Stocks in London were up on Thursday midday, with JD Sports shares in the FTSE 100 jumping as it outlined its financial 2025 profit forecast, while water utilities struggled.The FTSE 100 index was up 20.39 points, 0.3%, at 7,952.37. The FTSE 250 was up 52.23 points, 0.3%, at 19,862.89, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 743.40.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 794.61, the Cboe UK 250

Costain (COST)Price: 64.8p. Gain to date: 18.7%Original BUY @ 54.58p on 31 August 2023When we recommended buying shares in infrastructure and engineering group Costain (COST) we flagged its superior revenue and earnings visibility, thanks to the size of its order book and the security of its customers, which tend to be county councils and major utilities.We also suggested the firm's lowly valuatio

Fevertree director snaps up nearly £130,000 sharesUnited Utilities boss Louise Beardmore sells upSafestore director buys just under £100,000 sharesKevin Havelock, non-executive director of posh tonics maker Fevertree (FEVR:AIM) has taken advantage of the recent dip in the share price to buy 10,243 at £12.69 for the total value of £129,984 on 14 September.Earlier on in the week Fevertree report

The potential collapse of Thames Water and a mooted move into public ownership amid spiralling debts has put the spotlight on the contingent of water utility firms on the UK stock market.Saddled with their own significant borrowings and with investment required to fix the UK's ageing water infrastructure, questions are being asked about their ability to continue to pay generous dividends to shareh

- Dividends to be linked to performance and resilience- Regulatory powers to take action- Better transparency of credit rating changesThe UK's water regulator Ofwat (Office of Water Services) announced new powers on Monday to prevent companies paying dividends if it risked their financial resilience and to take enforcement against water companies which don't link dividend payments to performance.O

- Mike Ashley writes £8 million of put options- United Utilities' CEO retires, sells sharesMIKE ASHLEY SELLS £8 MILLION OF CFD PUT OPTIONSBillionaire founder of Frasers Group (FRAS), Mike Ashley has sold put options over the equivalent of 1 million shares with an 800p strike price and September 2023 expiry.It means Ashley has an obligation to buy the shares at the strike price from the option bu

- Reckitt chief lands top job at Starbucks- Shell head said to be readying departure- 18 FTSE 100 bosses off to pastures newWhile investors are still mulling over the quarterly FTSE index reshuffle, which saw around a dozen companies change places, the game of boardroom musical chairs seems to have picked up momentum again.Hot on the heels of yesterday's news that the chief executive of Reckitt Be

- Flags higher interest and other costs in year ahead- Dividend 0.6% higher year-on-year- Full-year profit down 20%Full-year results from water and wastewater outfit United Utilities (UU.) revealed the company is not immune to the challenges posed by rising prices - undermining its appeal as a stock which can provide inflation protection.The company, which owns and operates water infrastructure in

The utilities sector has historically attracted investors for its defensive and reliable revenue streams which in turn funded a decent level of dividend income.More recently, several connected factors have shaken up this industry. These include a transition away from fossil fuels into renewables in the face of a climate emergency, greater appetite for investments in ESG (environmental, social and

For now, the escalating conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of easing. After the initial shock, markets were hopeful the economic impact of the war might be contained as the West's opening salvo of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion (24 Feb) were weaker than some had anticipated.However, any relief soon dissipated as Ukraine put up stiff resistance against the Russian invaders and sanctions

Stocks received a lift heading into the weekend with the release of official figures showing the UK economy performed much better than expected in November.On a monthly basis, GDP (gross domestic product) is estimated to have grown by 0.9% in November against forecasts of a 0.4% increase, taking it above its February 2020 pre-pandemic level for the first time.Growth was broad-based, with industria

UK shares closed higher on Wednesday, spurred on by US economic data which showed personal spending rose more than expected and weekly US jobless claims were the lowest since 1969, signaling continued strength in the economy.The latest minutes from the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meeting, are due after the market close.At the close the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was up 0.3% at 7,

UK shares gave back early gains as markets braced for a torrent of US economic data due to be released later today and ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow when US markets will stay closed.As well as the weekly jobless numbers, investors will receive updates on the core latest inflation data, durable goods orders, and personal consumption trends, providing further evidence of economic streng

UK shares continued to climb on Wednesday with the FTSE 100 rising 0.5% back above the 7,300 level thanks to buying of oil majors and mining stocks.Meanwhile, investors were awaiting the release of minutes from the US Federal Reserve's latest Open Market Committee meeting, due after the market close, for clues as to the pace of interest rate hikes after recent strong inflation and jobs data.Sterli

A combination of factors including sagging US consumer confidence, a spate of downgrades to China's economic growth forecasts and renewed inflationary concerns weighed on UK stocks towards the end of Tuesday's trading session.The FTSE 100 Index closed 0.4% lower at 7031 and the FTSE 250 Index finished the session 1.6% lower at 23,233 points.Economists have cut their growth forecasts for the Chines

Fears that inflationary pressures will be more persistent than originally anticipated, coupled with concerns regarding the winding up of the UK furlough scheme weighed on both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 Indexes during lunchtime trading.At midday the former had slipped by 0.4% to 7031 while the latter had given up 1.6% to 23,233 points. The recent rally in crude oil prices has reignited concerns tha

UK stocks dropped at the open on Tuesday as the fuel crisis sweeping the country showed no signs of easing. To make matters worse, Brent crude oil prices surged to a three-year high over $80 per barrel, pushing up prices at the pump, and UK and European natural gas price hit new records.By 8.45am the FTSE 100 index was down 30 points or 0.4% to 7,035 points as weakness in miners and industrials ou

Amid the imminent return of James Bond to cinemas, investors raced to buy shares in Cineworld (CINE) in anticipation of strong ticket sales. Cineworld's shares jumped 11.8% higher to 80p, providing some fizz for the markets which were otherwise lacking major action.The FTSE 100 ended the session in positive territory, up 0.17% at 7063.40. But the FTSE 250 finished the day flat at 23,608.63. This w

UK stocks gave up all of their early gains on Monday as US index futures pointed lower, driven by rising bond yields.Having at one stage tacked on 70 points or 1%, by midday the FTSE 100 index was trading completely flat at 7,052 points as investors turned their attention away from corporate earnings and back to concerns over higher inflation, supply chain constraints and disruptions to fuel suppl

UK stocks started the week on the front foot with the FTSE 100 index gaining 0.8% to 7108.53 in early trading led by energy companies as oil prices continued their recent surge. Shares in BP (BP.) gained 2.2% to 327p and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) added 2.8% to £15.72.Brent crude traded 62 cents firmer at $78.71 per barrel, its highest level in over a year, as rising demand around the world in the