As the triggering of Article 50 looms, starting the process of the UK's departure from the EU, the FTSE 100 rallies by 0.37% to 7370.66, following up yesterday's gains.Conversely, the Shanghai Composite Index closed down by 0.36% at 3,241.31. But economists predict the Article 50 trigger will provide little new information to alter real economic activity.Johnston Press (JPR) shares drop by...

London shares begin the week in decline with investors worried about the next euro funding step after the collapse in Greek debt talks hit talks. In early trade Monday the FTSE 100 on track for its lowest finish in three months, sliding 40 points, or 0.5%, to 6,746. Midcaps take an even bigger bashing, the FTSE 250 index plunging more than 100 points, or 0.7%, to 17,822.Budget flyer Easyjet...

Embattled retailer Morrisons (MRW) rises 2.8% to 243.8p on whispers the UK's fourth biggest grocer's founding family wants to take it private. The family, which owns circa 9.5%, is thought to have approached a number of private equity players with a view to stitching together a buyout deal for the struggling supermarket operator which could exceed £7 billion. Morrisons is one of Shares' top...

London's blue-chip benchmark sheds 57.8 points at 6,396.1 on Monday as investors remain worried about a lack of progress in breaking the political stalemate over the US budget and debt ceiling. Investor skittishness manifests itself in downbeat reactions to positive news from a number of larger market constituents.Among them is National Express (NEX), which skids 1.7p to 254.7p despite...

A ugly picture of the jobs market was painted by SThree (STHR) as it reported a 9% drop in second-quarter gross profit, far worse than the 3% decline in the first period. Fees are falling from contractors in more mature markets and the banking sector. The service group is also suffering margin compression as it prioritises work for larger multinational clients, where it places greater emphasis...

Global markets continued to roar with optimism on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 flying 120 points higher to 6,774.32 as UK investors returned from the long weekend in buying mood. News from the CBI of rising confidence in the UK service sector helped lift sentiment towards the leisure industry, with holiday operator TUI Travel (TT.) putting on 10p at 368.6p and Holiday Inn-owner InterContinental...

It can take exceptional performance to warrant earnings upgrades, as two well-known retailers have today found out. Both Halfords (HFD) and Dunelm (DNLM) have turned in solid trading updates yet they weren't good enough to get the City experts to nudge up their numbers. That in turn meant a lacklustre share price reaction to the news.Car parts-to-bicycles seller Halford's reported 0.3%...

The FTSE 100 advanced 23 points to 6,300, propelled by a positive market response to Barclays' (BARC) strategic review results, sending the bank up 4.1% to 313.p. The wider banking sector hopped on board for the ride with Lloyds Banking (LLOY) up 3.5% to 54.6p and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) up 2.6% to 349.1p. Click here for the full story.Reports that US regulators are probing ICAP (IAP)...