A seeming dialling down in the aggressive rhetoric between the US and China and the latter's move to stabilise its currency helped restore some calm to the markets with the FTSE 100 trading 0.3% higher at 7.192.96 in early trading.Miner and commodities trader Glencore (GLEN) slips 1.9% to 226.95 after announcing that its half-yearly earnings fell by nearly a third, amid lower copper and cobalt...

London's FTSE 100 sheds another 53 points to 6,900.2 on Friday, as European markets follow the US indices sharply lower after President Donald Trump announced $60bn worth of tariffs on Chinese imports.On the corporate front, fashion and homewares giant Next (NXT) rallies 3.1% to £47.71 on relief results for the year to January are in line with the guidance given with its Christmas trading...

The UK stock market is experiencing a small rally following a stressful past few days. In mid-morning trade the FTSE 100 was trading 0.7% higher at 7,193.The FTSE 250 index was 1.2% higher at 19,502; and the FTSE AIM All-Share index was up by the same percentage at 1,025.More brave investors are now looking for opportunities to buy on the market dip.Let's now take a look at the best performing...

Serviced office provider IWG (IWG) has received an indicative takeover proposal from Brookfield Asset Management and Onex Corporation. The approach follows recent share price weakness caused by a profit warning in October which wiped a third off IWG's market value.Oil producer Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) said it should benefit from US tax changes primarily due to the reduction in the US corporate...

Shares in small cap oil and gas play UK Oil & Gas Investments (UKOG:AIM) are on a tear higher. The latest spurt comes as the company announces (20 Jul) it has found another oil bearing zone after analysis of its Broadford Bridge-1 exploration well.Executive chairman Stephen Sanderson says it believes the asset is 'a new and potentially highly significant oil resource'. The shares are up more...

London's blue chip index trades close to a two month high this morning as the London Stock Exchange becomes the centre of a bidding war. The FTSE 100 trades 21 points higher to 6,118 after New York Stock Exchange-owner Intercontinental Exchange is reported to be preparing a bid for the London Stock Exchange, which could derail Deutsche Borse's £20 billion merger.This off-set any impact from...

London equities push marginally higher in early trade on Tuesday as traders continue to bag value buys after recent sell-offs, in particular focusing on mining and oil issues. Also up are several financials, along with property. Asia gained overnight, but Wall Street was closed for President's Day.The benchmark FTSE 100 index nudges barely 4 points higher to 5,829, although gains are more...

London shares take a New Year pounding in early trade on Monday as traders reacted to heavy falls on the Shanghai Composite stock ladder and the bleak outlook for China's economy. Bourses in Germany and France were heavily lower, too. The benchmark FTSE 100 index dives 109 points, or around 1.8%, to 6,133, although declines are less pronounced among UK midcap and smaller companies.Stocks in...

London shares fall for the fifth day straight on Thursday with gains across the mining sector unable to halt the slide caused by ongoing concerns over Greece debt talks, inflation, and possible interest rate rises to come. The FTSE 100, which fell to its lowest since January on Wednesday, drifts a further 0.24% lower at 6,660 early on, prolonging its spell in the red.Miners populate the top of...

London shares continue their weak run in early trade on Friday as investors cast wary eyes towards the Greece debt saga and OPEC's meeting later today. Supermarkets and retailers are on the back foot, matching losses overnight on Wall Street. The FTSE 100 index dips close on 50 points, or 0.5%, to 6,811, declines largely matched by UK midcaps.Mobile phones giant Vodafone (VOD) is among the...

The most traded stocks will often include FTSE 100 heavyweights like Vodafone (VOD), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Lloyds Banking (LLOY) but data from leading stockbrokers shows smaller stocks can hold sway with a retail audience in the short-term.And by looking at this data on the top buys and sells by percentage of orders it is possible to gain an insight into what the market - made up of...

Gatwick mega oil slipHorse Hill Developments - the consortium leading the development of an oil find near Gatwick airport - is moving to cool frenzied speculation about the discovery of 100 billion barrels in the wider Weald basin. UK Oil & Gas Investments (UKOG:AIM) - which has a 30% stake in the venture - is down 40% on highs above 3p. (TS)Bid battle for ARMSA bid war looks likely for coal...

Despite what you may have read over the past week there's no chance of Sussex being transformed into a mini-Texas.The results of analysis of the Horse Hill-1 well near Gatwick airport prompted reports there could be a 100 billion barrels of oil in the Weald basin (which contains the discovery). Do not get caught up in this hype.For context 100 billion barrels is more than double the 45 billion...

London markets nudge higher in a quiet news session, with blue-chip resources and retail-related stocks generally providing the direction. But utilities are under pressure on concerns of a future US interest rate hike. Wall Street was mixed overnight, while Asian markets fell.The FTSE 100 is up 26 points, or 0.4%, to 7102, while midcaps rise similarly to 17,900. WTI and Brent crude prices also...

London markets dip modestly in early trade on Monday nudging back from record closing highs hit late last week, with a swathe of mining and retail-related stocks providing direction. Wall St closed higher overnight Friday, while Asian markets are up this morning.The FTSE 100 index FTSE 100 slips around 19 points, or 0.3%, to 7,071, while midcaps fade similarly, the FTSE 250 index off around 45...

UK markets continue to rally in early trade on Thursday with blue chips gaining on wide-ranging sector news, although resources stocks act as ballast. Wall Street rose overnight, as did Asian markets this morning. The market is looking to Bank of England's midday interest rate and QE decisions.The benchmark FTSE 100 is up 44 points, or 0.6%, to 6,979, while midcaps are also in positive...

The consortium looking to tap the Horse Hill prospect near Gatwick airport has upgraded its estimate of oil in place (OIP) to 158 million barrels of oil per square mile and flags a 'possible world class potential resource'.The eye-catching number - which is based on analysis of 2014's HH-1 well by consultant NUTECH and could imply an onshore find running to billions of barrels- is driving big...

London markets nudge a fraction higher thanks to forecast-beating results from asset manager Standard Life (SL.), although there's precious little else to draw the interest of investors on an otherwise quiet Friday. Overnight, Wall Street was mixed, while Asian markets remain firme.In early deals the FTSE 100 index is 4.3 point higher, just 0.06%, at 6,893, just 1.6% off the psychologically...

High street bellwether Marks & Spencer (MKS) jumps 8% to 437.1p as investors are relieved that half-year results aren't as bad as feared. Pre-tax profits of £268 million are ahead of the £252 million consensus and there's improved full-year guidance on gross margin and costs. General merchandise like-for-like sales continue to underperform, with clothing sales hit by warm September weather....