Interest rates are expected to stay higher for longer to combat the sticky inflation which remains a threat to investors? hard-earned wealth and purchasing power. During periods of high inflation, it is crucial to invest in companies that possess pricing power, because these firms can pass on increased costs to customers, enabling them to maintain profit margins and generate the robust cash flows

London?s FTSE 100 rose on Thursday morning, despite doubts over the timing of US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts still lingering, while gold reached another record high.The FTSE 100 index opened up 18.52 points, 0.2%, at 7,955.96. The FTSE 250 was up 34.02 points, 0.2%, at 19,787.66, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.82 of a point, 0.1%, at 742.90.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 795.53, the Cboe UK

The ISA turns 25 on 6 April 2024 and few would argue that the tax-efficient savings wrapper has been anything other than a raging success story. Something like 22 million Brits have one, attracting somewhere over £700 billion of cash and stock market investments since 1999. In the coming 12-months, ISA investors will save an estimated £7 billion in tax.Hundreds of ISA millionaires are thoughts t

Beer, wine and spirits group Constellation Brands (STZ:NYSE) is due to update the market on fourth-quarter and full-year trading on 11 April.With the shares having gained close to 12% to $270 this year, within touching distance of their all-time highs last August, there is a lot riding on a positive update, especially after a disappointing third quarter.Having raised prices to offset input-cost in

Vodafone chair buys 823,500 sharesZotefoams director buys £21,000 sharesTatton CEO sells £1.1 million sharesJean-Francois van Boxmeer, chair of telecoms giant Vodafone (VOD) has bought 823,500 shares at 69p for a total value of £568,215 on 28 March.This move comes after Vodafone CFO Luka Mucic also bought a substantial number of shares in the telecoms giant.Mucic snapped up 2,460,000 shares at

Blue chip stocks in London were up at the start of Friday afternoon, while mid-caps lost ground, after there were no surprises from UK and US central banks this week.Amongst individual stocks, Phoenix Group got a boost thanks to its 2023 results. Retail stocks were lower on the back of February?s ?downpour?.The FTSE 100 index was up 52.26 points, 0.7%, at 7,934.81. The FTSE 250 was down 18.04 poin

London stocks closed in the red on Friday, with Reckitt shares sinking after a verdict was passed in its baby formula lawsuit.The US Federal Reserve will announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday, followed by the Bank of England the following day.Amongst individual stocks, Reckitt Benckiser plummeted on Friday, after it said it will pursue all options to overturn a $60 million verdict by an

London?s FTSE 100 grew in confidence as Friday morning wore on, but still underperformed peers in Europe, despite its heavyweight miners and oil majors trading higher.The FTSE 100 index rose 16.41 points, 0.2%, at 7,759.56. The blue-chip index is up 1.2% week-to-date. Though 0.3% higher for the year so far, weekly gains for the FTSE 100 have been rare.The FTSE 250 climbed 53.30 points, 0.3%, to 19

Italian business sold for ?8 billionDividend to halve from 2025, ?4 billion buybackReshaped business to focus on growth marketsSo-called win-win deals are often touted but rarely delivered, but Vodafone?s (VOD) sale of its Italian business to Swisscom (SCMN:SWX) appears to have pleased both sets of shareholders with shares in the former up 5% and the latter 2% ahead on the news.Swisscom intends to

Blue-chip European stocks were mixed on Friday morning, with a more robust than expected US producer price reading sapping some vigour out of equity markets, and focus now shifts to interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England next week.The FTSE 100 index fell just 3.50 points to 7,739.65. The FTSE 250 climbed 43.09 points, 0.2%, to 19,529.10, and the AIM All-Share added 1.

Bottler serves up third year of record profitsMarket share gains, improved marginsBut slower organic growth expected for 2024Coca-Cola HBC (CCH) was the FTSE 100?s best performer in early dealings on Wednesday, shares in the beverages behemoth fizzing 5.5% higher to £23.27 after it served up forecast-beating results for 2023 and delivered a 19.2% dividend hike.Despite a difficult consumer backdro

Equity prices in London were on the up on Monday afternoon, though the pound struggled to find its feet in the aftermath of Friday?s robust US non-farm payrolls report.The FTSE 100 index was up 30.67 points, 0.4%, at 7,646.21. A weaker pound is a tailwind to London?s large-cap index, which is stacked with international earners.The FTSE 250 was up 59.11 points, 0.3%, at 19,231.75, and the AIM All-S

A rally in New York stocks on Friday has read across into stocks opening higher in London on Monday, following a strong US jobs report on Friday.The FTSE 100 index opened up 28.53 points, 0.4%, at 7,644.07. The FTSE 250 was up 39.08 points, 0.2%, at 19,211.72, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.90 of a point, 0.1%, at 755.07.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 764.80, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 16,672.

London?s FTSE 100 edged lower and its European peers closed off session highs as robust US jobs data may have all but killed any lingering hope that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month.The FTSE 100 index closed down 6.62 points, down 0.1%, at 7,615.54. It went into the jobs data on the up, before stock market sentiment soured in the wake.The FTSE 250 ended up 41.48 points, 0.2%,

Investors in mobile operator Vodafone (VOD) will be keen to hear at next week?s third-quarter trading update (5 February) whether a deal for its Italian business is in the offing.Swiss operator Swisscom (SCMN:SWX) and French firm Iliad have both expressed an interest, with Iliad valuing Vodafone Italia at a cool ?10.5 billion including debt.This follows news last month of the first successful test

Sales in the Americas declineProfits and margins miss estimatesShares drop close to year-lowUp-market drinks group Diageo (DGE) disappointed the market again with its interim results which missed expectations at the top and bottom line due to weak sales in the Americas.Diageo shares slid 3.75% to £27.35 taking them to the bottom of the FTSE 100 performance table and back towards their 12-month lo

London stocks closed up on Friday, as consumer confidence reached a two-year high and the Federal Reserve appeared more likely to consider cutting rates.The FTSE 100 index closed up 105.36 points, 1.4%, at 7,635.09. The FTSE 250 ended up 114.92 points, 0.6%, at 19,338.02, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.60 points, 0.4%, at 750.70.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 1.4% at 763.67, the Cboe UK 250 closed up

European equities went into Friday afternoon on the up, with measures to support China?s property sector and a forecast-defying final-quarter for luxury goods juggernaut LVMH lifting the mood.Focus in the afternoon will be on the Federal Reserve?s favoured US inflation gauge. A cooler than expected reading could swing the pendulum back in favour of a March rate cut.The FTSE 100 index was up 92.54

Compared to other retail verticals, Christmas is relatively less important to the pet care market. Nevertheless, UK market leader Pets at Home (PETS) will need to reassure investors that retail like-for-like sales momentum has been sustained when it bounds in with a third-quarter trading update on 30 January.Liberum Capital doesn't expect any reporting surprises, although the broker does remain ?c

The festive mood disappeared on Thursday ahead of a key US inflation print, the US personal consumption expenditures price index reading due on Friday.It is London?s last full day of trading before markets shut early for a Christmas break on Friday.The FTSE 100 index closed down 20.95 points, 0.3%, at 7,694.73. The FTSE 250 ended down 58.12 points, 0.3%, at 19,570.97, and the AIM All-Share closed