All gardeners know you plant seeds today to reap a harvest tomorrow and it's what Facebook-owner Meta Platforms (META:NASDAQ) is doing with AI (artificial intelligence). Yes, it means higher capex now, but the rewards down the line could be considerable. Investors seems to understand this, which is why the stock is primed for a near-7% surge when Wall Street reopens later today, following secon...

Global medical technology company Smith & Nephew (SN.) notched-up a new 12-month high of £12.30 as the shares leapt 10% following a strong first half which came in ahead of market forecasts. The rally takes gains for the year ahead of the FTSE 100, but the shares remain roughly 35% below pre-pandemic levels. INCREASING MOMENTUM First half revenue to 29 June increased 3.4% year-on-year to $2.83...

In line with its rivals, Barclays (BARC), the last of the Big Four high-street banks to report, pleased investors with its second-quarter update although there was less of a reaction to its increased guidance or latest buyback. The shares opened up 8p or 3.4% at 241.8p but those early gains faded leaving the shares up just 3p or 1.3% by mid-morning. INVESTMENT BANK BOOST For the three months to...

Shares in Next (NXT) rose 8% to an all-time high of £98.30 as the fashion and homeware retailer reported a forecast-beating rise in second-quarter sales and raised its outlook for the full year yet again. OVERSEAS SALES BOOST For the 13 weeks to 27 July, full-price sales - which include all items sold in Next Retail, Next Online including third-party brands, and Next Finance interest income -...

London's FTSE 100 crept lower on Thursday morning, while mainland European peers suffered chunkier declines in early dealings, despite some US interest rate cut optimism after Federal Reserve Chair said a cut is on the table for next month's meeting. Corporate earnings that disappointed in mainland Europe. Societe Generale plunged 6.4% in Paris amid a tough outlook for its French retail banking...

Stocks in London stormed higher on Wednesday, as US tech stocks leapt, ahead of interest rate decisions either side of the Atlantic. While the Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged, it may hint at an easing of policy at its September meeting. In London, a rate cut from the Bank of England is possible on Thursday, although this is viewed as a close call. The FTSE 100 inde...

There's lots of talk across the internet about Microsoft's (MSFT:NASDAQ) fourth quarter (to end June) cloud and AI (artificial intelligence) revenue falling short of expectations. That might be so, but a look at the underlying numbers paints a picture of still incredibly robust growth. Azure, Microsoft's cloud business grew 29% versus 30.2% forecasts, hardly a drama for the longer run. If you a...

Stocks in Europe were in the green heading into Wednesday afternoon as markets digest a raft of earnings and await the US interest rate decision. The FTSE 100 index shot up 116.07 points, or 1.4%, at 8,390.48. But the FTSE 250 rose 135.79 points, 0.5%, at 21,568.30, while the AIM All-Share added 4.37 points, 0.6%, at 782.53. The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.2% at 837.75, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.5% to 1...

Despite delivering better-than-expected second-quarter sales and earnings growth and raising its full-year guidance, pharmaceutical giant GSK (GSK) saw its shares slip 2% to £15.19 as investors focused on disappointing vaccine sales. GSK has now delivered forecast-beating earnings in three of the last four quarters, demonstrating improved business performance amid pressure from activists to do...

Shares in Just Eat Takeaway.com (JET) were off to a flying start in morning trading gaining 10% from a multi-year low to £10.04 despite the food delivery business posting a slight dip in first-half sales and a bigger loss. Investors were encouraged instead by the firm sticking to its full-year turnover target and announcing a €150 million share buyback. SALES HOLDING UP For the six months to...

Global banking giant HSBC (HSBA) pleased investors with its first-half trading update and another bumper buyback as it said goodbye to chief executive Noel Quinn who is passing the baton on to Georges Elhedery. HSBC shares were marked up 24p of 3.5% to 701p making them the biggest gainer in the FTSE 100. PROFIT BEAT AND GUIDANCE RAISED For the six months to the end of June, revenue inched up $0...

Stocks in Europe traded higher on Wednesday morning amid a slew of corporate earnings and a rise in oil prices, after the Bank of Japan raised its main interest rate and before the Federal Reserve's decision later. The FTSE 100 index shot up 93.67 points, or 1.1%, at 8,368.08 on Wednesday morning. But the FTSE 250 rose 194.53 points, 0.9%, at 21,627.04, while the AIM All-Share added 3.72 points...

The FTSE 100 closed in the red on Tuesday, underperforming against its European peers, as investors wait for three major interest rate decisions. The FTSE 250, however, got a boost. St James's Place took the spotlight, soaring 25%. The FTSE 100 index closed down 17.94 points, 0.2%, at 8,274.41. The FTSE 250 ended up 180.44 points, 0.9%, at 21,432.51, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.84 of a po...