UK stocks resisted the general downdraft in markets after official figures showed the economy grew 0.9% in November compared with October, well ahead of the consensus forecast of a 0.4% increase and taking it back above its February 2020 pre-pandemic level for the first time. US markets fell sharply overnight after more hints from the Federal Reserve that interest rates could rise sooner rather ...

Shares in Vivo Energy (VVO) surged 20% to 133.6p after the Africa-focused fuel distributor recommended a US$2.3 billion (£1.73 billion) takeover by oil trader Vitol. One of Vivo’s founding shareholders with a 36% stake, Vitol had a 113p bid knocked back by Vivo in February, but the energy marketing and trading titan has returned with a successful offer pitched at US$1.85 in cash, or 139p at ...

Leading UK shares edged higher on what is expected to be a relatively quiet day, given that US markets are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, with ex-dividend stocks acting as a brake on larger gains. At 9.00am, the benchmark FTSE 100 was 7.5 points or 0.1% at 7,294.13 despite worries about further lockdowns in Europe, particularly Germany, and the continuing pricing pressures which are ...

The promise of a quick return to form at fast-fashion chain Primark saw investors pile into owner Associated British Foods (ABF) in early trading on Tuesday, but FTSE 100 gains were capped by weakness in UK banks. Barclays (BARC), HSBC (HSBA), Lloyds (LLOY) and NatWest (NWG) were all off by varying degrees. Leading shares have indeed made an underwhelming start as the downbeat mood of the ...

Shares in Vivo Energy (VVO) rallied 2.9% to 106p on Thursday after the Africa-focused fuel distributor reported encouraging third quarter volume growth supported by improving mobility trends. And with its site rollout continuing at pace, the FTSE 250 company also fuelled investor enthusiasm by raising guidance for net new sites for both this year and next. RETAIL FUELS ANOTHER STRONG QUARTER ...

UK stocks eked out modest gains in a subdued start to trading on Tuesday as various mining stocks created a headwind and investors digested a mixed batch of earnings releases, including positive updates from BP (BP.) and HSBC (HSBA) and disappointing ones from Whitbread (WTB) and Aveva (AVV). By 8.20 am, the FTSE 100 traded a mere 0.1% higher at 6,970.55 points while the FTSE 250 was down ...

The FTSE 100 experienced some fairly wild swings in afternoon trading on Wednesday following the Budget, with a mixed reaction to announcements including the extension of furlough and support for businesses, as well as continued relief on stamp duty and a plan to raise corporate tax to 25%. Having initially rallied over 1% in morning trade before falling back to trade just 0.2% higher after the ...

The FTSE 100 climbed in morning trading on Wednesday ahead of a vital Budget that investors hope will oil the wheels of Britain's economic recovery. There has been plenty of speculation floating about ahead of the Budget, with weekend reports of tax grabs, already experts predict Rishi Sunak to be largely fiscally supportive of the pandemic-ravaged UK economy. By 12pm, the FTSE 100 rallied ...

The FTSE 100 made a storming start to trading on Wednesday ahead of a vital Budget that investors hope will oil the wheels of Britain's economic recovery. There is plenty of speculation floating about, with weekend reports of tax grabs, already experts predict Rishi Sunak to be largely fiscally supportive of the pandemic-ravaged UK economy. Events on Wall Street, which endured another soft ...

UK stocks jumped in afternoon trading on Friday after it emerged that coronavirus cases across the country are falling at the fastest pace in months. The UK’s R value has dropped below 1 for the first time since July, and the Government has confirmed it will issue its roadmap out of lockdown on 22 February. The UK’s benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 0.94% to 6,589.79, while the midcap FTSE ...

Blue chip UK stocks edged higher by lunchtime on Friday despite the UK economy shrinking by the highest amount on record with a 9.9% slump in 2020, as gross domestic product (GDP) numbers beat expectations. According to analysts at Saxo Bank, GDP quarter-on-quarter beat expectations at 1% vs 0.5% surveyed, whilst GDP year-on-year highlighted that the UK economy contracted less than expected at ...

Africa-focused fuel distributor Vivo Energy (VVO) expects to top full year expectations for 2020 as recovery kicks-in. The FTSE 250 company, which sells Shell and Engen branded fuels and lubricants from an estate of 2,500 service stations across Africa, said full year adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) will come in above the top end of the $331 ...

UK stocks were weak in opening trading on Friday as the mood of investors took a cautious turn at the end of a week marked by a general lack of direction. Domestic-facing stocks came under particular pressure after the UK suffered its worst GDP slump in 300 years, according to some reports, shrinking a record 9.9% as coronavirus restrictions hit output, the Office for National Statistics ...

The FTSE 100 marked its worst monthly performance since March as the index chalked up a fifth straight day of losses, down 4.48 points to 5,577.27. Investors have become increasingly concerned this week over fears that lockdowns to tackle surging coronavirus cases would disrupt a nascent economic recovery, with pressure mounting on the UK to follow Germany and France and impose a second ...

A stronger than expected recovery in the Eurozone economy was not enough to prevent a volatile FTSE 100 falling firmly back into the red by lunchtime, hit by concerns over a second lockdown and a rising pound. Economic activity for Eurozone countries as a whole between July and September was 12.7% higher than in the previous three months, beating expectations. But this failed to lift UK ...

Shares in Vivo Energy (VVO) rallied 5.6% to 75.7p on Friday as the Africa-focused fuel retailer reinstated its dividend after drawing confidence from an uptick in economic activity and higher unit margins for the third quarter (Q3) to September. In an upbeat outlook statement, Vivo said it was ‘encouraged by the resilient performance during the quarter’, with management ...

UK stocks fell again in opening trade on Friday, with the FTSE 100 set for its worst monthly loss since March, on fears that lockdowns to tackle surging coronavirus cases would disrupt a nascent economic recovery. The benchmark FTSE 100 was showing a relatively modest 0.15% decline to 5573.40 at 9am, having initially plunged 0.8% in opening deals. Blue chips were dragged lower by ...

US President Donald Trump’s latest trade war tariff threat weighs on sentiment on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 cheapening 17.4 points to 7, 363.2. However, weakness among banks and utilities is being softened by strength among pharma and mining stocks and investors are perhaps taking some comfort in the news that China’s vice-premier Liu He will travel to the US for another round of trade talks ...

While the performance of the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and FTSE All-Share tends to dominate the headlines, it can be useful to take a more nuanced approach and focus on the performance of individual sectors within these headline indices. The tables show the five best and five worst performing sectors in the FTSE 350 index (a composite of the large cap FTSE 100 and mid cap FTSE 250) so far this ...