Stock prices in London were higher at midday on Wednesday, ahead of the next interest rate decision from the Bank of England on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index was up 41.39 points, 0.5%, at 8,355.06, having reached another record at 8364.04 at around 1100 BST. The FTSE 250 was up 33.45 points, 0.2%, at 20,446.53, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.99 points, 0.3%, at 778.41.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE The mining sector is not homogenous. On the BlackRock World Mining Trust, we believe this year its fortunes may be particularly disparate, as a range of factors weigh on individual commodities and regions. As we see it, there are three key factors that will determine the performance of mining companies for the remainder of 2024: geopolitics, global growth and infras

US-listed large-caps shone last year with shares in mega-caps, and the ?Magnificent Seven? in particular, surging higher. However, this outperformance only widened the valuation gap between US large and small-caps and left shares in the latter cohort languishing at the low end of historical valuations.Over one and five years, the Russell 2000 index of US small-cap stocks is up 14.6% and 30.5% at t

Stocks in London slumped as increased geopolitical tensions and interest rate uncertainty added to investor nerves ahead of the US jobs report.The FTSE 100 index was down 77.03 points, 1.0%, at 7,898.86. The FTSE 250 was down 202.97 points, 1.0%, at 19,670.22, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.61 points, 0.5%, at 738.97.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.9% at 789.74, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.0% at 17,12

Like-for-like sales trend worsensProfits to be second-half weightedLiberum halves FY24 estimatesLike-for-like sales tumbled 11.3% in the second quarter at Topps Tiles (TPT) amid persistently subdued demand in the UK RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) market, especially for bigger-ticket projects.Shares in the UK?s market-leading tile retailer cheapened 3% to 42.7p on a warning first-half pr

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Nuclear power, which uses uranium to produce electricity with a small carbon footprint, has been around for decades, but the technology and underlying commodity have experienced renewed interest as the world looks to transition away from fossil fuels and nations work to increase energy security. The shift from fossil fuels to green energy sources such as solar and wi

Former publishing industry professional John is in his 50s and has been investing for decades, starting at a very early age.John became an investor in his late teens and has started devoting more time to it over the last 20 years. He has always had an interest in markets, even when he was a young boy of seven or eight.A CHILDHOOD INTEREST IN STOCK MARKET SUCCESSES AND FAILURESHe says: ?I read the

Shares climb 8% after trading updateFourth-quarter earnings top forecastsFirm says AI demand ?accelerating?Computer hardware and software giant IBM (IBM:NYSE) posted better-than-expected fourth quarter earnings and sales and said it was poised to gain ?a tremendous amount of value? as customers increased their usage of AI (artificial intelligence).IBM shares jumped around $13 or 8% to $187 in afte

Footwear firm saw ?softer? festive salesUSA business still challengedRelief as guidance reiteratedIconic British footwear brand Dr. Martens (DOCS) was in demand on Thursday, shares in the FTSE 250 retailer booted 7% higher to 80.7p after it swerved another profit warning despite a difficult Christmas for purveyors of bigger ticket items.The Camden Town-headquartered company saw softer December sal

Stocks in London rose on Wednesday morning, as large-cap miners benefitted from news of stimulus measures from China.The FTSE 100 index opened up 38.21 points, 0.5%, at 7,523.94. The FTSE 250 was up 85.94 points, 0.5%, at 19,078.56, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.37 points, 0.2%, at 740.29.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 751.62, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.6% at 16,517.35, and the Cboe Small Companies

London?s FTSE 100 registered a slight gain heading into Thursday afternoon, in a slightly more positive day for equities after a tricky start to the year.Retailers Next and JD Sports sat at either side of the FTSE 100 after contrasting festive updates.Equities in New York are called to open higher with focus on the afternoon?s employment data from payroll processor ADP. The official nonfarms readi

Stocks in London opened higher on Thursday, with the focus on the latest festive updates for large-cap retailers.The FTSE 100 index opened up 28.37 points, or 0.4%, at 7,710.70. The FTSE 250 was up 62.33 points, 0.3%, at 19,388.73, and the AIM All-Share was 0.61 of a point, 0.1%, at 754.76.Retailers Next and JD Sports were the best and worst performing blue-chip stocks respectively, after both pro

Just when it seemed inflation was being brought under control, particularly in terms of input costs for businesses like energy and labour, events thousands of miles away are threatening to send prices back up again.While they may seem to have nothing to do with UK consumers or investors, together a drought in Central America and an increase in the terror threat in the Middle East could rekindle in

As we move into another year there is plenty for investors to consider. Are we on the other side of inflationary pressures? Will rates be cut in 2024? What will happen with the US presidential election? In this article we address these and some other big questions for the year to come.IS THE BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION OVER, WILL RATES BE CUT IN 2024 AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE DOLLAR?A big question

Group revenue at lower end of rangeShares down 31% year-to-dateRemains committed to 'building a smokeless world'Shares in British American Tobacco (BATS) fell over 8% to £22.66 as the global tobacco firm made no change to full year 2023 guidance and earnings per share delivery in its latest trading update.Group organic revenue growth is now expected to be at the low end of the 3%-5% range as the

Weaker-than-expected Q3 salesUS consumer backdrop deterioratesDr. Martens pulls FY25 guidanceInvestors put the boot into Dr. Martens (DOCS) after the iconic footwear brand downgraded its year-to-March 2024 EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) guidance once again and withdrew previous guidance for high single digit sales growth in full year 2025.The shares slumped m

London?s FTSE 100 made a muted start to the day on Thursday, while the euro came under some pressure following another batch of tamer inflation data from the continent, this time in France.Inflation remains the theme of the day going forward, with a wider eurozone consumer price index reading to come. There is also the latest US personal consumption expenditures data. The core PCE reading is the F

An upbeat trading update and revised financial targets from the UK's leading property portal Rightmove (RMV) proved a hit with investors on 27 November, but it hasn't been all plain sailing for the FTSE firm of late.At the end of October, the group's share price took a battering after US real estate giant CoStar (CSGP:NYSE) announced a £99 million all-cash offer for Rightmove's UK rival OnTheMark

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREMarcel StötzelCo-Portfolio Manager, Fidelity European Trust PLCArtificial intelligence could pave the way for an array of advancements, or it could dismantle democracies. With society increasingly calling for protection against the threats posed by AI, portfolio manager Marcel Stötzel outlines how through the integration of AI analysis into their ESG assessm

The income attractions of stocks are being tested right now thanks to increased interest rates, allowing you for the first time in years to generate a decent return on cash in the bank.However, rates are approaching their peak and are still short of the latest rate of UK inflation, making a case for looking to the financial markets where a range of asset classes offer the potential for both yield