UK stocks opened higher on Wednesday after a vaccine candidate for Covid-19 showed promising results in early trials and after strong trading in the US driven by a good start to the Q2 results season and hopes for more support from the Federal Reserve. In early trading the FTSE 100 index was up 55.84 points, or 0.9%, at 6,235.59. Pharmaceutical company Moderna said a proposed vaccine for the ...

Global markets and investors have been held captive by the Covid-19 pandemic in recent months, and rightly so. But as the global conversation gradually moves on from saving lives to savings jobs and shoring up economies, climate change remains the elephant in the room. In April the UK economy shrank by 20.4%, an unwanted record decline that shows the severity of the current challenge to our ...

This year has seen 233 London-listed companies either cancel, cut or suspend their dividends, principally because of the coronavirus crisis. This is terrible news for anyone who relies on their investments for income. In many instances, even previously-declared dividends are not going to be paid, a terrifying trend only seen during times of massive distress that has returned as fiscal prudence ...

Advertising giant WPP (WPP) and engineering company Smiths (SMIN) have become the latest FTSE 100 firms to axe their dividends, taking the total up to 13. WPP has suspended its 2019 final dividend and a £950m share buyback having cited a recent deterioration in demand, in a move which will save it £1.1bn in cash. Smiths meanwhile has not declared an interim dividend for the first half of ...

The extent of the economic fallout from consumer self-isolation is becoming palpable with share prices in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors falling sharply. However the enforced change in behaviour is having a positive impact in some areas. Dixons Carphone (DC.), AO World (AO.) and John Lewis have all talked about seeing an increase in demand for electrical goods including sales of ...

Retirement can be a liberating experience as finishing work gives you the freedom to enjoy life, learn new skills and embrace a wide range of hobbies. This can come at a cost as individuals may need to have saved hard through their working lives to ensure they have adequate savings and enough income to fund their desired lifestyle in older age. James from Sussex knows all about this ...

UK markets have started the day higher with the benchmark FTSE 100 up 0.5% to 7,350.4, bouncing back after yesterday’s blockbuster announcement from Google that it is barring Chinese smartphone marker Huawei from updates to its Android operating system. On Tuesday UK investors seem more willing to put ongoing Brexit uncertainty to one side as they concentrate on corporate news, led by a ...

UK water industry stocks are rallying in early trade on Thursday after the three UK listed firms – Severn Trent (SVT), United Utilities (UU.) and Pennon (PNN) – see their business plans win watchdog approval. That sends sector share prices rallying having removed a hefty unknown for investors, led by the 1.5% rise at United Utilities to 832p, the UK’s largest water company. The ...

Water is an essential resource for life – no one can live without it. Beyond its basic functions of sustaining life, water is also a precious commodity. Its supply is limited and global challenges such as population growth, urbanisation and climate change are putting existing water resources under increased stress. The global issue of water access is a two-fold problem: safe drinking water is ...

UK stocks give up yesterday’s gains with the FTSE 100 down 47 points or 0.7% to 7,003 as Engineering, Mining, Oil Services and Utilities stocks weigh on the market. The Centrica (CNA) trading update reads well with cash-flow in line, the dividend maintained and cost savings above the £200m target set out at the half year stage. However tucked away at the end is a note that changes to the ...

There’s a major business shake-up underway at Rolls-Royce (RR.) as the FTSE 100 aero-engineer confirms that it will cut 4,600 jobs as part of a plan to simplify its business and save £400m a year by the end of 2020. Those hoped-for streamlined costs go down well with investors, sending the stock more than 3% higher in early trade on Thursday to 854p, topping the FTSE 100 leader ...

A relatively tempered response from North Korea to US president Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a planned summit helped restore a measure of calm to the markets with the FTSE 100 rising 0.4% to 7,749.70. The biggest faller on the index is postal firm Royal Mail (RMG), down 4.2% to 522.6p, as investment bank Berenberg cuts its recommendation from ‘hold’ to ‘sell’ with a 460p price ...

UK water companies are trading close to four-year share price lows even after a mini rally since February, with the sector dogged by political and regulatory threats. There are few reasons why this bleak performance may reverse convincingly any time soon, according to analysts at investment bank UBS. The UK water sub-set is down between 7% and 10% year-to-date. It has fallen by nearly ...

The gambling industry once again hits the headlines following new reports that the government might slash the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBT) to just £2. This story has run and run but it is having a massive impact on bookmaker stocks in early trade on Tuesday, with shares in William Hill (WMH) plunging 11% on the news to 300.5p, valuing the bookie at £2.56bn. William ...

UK utility services stocks dominate the list of FTSE 100 risers in early afternoon trading on Wednesday. Water suppliers United Utilities (UU.) and Severn Trent (SVT) would be topping the Footsie leader board were it not for the shock swoop for pharmaceuticals company Shire (SHP). The pair have seen their respective share prices jump 4.6% and 3.3% today, big moves for these predictable if dull ...

Ethical and sustainable investing used to be thought of as a charitable endeavour that places principles before profits, but there is growing evidence to suggest it can lead to better long-term returns. There are now around 200 funds in the UK that claim to invest sustainably, putting much more choice at investors’ fingertips. You need to dig deep to ensure the fund meets your criteria ...

The spotlight has returned to waste management group Biffa (BIFF) after yet another director sold shares in the company. Six directors in the business sold nearly £3m stock in late November and early December, including the chief executive and chief financial officer. It has now been disclosed that Jeff Anderson, managing director of Biffa’s Industrial & Commercial division, sold ...

UK water suppliers could face significant earnings and dividend pressure as industry watchdog Ofwat plays hardball on operating costs and debt financing. The regulator has published its early findings for the next five year price review period, which runs from 2019. The methodology of allowed cost of capital, equity and debt returns that suppliers can earn from their regulated water supply ...

Calamity strikes newspaper group Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) on Thursday, which slumps into the red. Pubs groups are a mixed bag, and there’s a profit warning from energy services firm Lamprell (LAM). But a nasty set of full year results by the Daily Mail newspaper publisher stands out. Shares in the company crashing more than 20% to 550p, by far the biggest faller on the FTSE All ...

The FTSE 100 opens 17 points lower at 7,369.17, weighed down by weakness among utility and mining stocks. United Utilities (UU.) is the biggest faller among FTSE 100 stocks, down 3.4% to 806.25p. Severn Trent (SVT) drops 2% to £21.01. Media group Sky (SKY) is top riser on the FTSE 100 thanks to reports that two US companies want to buy 21st Century Fox’s interest in the ...