Cyber security and software firm NCC Group (NCC) surprised the market with a positive half year trading update and an increase to its financial outlook. The shares climbed 15p or 10% to a new year-high of 167p, closing the yawning gap in the price after the firm downgraded forecasts 18 months ago due to weakness in the US market. TRADING ABOVE EXPECTATIONS For the four months to the end of Sept...

Stock prices in European were firmly in the green on Thursday morning, as investors await an interest rate decision by the European Central Bank early in the afternoon. Though the FTSE 100 struggled on Wednesday, a US consumer price inflation reading was eventually well-received in New York. Tech shares soared, helping to turn sentiment in global equities positive on Thursday morning. The FTSE...

Stocks in London pulled back by Wednesday afternoon, after stubborn US core inflation figures all but extinguished hopes of a 50 basis point rate cut from the Federal Reserve. The FTSE 100 index fell 12.04 points, or 0.2%, at 8,193.94. The FTSE 250 ended down 118.89 points, 0.6%, at 20,537.25, and the AIM All-Share eased 5.77 points, or 0.8%, at 738.09. The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.3% to 819.82, the...

European markets were slightly higher during midday trade on Wednesday, as investors braced for a key US inflation reading. The FTSE 100 index edged up 5.21 points, 0.1%, at 8,211.19. The FTSE 250 was up just 10.14 points at 20,666.28, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.93 points, 0.5%, at 739.93. The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 821.80, the Cboe UK 250 up 0.2% to 18,227.15, but the Cboe Small Compani...

Global travel retailer WH Smith (SMWH) said strong UK travel demand over the peak summer season had left the group in a strong position, prompting management to announce a surprise £50 million share buyback. Investors welcomed the update and share buyback, sending shares in the FTSE 250 company up almost 14% to a new 12-month high of £13.97. Gains for the year are now back into positive terri...

With more and more of us buying stuff online, it's no wonder that we are increasingly reaching out to fellow consumers for their seal of approval (or gripes) about products and services, and that's great news for reviews business Trustpilot (TRST). The platform now hosts more than 300 million consumer reviews of products and services across hundreds of thousands of websites, according to half y...

Shares in Rightmove (RMV) were little changed at 673p in morning trading after the online property portal rejected an initial £5.6 billion takeover offer from Australian property listing company REA Group (REA:ASX), controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. The Rightmove board said in a statement it had 'carefully considered the proposal, together with its financial advisers, and concluded it...

For investors in pest control and hygiene group Rentokil (RTO) this will be a day to forget after the firm released an unscheduled trading update warning profits would be lower than expected due to lower sales and higher costs. The shares were roiled, dropping 85p or almost 18% to a new 12-month low of 390p marking their lowest level since the pandemic. SALES WEAKER THAN ESTIMATED Today's annou...

Stocks in London made steady progress in early exchanges on Wednesday, although Rentokil slumped, ahead of key US inflation figures later. The data is released at 1330 BST. Data is expected to show the rate of annual US consumer price inflation faded to 2.6% in August, from 2.9% in July. The first US presidential debate between candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump took place late Tuesday....

London's FTSE 100 index fell on Tuesday, amid share price falls for some of its largest constituents, including AstraZeneca, BP and Shell. The FTSE 100 index fell 64.86 points, or 0.8%, at 8,205.98. The FTSE 250 ended flat at 20,656.14, and the AIM All-Share eased 2.87 points, or 0.4%, at 743.86.5. The Cboe UK 100 slid 0.6% to 821.91, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.1% at 18,185.65, and the Cboe Small C...

Shares in pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN), fell more than 5% to a one month low after the UK's largest quoted company released disappointing data from a late-stage clinical trial of its precision lung cancer drug Dato-DxD. The shares have been on a tear over the last six months, gaining around 20% before today's fall compared with a 7% gain in the FTSE 100 index, so some profit taking is...

Blue chips traded lower at midday on Tuesday, pegged back by falls in several index heavyweights, in a mixed day for stocks in London. The FTSE 100 index traded down 43.48 points, 0.5%, at 8,227.36. The FTSE 250 was up 32.47 points, 0.2%, at 20,683.35, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.69 of a point, 0.1%, at 746.04. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 823.76, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.4% at 18,228.80...

Shares in Centamin (CEY) jumped 24% to 149p after the Egyptian gold producer agreed terms on a cash and shares offer from global gold miner AngloGold Ashanti (ANG:JSE) pitched at 163p, representing a 36.7% premium on the prior closing price. AngloGold's cash and shares offer values Centamin at approximately £1.9 billion ($2.5 billion). Centamin shareholders will be entitled to receive the int...