London Stocks finished down on Tuesday, despite rallies from Whitbread and HSBC, as Wall Street was in the red ahead of the Fed?s major interest rate decision this week.The FTSE 100 index closed down 2.90 points at 8,144.13. The FTSE 250 ended down 119.40 points, 0.6%, at 19,965.39, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.59 points, 0.3%, at 760.74.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 813.44, the Cboe U

London?s FTSE 100 pushed higher on Tuesday afternoon, as its winning streak looks set to continue, though blue-chip benchmarks in Frankfurt and Paris struggled as shares in carmakers went into reverse.The FTSE 100 index was up 47.90 points, 0.6%, at 8,194.93. The FTSE 250 slipped just 2.92 points, to 20,081.87, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.85 of a point, 0.1%, at 764.18.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.

Further £150 million buyback£150 million of cost savings plannedShares down 16% year-to-datePremier Inn-owner Whitbread (WTB) pleased investors with news of an extension to its buyback programme and a new cost-saving initiative as its full-year profit undershot market estimates.After languishing around the £30 level to begin with, the shares slowly climbed 110p or 3.5% to £31.50 by late mornin

Galaxy smartphone maker reports 10-fold jump in profitAI driving demand for memory chipsSouth Korean firm targeted by activists earlier in the yearThe world?s biggest memory chips and smartphone maker Samsung Electronics (005930:KS) is getting a much-needed lift from the AI (artificial intelligence) demand boom.The South Korean technology giant clocked a 10-fold surge in its first quarter profit,

Cards-to-gifts seller reinstates shareholder rewardStore estate performing wellFY25 profits will be second half weightedShares in Card Factory (CARD) rallied 6% to 106.6p after the value-focused greeting cards-to-party supplies retailer announced a welcome return to the dividend list, having paused payouts during the pandemic.The reinstatement of dividends signalled confidence from Card Factory an

Profits beat consensusBuyback bigger than thoughtChief executive stepping downInvestors in Anglo-Pacific bank HSBC (HSBA) had plenty to cheer as the group posted first-quarter results above expectations and increased the size of its buyback.The shares continued their recent rally, adding another 17p or 2.5% to take them to a new post-pandemic high of 685p. BETTER RESULTS AND BUYBACKFor the

Equities in London made a bright start to trading, led by lender HSBC, as the recent bullish run continued.Trade was more cautious in mainland Europe, however, ahead of key eurozone data later.The FTSE 100 index rose 26.28 points, 0.3%, at 8,173.31. The FTSE 250 was up 51.07 points, 0.3%, at 20,135.86, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.36 points, 0.2%, at 764.69.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 817.04,

London equities finished in the green on Monday, outpacing its European peers, ahead of the Federal Reserve?s eagerly awaited interest rate decision on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 7.20 points, 0.1%, at 8,147.03. The FTSE 250 ended up 260.63 points, 1.3%, at 20,084.79, and the AIM All-Share closed up 8.05 points, 1.1%, at 763.33.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 814.08, the Cboe UK 250 cl

Postive cancer trial resultsPotentially increases patient poolNew standard of careShares in AstraZeneca (AZN) got a further boost today, rising 2% after posting positive late-stage trial results for breast cancer treatment Enhertu which demonstrated clinically-meaningful progression-free survival improvements.This follows strong market-beating first-quarter results last week (25 April) which sent

Gatemore has over 4 million shares in ElementisShares up nearly 2% to 139p in morning tradingShareholders keen to unlock valueShareholders in Elementis (ELM) once again expressed dissatisfaction with the specialty chemicals company by writing an open letter to the board calling for change which is ?long overdue.?Liad Meidar, managing partner at Gatemore Capital Management - Gatemore Special Opport

Stock prices in London were up heading into the afternoon on Monday, beating more cautious trade on mainland Europe, as investors shifted focus onto this week?s Federal Reserve interest rate decision in the US.The FTSE 100 index rose 40.94 points, 0.5%, at 8,180.77. It had climbed to 8,189.14, its best-ever level.?The blue-chip index continues to glow and sustain energy that we haven?t seen in the

Firm to power Tesco Clubcard ChallengesOne-year contract with option to renewEagle Eye?s sales rose 20% in H1Technology tiddler Eagle Eye Solutions (EYE:AIM) has secured a new contract with Tesco (TSCO) for personalised promotions, exciting news which sent shares in the UK SaaS (software-as-a-service) firm up 9% to 510p on Monday.While no financial details were disclosed, house broker Shore Capita

Group premiums up 7%Property premiums up 26%No change to estimatesLondon market insurance group Beazley (BEZ) posted an in-line first-quarter trading update and confirmed its full-year guidance for written premiums and costs.The shares, which closed at an all-time high of 694p in March, continued to ease down 0.4% to 636p. STRONG PROPERTY PREMIUMSInsurance written premiums for the three mon

Stocks in London rose to a record high on Monday morning, as market attention moves to the US Federal Reserve interest rate decision due on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index rose 40.03 points, 0.5%, at 8,179.86. It had climbed to 8,185.59 shortly after the opening bell, its best-ever level.The FTSE 250 was up 42.62 points, 0.2%, at 19,866.78, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.45 points, 0.3%, at 757.73.Th

London?s FTSE 100 hit another record high on Friday, rounding off a strong week with another gain, despite a robust US inflation reading threatening to spoil the party.The FTSE 100 index added 60.97 points, 0.8%, at 8,139.83. It is its best closing level ever, and it earlier hit a record intraday high of 8,146.75.The FTSE 250 was up 222.18 points, 1.1%, at 19,824.16, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.1

Revenue and earnings beat Street estimatesStrongest revenue growth in two yearsFirst ever dividend announcedShares in Alphabet (GOOG:NASDAQ) are set to open at a new all-time high after the Google parent reported strong double-digit first quarter revenue growth, and bested Wall Street profit estimates. The internet search giant also announced it would pay its first ever dividend.Pre-market data ha

London?s blue-chips remained in demand, pushing to new highs, with investors hoping US inflation data later does not derail the optimistic mood.In the FTSE 100, ConvaTec was an outlier, after Peel Hunt downgraded the firm?s investment rating. On the other side of the index was NatWest, with a set of well received results.The FTSE 100 index was up 35.73 points, 0.4%, at 8,114.59. The FTSE 250 was u

Board recommends all cash 620p offerPrice pitched at 20% premium to prior closeBid ends tumultuous three years for DarktraceIt has certainly not been a dull time for shareholders in cybersecurity firm Darktrace (DARK) since it listed three years ago and now it looks like its short sojourn has come to an end after agreeing an all-cash offer from private equity outfit Thoma Bravo at 620p per share.H

Investors bought in London at the open on Friday, with news led by Anglo American rejecting BHP?s £31.1 billion takeover offer and Darktrace accepting a $5 billion private equity takeover offer.The FTSE 100 index opened up 42.14 points, 0.5%, at 8,121.00. The FTSE 250 was up 151.94 points, 0.8%, at 19,753.92, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.41 points, 0.3%, at 755.53.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6% at

London?s FTSE 100 pushed higher on Thursday, leaving peers on the continent and beyond in its wake, on share price rises for heavyweights AstraZeneca, Barclays and Unilever, as well as M&A impetus for Anglo American.Trade was underwhelming elsewhere, however, as equities struggled following a red-hot US inflation reading, which was coupled with numbers showing a slowdown in growth.The FTSE 100 ind