European shares started the new week lower, reacting a two indicators of a weakening economy in China, but markets had recovered by midday.China's retail sales slumped to their lowest in two years, while factory output plunged, official data showed on Monday, capturing the dismal economic fallout from Beijing's zero-Covid policy.The world's second-largest economy has persisted with strict virus me

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News of the fresh Omicron variant of Covid put a rocket under biotechnology shares which have pioneered novel mRNA vaccines.Biotechnology firms Moderna and BioNTech surged 21% and 14% respectively when the news broke last Friday (26 Nov) while the share price movements in AstraZeneca (AZN), Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson were far more muted as the table shows.The reason Moderna and BioNTech outperfo

UK stocks eked out small but unconvincing gains on Wednesday as investors weighed the impact of rising Covid-19 cases and the threat of an interest rate rise against ongoing economic recovery.Despite UK consumer prices for September climbing less than expected inflation remains well above the Bank of England's 2% target rate.At the close the FTSE index of leading shares was 5 points higher at 7,22

Leading UK stocks were trading largely flat in early afternoon on Wednesday after Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng ruled out a fresh lockdown amid fears over rising Covid-19 infections.UK consumer prices for September climbed 3.1% against expectations of a 3.2% rise, briefly easing fears of an early rate rise, although inflation remains well above the Bank of England's 2% target rate.Yet UK stoc

Shares in respiratory drug development company Synairgen (SNG:AIM) rallied 13% to 166.4p after a US study recommended its inhalation treatment for severe viral lung infections should advance to final stage trials.Although Synairgen hasn't received any data from the US-based ACTIV-2 outpatient study of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, the company was informed that the external data safety monito

UK stocks edged lower on Wednesday in line with most European markets despite another positive session in the US overnight and a slightly better than expected domestic inflation print.UK consumer prices for September climbed 3.1% against expectations of a 3.2% rise, briefly easing fears of an early rate rise, although inflation still remains well above the Bank of England's 2% target rate.Both the

The FTSE 100 finished higher on Monday in a relatively quiet day following some of the volatility seen during the last few weeks.Reopening optimism offset a drag from inflation-related fears giving the benchmark FTSE 100 index a 0.5% lift to close at 7,051.59. The more domestically-focused FTSE 250 also made ground, adding 0.4% to 22,483.73.The FTSE 100 traded higher despite miners' share prices b

UK stocks consolidated morning gains at lunchtime trading as reopening optimism offset a drag from inflation-related fears. At midday, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 0.2% at 7,033.37, while the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 also made ground, adding 0.15% at 22,434.11.The FTSE 100 traded higher despite miners' share prices being pulled down by falling iron ore prices as Chinese authoritie

Shares in respiratory drug development company Synairgen (SNG:AIM) gained 4% to 109.7p on Monday after studies showed its inhaled SNG001 drug was effective against key coronavirus variants.The studies were conducted at laboratories in the Netherlands and confirmed that SNG001 'potently reduced' the virus to undetectable levels in cells infected with the original Wuhan strain as well as the Kent an

UK stocks edged higher in early dealings on Monday, despite a drag from inflation-related fears, as local businesses continued to report a bounce back in trading activity following the easing of lockdowns.At 8.36 am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 0.3% at 7,040.12 points, while the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 was 0.1% higher at 22,420.15.The FTSE 100 traded higher despite miners' share

The successful development of vaccines was a triumph for the world and was for the most part great news for equities too, however it negatively impacted sentiment for one particularly sub-set of the market.The initial excitement surrounding biotechnology companies involved in developing Covid-19 testing kits and treatments for sufferers of coronavirus rapidly evaporated as the focus moved from tes

UK stocks have started the week in spectacular fashion with London's FTSE 100 closing a whopping 2.52% higher to 6,756.11 on Monday, buoyed by strength in the oil price and rising hopes for a vaccine-led economic recovery.Oil prices went close to $65 per barrel, with the boost in the commodity's price helping FTSE stalwarts BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) jump 6.5% to 278.9p and 6.1% to £13

UK stocks have got off to a flyer this week with London's FTSE 100 soaring 1.8% to 6,708.55 by lunchtime on Monday, buoyed by strength in the oil price and rising hopes for a vaccine-led economic recovery.Brent crude oil futures are up 1.15% to $63.36 per barrel, with the boost in the commodity's price helping FTSE stalwarts BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) rise 2.6% to 268.5p and 3.8% to £1

UK markets got off to a strong start to the new trading week as the FTSE 100 advanced almost 70 points, around 1%, in early deals to 6,657.14, taking its cue from Asia, which enjoyed a buoyant opening session.Stimulus and vaccine roll-out optimism provided international markets with the early shot in the arm. Japan provided much of the fuel, with the Nikkei 225 broke through the 30,000 point level

Amid news of tighter consumer and business restrictions in various parts of the world, developments in the Covid-19 vaccine space will have a major influence on global markets as they will provide the path for society to reopen.AstraZeneca's (AZN) vaccine developed with the University of Oxford is expected to be approved shortly after Christmas, according to media reports.Moderna last week receive

After an extraordinary year we look back at some of the top performers in different size categories from the heavyweights all the way down to sub £100 million market cap stocks at the bottom of the market and examine what has driven them higher in 2020. We have excluded investment trusts.£4 billion + market capShare price movements in mining companies can be about exposure to the commodities the

Shares in respiratory and drug discovery company Synairgen (SNG:AIM) surged 36% to 148.3p on Friday after it received fast track status from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration).This means shorter review timelines from the FDA and comes after the company made an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its SNG001 inhaled drug as a treatment for patients with Covid-19, enabling the start

Value investors often say there is no point trying to time the rotation back to their value style because it can happen in the blink of an eye and you often end-up chasing the move and paying higher prices. The market action on 9 November and follow-through in the intervening period certainly lends some credence to that view.Commenting on the sharp moves over the last week, Jefferies noted that, '

UK stocks ended a busy week in reflective mood after a big jump in Covid-19 cases was reported yesterday and European policymakers sounded a cautious note on the economic outlook going into year-end.At the close on Friday the FTSE 100 was down 22 points or 0.4% at 6,316 points. Domestic stocks such as banks and house builders gained while overseas earners including energy stocks fell as the pound