Outsourcing and facilities management group Serco (SRP) scored another win with the US military in the form of a four-year contract to modernise a space base 750 miles inside the Arctic Circle for a cool $320 million. The shares, which fell sharply at the start of August after the firm posted a drop in first-half sales and earnings, continued their come-back with a gain of 1.8p or 1% to 175p. M...

Stock prices in Europe were mildly higher on Thursday morning, as investors await the start of the Jackson Hole conference on Thursday which could indicate clues on the trajectory of US interest rates. Amongst individual stocks, JD Sports Fashion saw its shares jump, after updating shareholders on its second quarter growth. Eckoh also took some of the spotlight, after receiving a takeover offer...

The FTSE 100 finished higher in London on Wednesday, but took a back seat to mid-caps, ahead of the next set of minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee. The FTSE 100 index closed up 10.11 points, 0.1%, at 8,283.43. The FTSE 250 ended up 201.04 points, 1.0%, at 21,187.19, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.77 points, 0.4%, at 776.81. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 827.64, the Cboe UK 250...

Stocks in Europe were in the green at midday Wednesday, as investors await the release of the latest minutes from the US Federal Reserve's meeting. Investors will be looking to tonight's reading not only for clues on the number of rate cuts from the US this year, but also for hints as to the contents of Fed Chair Jerome Powell's speech at Jackson Hole on Friday. The FTSE 100 index was up 13.23...

Angling Direct (ANG:AIM) was in demand with investors on Wednesday, shares in the specialist fishing tackle retailer rallying 4.2% to 37p on news of a robust first half performance delivered despite challenging weather conditions and a tough consumer backdrop. There was relief as the nets, rods and scales seller expressed confidence in achieving the year-to-January 2025 sales of £88.4 million...

Value-focused investment trust Temple Bar (TMPL) continued its run of outperformance in the six months to 30 June with an NAV (net asset value) total return of 13.1% against a 7.4% return for the FTSE All-Share index. The share price total return was 11% following a widening of the discount to NAV to 7.5% from 5.6% at the end of 2023, despite the manager purchasing over four million shares at a...

The UK's leading for-rent developer and operator Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM) dropped a massive clanger with its trading update for the full year to September which included a warning for 2025 earnings. The shares were crushed, losing 15p or 29% to 36p on volume of more than four million shares by 9am compared with less than a tenth of that volume on a normal trading day. RATE CUTS KEY TO ACTIVITY Th...

Stock prices in London opened a tad higher on Wednesday morning, as investors keenly await upcoming Fed's minutes which may give a preview if Chair Jerome Powell will make any comments on monetary policy on Friday. The FTSE 100 index opened up just 0.98 of a point at 8,274.30. The FTSE 250 was up 42.13 points, 0.2%, at 21,028.28, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.05 points, 0.1%, at 775.09. The Cb...

Stock prices in London closed lower on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 dragged down by hits to index heavies, BP and Shell, on the back of declining oil prices, as well as BT. The FTSE 100 index closed down 83.62 points, 1.0%, at 8,273.32. The FTSE 250 ended down 171.32 points, 0.8%, at 20,986.15, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.55 points, 0.3%, at 774.04. The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.1% at 826....

London listed stocks waned going into Tuesday afternoon while the pound ticked up against the dollar. The FTSE 100 index was down 55.96 points, 0.7%, at 8,300.98. The FTSE 250 was down 44.06 points, 0.2%, at 21,113.41, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.37 points, 0.2%, at 775.22. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 829.05, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.3% at 18,496.27, and the Cboe Small Companies was...

Global biopharma company GSK (GSK) said it had received US Breakthrough Therapy Designation for its investigational antibody-drug to treat patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. GSK shares dipped 13p or 0.8% to £15.86 on a weak day for UK stocks generally. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The regulatory designation given by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is aimed at accelerating the d...

Canadian oil and gas producer i3 Energy's (I3E:AIM) shares surged 25% higher to 12p on Tuesday morning after the board recommended a £174 million takeover by Toronto-listed Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:TSE) following a period of poor share price performance. While the offer represents a decent premium for i3 Energy shareholders based on recent prices, and shareholders will own up to 16.5% of Gran T...

For the first time in history a gold bar now costs $1 million after the London spot price for the precious metal exceeded $2,500 per ounce (a gold bar typically weighs 400 ounces). With interest rates set to fall globally, except in Japan, and central banks buying up large stockpiles, retail investor interest in gold has soared this year. MULTIPLE SUPPORTING FACTORS The price of the precious me...