London?s FTSE 100 and its blue-chip peers in Paris and Frankfurt hit record highs on Friday, riding a wave of interest rate optimism, though it was a slightly more cautious start in New York, where stocks traded mixed.The FTSE 100 index closed up 52.41 points, 0.6%, at 8,433.76, after hitting a record high 8,455.77 earlier. The FTSE 250 ended up 114.08 points, 0.6%, at 20,645.38, and the AIM All-S

UK stocks continue to make new highsLower rates and stronger economy fan gainsBest-performing stocks over the last yearUK stocks continue to make new highs buoyed by increasing hopes interest rates will be cut this summer and decreasing worries of economic Armageddon.A dovish tone from Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey at this week?s (9 May) interest rate policy meeting and today?s (10 May) s

London stocks were up at midday on Friday, on the back of an interest rate hold from the Bank of England and a better-than-expected gross domestic product reading from the Office for National Statistics.The FTSE 100 index was up 66.70 points, 0.8%, at 8,448.05, after hitting a record high 8,455.77 earlier. The FTSE 250 was up 163.86 points, 0.8%, at 20,695.16, and the AIM All-Share was up 5.05 poi

Investors are feeling more chipper as the week comes towards its close after latest economic data left US markets largely happy with the macro outlook.Crashing recession avoided, interest rate cuts coming - it might not be quite the Goldilocks outcome hoped for but good enough. Thursday?s S&P 500 move higher left the crucial US index to close above the 5,200 level for the first time in a month and

Stocks in London started strong on Friday following the Bank of England?s dovish hold on interest rates on Thursday, as new data showed UK gross domestic product reached a stronger-than-expected level in March.The FTSE 100 index opened up 43.05 points, 0.5%, at 8,424.40. The FTSE 250 was up 68.41 points, 0.3%, at 20,599.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.06 points, 0.3%, at 785.76.The Cboe UK 100

European equities ended higher on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 and DAX 40 achieving record highs, the former boosted by a dovish tilt to the latest Bank of England decision.Across the Atlantic, weaker US labour data hurt the dollar, amid the expectation that a cooler jobs market could presage an eventual rate cut by the BoE?s US counterpart.At its May meeting, the BoE?s Monetary Policy Committee vo

Stock prices in London surged on Thursday afternoon, shaking off a muted morning, as a dovish tilt to the Bank of England?s latest rate hold supported equities.Threadneedle Street maintained bank rate at a 16-year high of 5.25% for the sixth meeting in-a-row. However, two members of its Monetary Policy Committee backed a 25 basis point cut. Seven, Governor Andrew Bailey included, supported the hol

?Milestone? deal in luxury branded jewellery strategyRoberto Coin is sixth biggest jewellery brand in USEarnings and margin-enhancing acquisitionWatches of Switzerland (WOSG) has splashed out $130 million (£104 million) to buy Italian handcrafted jewellery business Roberto Coin Inc in a deal that skews the FTSE 250 firm?s sales mix a bit more towards the lucrative branded jewellery market.Shares

Group revenue down 7%Studios revenue down 16%Shares up 20% this yearShares in ITV (ITV) gained nearly 2% in morning trading despite the free-to-air broadcaster reporting a 7% fall in total revenue to £887 million for the three months to 31 March 2024.A ?sore point? for the free-to-air broadcaster came from ITV Studios which reported a 16% fall in total revenue to £382 million in the first quarte

Annual return of 23%Action the main driverShares up over 50%The UK?s largest private equity trust, 3i Group (III), delivered another outstanding return for investors in the year to the end of March despite adverse foreign exchange movements which trimmed NAV (net asset value) growth.However, with the stock price having risen more than 50% over the past 12 months there was an element of profit-taki

Stock prices in London edged down at the open on Thursday, while investors expect the Bank of England to keep its benchmark bank rate unchanged.The FTSE 100 index opened down just 2.68 points at 8,351.37. The FTSE 250 was down 10.32 points, 0.1%, at 20,481.67, while the AIM All-Share was up 1.41 points, 0.2%, at 781.24.The Cboe UK 100 was marginally up at 833.97, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.1% at 17,

The last couple of years have seen outsized returns for stocks, especially those in the US, but that doesn?t mean now is a bad time to invest. The truth is there is never a bad time to invest as long as you are looking to stay invested for the long term.From its inception in 1984 to 2022, the FTSE 100 index has gained around 5.5% per year in price terms and 7.5% per year in terms of total return,

I have a SIPP worth just over £1.5 million. I have previously applied for fixed protection 2014 and understand that this means my tax-free cash allowance is higher than normal.I am aged 73 and as yet haven?t touched the funds. Furthermore, I am not proposing to take any income in near future, instead I am taking income from my ISAs. What is the downside of crystalising a chunk of the SIPP and may

Warren Buffett is probably the only professional investor who needs no introduction. Over a long and illustrious career stretching back to 1965, he?s produced a mind-boggling 4,384,749% return for investors through his investment vehicle, Berkshire Hathaway. In other words, $100 invested in 1965 would today be worth over $4.3 million. For some context, the same $100 invested in the S&P 500 would n

On 14 May, the world?s largest home-improvement retailer Home Depot (HD:NYSE) is set to release its first-quarter earnings. The firm, which has a market value of over $330 billion and operates more than 2,300 stores in the US, Canada and Mexico, is expected to report EPS (earnings per share) of $3.60 on revenue of $36.65 billion.While this will be a step up from the previous quarter, it represents

Investors in the high-profile Royal London Global Equity Select (BF93W97) fund face a dilemma following the surprise resignation of star manager Peter Rutter from RLAM (Royal London Asset Management) alongside several of the firm?s global equities team.The managers are expected to set up their own company, having secured financial backing from Australia?s Pinnacle Investment Management. The news r

The pilgrimage to Omaha for Berkshire Hathaway?s (BRK-B:NYSE) annual shareholder meeting had a tinge of poignancy this year following the passing of Warren Buffett?s long-term business partner and vice-chair Charlie Munger in November 2023.In memory of the ?abominable no-man?, as Buffett sometimes referred to Munger, the book stands at the meeting which would normally offer several investment book

The UK stock market has enjoyed quite the ride this year, with the FTSE 100 keeping pace with the S&P 500 in the US and hitting new record highs. It is certainly helping to raise the profile of what has been an unloved part of the investment universe ? however, investors often overlook one of the UK?s key attributes.You might think having a rich pool of takeover targets on cheap valuations is why

From pop groups, TV shows, cars, home appliances, electronics and smartphones, South Korean brands have for years been familiar to global consumers. Millions of homes are filled with Smartphones and TVs made by Samsung Electronics (005930:KRX) and LG Electronics (006657:KRX), cars made by Hyundai Motor (005380:KRX) and Kia (000270:KRX), while microchips made by Hynix (000660:KRX) power these gadge

One of the most compelling reasons for investing through a Junior ISA is to help provide your offspring with the necessary funds to leave university without the burden of onerous debts.If you invested the whole allowance of £9,000 every year from birth until your child reached 18 they would inherit a pot worth £229,000 based on an annual return of 4.5% and with charges of 0.75% factored in. Best