Shares in Persimmon (PSN) fell nearly 6% to £13.83 in morning trading despite the UK's second largest housebuilder saying it was on track to grow completions to circa 10,500 for the full year. During the third quarter the company delivered 1,416 homes including a 3% increase in private homes to 1,267 and 149 partnership homes. The company said the demand for homes had continued well into the a...

Marks & Spencer (MKS) reported a forecast-beating jump in half-year profits as the retail bellwether's turnaround continues to gain traction, sending shares in the FTSE 100 company up 8% to a five-year high of 414p. With its dependable food and revitalised clothing and home divisions both gobbling up market share and Marks & Spencer's cost-cutting drive on track, Shore Capital upgraded its full...

Pub group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) continues to perform better than the hospitality industry with 5.9% like-for-like sales growth in the 14 weeks to 2 November, marking 25 consecutive months of outperformance. Investors cheered the news, with the shares gaining 3% to 606.5p, although they remain 25% lower year-to-date and significantly below pre-pandemic trading levels around £16.90. Current tradi...

Given the succession of devastating storms which hit the US this autumn, investors in insurers covering catastrophe loss had every right to be nervous when it came to reporting season. In the event, two of the biggest UK-listed property and casualty insurers - Beazley (BEZ) and Lancashire Holdings (LRE) - posted solid results with Lancashire holders treated to a special payout, but in contrast...

Stock prices Europe rose on Wednesday morning as Donald Trump was set for a second term as US president, as a slew of European purchasing managers indices came in. Donald Trump has claimed victory in the US election, with traders ramping up bets on fresh tax cuts, tariffs, and rising inflation. While polls had shown the race on a knife edge, the Republican fared far better than his Democratic o...

London's FTSE 100 closed lower on Tuesday, underperforming European peers, as index heavyweight AstraZeneca held back the large-cap benchmark. Eyes now turn stateside, hours before the closing of polls across the US - where Donald Trump and Kamala Harris lock horns in the presidential election. The FTSE 100 index closed down 11.85 points, or 0.1%, at 8,172.39. The FTSE 250 ended down 91.25 poin...

Stock prices in London were mostly higher at midday Tuesday as US voters are choosing their next president, as data showed UK service sector growth softened but outperformed its flash reading in October. The S&P Global UK services purchasing managers' index declined to 52.0 points in October from 52.4 in September, but beat the flash score of 51.8 points. The PMI composite output index fell to...

US hot stock Palantir Technologies (PLTR:NYSE) continued its unrelenting rally after blowout third quarter earnings as the data analytics company continues to ride the AI (artificial intelligence) wave. Racking up new business wins and raising full year guidance, Palantir stock jumped more than 13% in premarket trading Tuesday (5 Nov), a move that puts the stock's 2024 gains at 150% so far. WHA...

UK news wholesaler Smiths News (SNWS) was the second largest gainer in the FTSE All-Share on 5 November, the shares rising as much as 13% after the company delivered better than expected full-year results and announced a special dividend of 2p per share. The shares are up 18% year-to-date compared with a 6% advance in the FTSE All-Share index, reflecting continued momentum within the business....

Shares in Associated British Foods (ABF) topped the FTSE 100 leader board, rallying 4.5% to £23.91, after the global consumer conglomerate reported a 33% surge in annual profits boosted by Primark's rising sales and significant margin recovery. While the discount fashion chain continues to dominate the narrative at Associated British Foods, the cash-generative company also called out good grow...

Schroders (SDR) shares fell over 12% to 319p in morning trading despite the fund management group reporting record total AUM (assets under management) of £777.4 billion for the nine months to 30 September. There were positive net flows in the fund management group's wealth management division driven by advised business and continued momentum in Cazenove Capital. AUM excluding joint ventures an...

The FTSE 100 made a tepid start to the week on Monday, ending just about in the green and falling below earlier highs, as caution prevailed ahead of the US presidential election. The FTSE 100 index closed up 7.09 points, or 0.1%, at 8,184.24. The FTSE 250 ended down 18.45 points, or 0.1%, at 20,461.29, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.63 points, 0.5%, at 735.37. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1%...

Investment conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-N:NYSE) revealed it has added to its mountain of cash and further sold down its Apple (APPL:NASDAQ) stake in the third quarter. Traditionally the Omaha, Nebraska-based company, headed by legendary investor Warren Buffett, releases results on a Saturday to give investors time to reflect and analyse performance during a time when markets are closed....