the 7,000-mark once again in opening trade after Apple and Facebook both smashed quarterly forecasts and the US Federal Reserve maintained its ultra-accommodative monetary stance, with investor focus now switching to a bumper day for UK earnings. The UK’s benchmark was around 0.7% higher at 7,010.36 at 9am, while the FTSE 250 made more modest gains, nudging ...

UK shares gave up their early gains to trade lower into the close as a strong showing by mining shares fizzled and sentiment was dented by widespread weakness in banking and healthcare stocks. After rallying almost 1% during the morning, Brent Crude also gave up its gains to fall 0.5% to $64.50 per barrel, while gold - which had been overlooked in the dash for other precious metals - actually ...

UK shares gave up their early gains to trade lower at midday as a strong showing by mining shares on talk of a commodities 'supercycle' was offset by weakness in banking and healthcare stocks. After rallying almost 1% during the morning, Brent Crude also gave up its gains to fall 0.5% to $64.50 per barrel, while gold - which has been overlooked in the dash for other precious metals - actually ...

Shares in medical products maker Smith & Nephew (SN.) slipped 5.7% to £14.78 after the firm reported a 41.5% fall in full-year trading profit to $683 million, missing consensus expectations. FEWER ELECTIVE OPERATIONS Pressure on hospitals from dealing with Covid-19 patients resulted in cancellations of scheduled hip and knee surgeries, impacting the sales of consumables the company ...

UK shares opened slightly higher on Thursday helped by a strong performance from mining shares with Rio Tinto (RIO), Glencore (GLEN) and Fresnillo (FRES) gaining close to 3%, while banking and healthcare stocks were lower. Asian trading was mixed with Japan’s Nikkei 225 down 0.2% and China’s SE Composite up 0.6%. Gold prices were 0.6% higher at $1,787 an ounce and Brent Crude continued to ...

Monday 9 November saw things change for investors as the surge of enthusiasm associated with finding a vaccine for Covid-19 buoyed markets. For the first time in many months the vast majority of my 30 shares rose markedly. This did not trigger a notable increase in buying and selling on my behalf. I reduced my investment in two funds but little else. It was pleasing though to see that half my ...

London’s FTSE 100 took a turn for the worse in afternoon trading on Monday as rising coronavirus cases and the prospect of tighter lockdown restrictions finally caught up with the stock market. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the UK is at a ‘perilous’ moment in the pandemic and said ministers are keeping lockdown restrictions under ‘constant review’, adding that ‘where we have ...

UK stocks fell throughout morning trading as reports emerged that the Government is considering tighter lockdown restrictions. Stocks had already started in subdued fashion as investors took profits following strong recent gains, driven by expectations of more US stimulus and Covid vaccine success, but continued to fall on Monday as concerns mount over rising coronavirus cases and the ...

Shares in medical technology company Smith & Nephew (SN.), known for its replacement hips and knees, fell 3% to £15.73 after saying fourth quarter revenues were expected to fall around 7% leading to a 12% fall for the full year. Increasing Covid-19 infection rates from mid-October onwards, particularly in the US and Europe, led to more non-elective procedures being postponed as more ...

The FTSE 100 made a slow start to the new trading week with opening enthusiasm from vaccine roll-outs and US stimulus giving way to the grim reality of mounting coronavirus cases. Increasingly draconian measures are reportedly being contemplated by the Government to halt the spread of the more virulent form of Covid with worries intensifying that the NHS is close to being swamped. At ...