UK markets closed the Monday session firmly on the front foot as investors welcomed a swathe of positive trading updates and raised guidance, lifting spirits and share prices. The benchmark FTSE 100 romped 2.4% higher to 5,937.40 thanks to gains in healthcare and retail stocks. The sell-off in the US at the end of last week, which wiped 4.3% off the S&P 500 index and 6.4% off the Nasdaq ...

UK shares continued their strong recovery run at lunchtime on Monday as a raft of positive trading updates and raised guidance lifted investor spirits and share prices. The benchmark FTSE 100 romped 1.8% higher to 5,905.32 points thanks to gains in healthcare and retail stocks. The sell-off in the US at the end of last week, which wiped 4.3% off the S&P 500 index and 6.4% off the Nasdaq ...

The FTSE 100 opened weaker on Friday for a fourth straight day of decline, dropping 0.4% to 6,026 as record spikes of virus infections in Hong Kong and Tokyo fuelled fears of a second wave hitting Asia. In the US death rates hit record levels in the states of Florida, Arizona, Texas and California. Trading across Asia was weak with the Nikkei 225 giving up 1% and China’s Shanghai Composite ...

On the anniversary of the Brexit vote the FTSE 100 is down by over 30 points to 7408.85 as bluechip companies feel the pain of sterling’s gains against both the euro and the dollar. Some of the large pharma and mining stocks are particularly exposed to a stronger pound as they derive a large proportion of their revenue from overseas. Mining giant Rio Tinto (RIO) has completed its programme of ...

Following a company like Software Radio Technology (SRT:AIM) (SRT) is a bit like reading an Agatha Christie whodunnit – they'll be twists and turns, sub-plots and red herrings. Investors are seemingly chuffed with today's full year trading update, spurring the share price to rally close on 5% to 33.5p, but the mystery remains – what did happen to those profits? The maritime navigation ...

London shares are mixed in early trade on Wednesday with blue chips guiding higher but midcaps failing to make progress and smaller companies largely flat. Traders continue to cast wary glances towards the pricing of crude and safe-haven assets but many remain jittery about the global economy. Europe was up while Wall Street and Asia fell overnight. The benchmark FTSE 100 index nudges 12 ...

Rambler Metals and Mining (RMM:AIM) 19.5p The sharp decline in the copper price year to date has forced Rambler to lay off staff and halt some capital expenditure. There’s also some ground stability issues which is affecting production. Expect short-term pain but potential long-term gain as it is fundamentally a decent business. Randall & Quilter Investment (RQIH:AIM) 131p Randall ...

London markets make early gains in opening trading on Monday as Irish building materials group CRH (CRH) and a host of oil stocks provide upward momentum. Investors are clearly relieved to find Brent crude trading above the key $50/bbl mark, while retail and financial stocks also make gains. London’s FTSE 100 is trading 28 points, or 0.4%, higher at 6,777 early on. A big surge in crude prices ...

UK markets again drift lower in opening deals as investors mull a weak end to Wall Street trading and a similarly fade out on Asian markets overnight, although gains by oil giant BP (BP.) limited today's declines. The FTSE 100 index is trading 0.3% off at 6,482 in early action as China's economy showed renewed weakness and crude oil remained below $50 a barrel. Britain's mid caps struggle ...

Today's re-released half year results from maritime identification and tracking technologies kit supplier Software Radio Technology (SRT:AIM) (SRT) read pretty well and come in line with a trading update last month (3 Oct). Confirming revenues for the six months to September up 70%, to £5.4 million, looks great on paper, as does its pre-tax profit of £517,122, versus a £437,634 loss a year ...

Upgrades to drive Walters Recruitment agent Robert Walters (RWA) says the UK jobs market recovery has only just begun, adding that employment gains historically lag economic growth. Analysts are now starting to upgrade earnings forecasts, helped by a good performance in Asia, which should help justify the high valuation. (DC)   XP worry for Computacenter Worries that the ...

3D conversion technology minnow DDD Group (DDD:AIM) rockets 43% to 5.75p despite no new news. The company last week won new licences for its TriDef technology for use in mobile devices but today's rally will have investors wondering if some bigger news will emerge. Smart Metering Systems (SMS:AIM) makes it first acquisition with the £14 million cash and shares purchase of Cardiff-based Utility ...

Confirmation that US telco AT&T (T:NYSE) will not bid for mobile network giant Vodafone (VOD) sends shockwaves around the market and slices 4.8% off the UK group's shares to 221p. The US company is now prevented from making an offer for six months, although the bar would be lifted if a third party swoops.   FTSE 100 oil and gas firm BG (BG) falls 14.9% to £10.68 as it downgrades ...

Three different parties have got British machine gun manufacturer Manroy (MAN:AIM) in their sights, sending the small cap's shares up 48% to 82.9p. It confirmed preliminary takeover talks with Belgium's Herstal, Italy's Beretta and Nevada-based US Ordnance. The announcement triggers a formal takeover offer period, meaning the potential bidders have until the end of Christmas Eve to announce an ...

Recruitment bellwether Michael Page (MPI) is not having a good time in Asia Pacific where third quarter gross profit, on a constant currency basis, fell by 4.3% to £27.3 million. This region accounts for just over a third of group profit. Against that disappointment is news of a 16.9% gain from the Americas region, a welcome performance but not enough to offset the Asia Pacific weakness. Overall ...

Investors raised a glass to Punch Taverns (PUB) today, sending the shares 13% higher to 12p. The leased and tenanted pubs operator made encouraging noises about the long-awaited restructuring of its borrowings as it served up better-than-expected half-year figures.   For the half to 2 March, the £70 million cap reported taxable profits of £26.2 million, down on the prior year's £33.3 ...