Global equities fell on Friday, ending the week on a sour note as tariff worries linger, while US economic concerns also came to the fore after poorly-received consumer sentiment data.Next week will see the US update on tariffs, hot-on-the-heels of announcing trade curbs focused on the automotive sector.The FTSE 100 index ended down 7.27 points, 0.1%, at 8,658.85. The FTSE 250 was fell 49.72...

Stocks in London continued to outperform their European peers at midday Friday, with better-than-expected UK retail sales in February providing some good news, ahead of US personal consumption expenditures data.The FTSE 100 index was up 12.88 points, 0.2%, at 8,679.00. The FTSE 250 was up 9.42 points at 19,924.12, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.41 points, 0.2%, at 698.17.The Cboe UK 100 was up...

London's blue chip index outperformed its peers in Paris and Frankfurt on Friday morning, as the UK's estimated gross domestic product for 2024 was revised upwards, and UK retail sales beat expectations in February, data published by the Office for National Statistics showed.The FTSE 100 index was up 6.25 points, 0.1%, at 8,672.37. The FTSE 250 was up 32.27 points, 0.2%, at 19,946.97, and the...

European stocks closed in the red on Thursday as Donald Trump's auto tariff announcement stoked fears for carmakers around the world.The FTSE 100 index closed down 23.47 points, 0.3%, at 8,666.12. The FTSE 250 fell 124.50 points, 0.6%, at 19,914.70, but the AIM All-Share rose 2.95 points, 0.4%, at 696.76.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.4% at 864.93, the Cboe UK 250 closed 0.5% lower at 17,419.96,...

Record system sales and profitExecutive chair role splitMain market listing being consideredMulti-brand franchisor Franchise Brands (FRAN:AIM) revealed record system sales and adjusted profits for 2024 despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds, demonstrating the resilience of the group.The shares rallied 2.6p or 2% to 139.6p and sit roughly a fifth below where they traded 12 months ago. ...

Stocks in Europe largely traded lower at Thursday midday, as investors await crucial key indicator data from the US, including quarterly personal consumption expenditures, GDP, trade balance and jobless data.The FTSE 100 index was down 56.00 points, 0.6%, at 8,633.59. The FTSE 250 was down 123.69 points, 0.6%, at 19,915.65, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.36 points, 0.3%, at 696.17.The Cboe UK...

Like-for-like revenue up 3.7% to £231 millionBusiness wins such as Ferrari, CarlsbergNew Cultural Power proposition launchedShares in M&C Saatchi (SAA:AIM) were marginally higher at 171p in morning trading as the advertising agency reported full year results in line with expectations.Like-for-like net revenue was up 3.7% to £231 million for the year ending 31 December driven by strong growth...

Stocks in London and Paris opened in the red on Thursday, but not as red as Frankfurt stocks, after US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on imported cars and parts.The FTSE 100 index opened down 57.27 points, 0.7%, at 8,632.25. The FTSE 250 was down 74.92 points, 0.4%, at 19,964.40, and the AIM All-Share was just 0.29 points at 694.10.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 862.23, the...

We start this month's round-up with news of not just one but three new faces, all of which joined the market recently.First up is One Health Group (OHGR:AIM), a provider of NHS-funded medical procedures, which raised £7.8 million before listing costs through a placing of shares at 180p to fund its first surgical hub.The site is expected to deliver revenue of £6 million to £9 million per...

The Scottish American Investment Company(SAIN) 502.3pMarket cap: £864 millionThe Baillie Gifford-managed Scottish American Investment Company (SAIN), or 'SAINTS' for short, aims to be a core investment for investors seeking real dividend growth.The focus of the portfolio is global equites, but the trust also invests around 10% of the portfolio in bonds, property and other asset types to...

A big takeaway from 2024 was the big uptick in investment trust consolidation. It was a record year for mergers in the sector and the landmark deal was the combination between Alliance Trust and Witan to form Alliance Witan (ALW). Completed in October, the merger created a global sector giant with total assets of £5.8 billion, achieved economies of scale that have been passed on to...

Schroder AsiaPacific Fund (SDP) 532pMarket cap: £742 millionRisk-averse investors may rightly worry that a trade war between the US and China could crimp the performance of Asian markets, but with 85% of the globe's population living in Asia and the emerging markets which are expected to generate the lion's share of global growth in the decades ahead, this diverse continent is simply too big...

One of the key attractions of investments is the potential to earn a regular income. As in common in the world of personal finance, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach for income investing.There are diverse ways to obtain a regular stream of cash rewards from your investment ISA, so make sure you pick the right one for your needs. Here are five methods. 1. High YieldFor decades, investors...

As global trade tensions continue to test investor's patience, uncertainty is set to move up a notch as we approach what Donald Trump has christened 'Liberation Day' on 2 April.'April 2nd is going to be liberation day for America. We've been ripped off by every country in the world, friend and foe,' said Trump speaking from the Oval office on Friday (20 March).Trump is planning to impose...

The conventional wisdom was that 2025 was going to be the year of the US market and the dollar as President Trump pushed ahead with his 'America First' policy.The promise of tax cuts and deregulation won the support of the business community, while investors bought into the concept of 'US exceptionalism' and dismissed some of Trump's wilder policy aims such as starting a tariff war or annexing...

London stocks closed in the green on Wednesday as the UK Treasury watchdog halved its growth forecast and Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed to cuts to stick to her fiscal rules.The FTSE 100 index closed up 25.79 points, 0.3%, at 8,689.59. The FTSE 250 rose 57.99 points, 0.3%, at 20,039.20, and the AIM All-Share climbed 0.37 of a point, 0.1%, at 693.81.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 868.59,...

Stocks in London continued to comfortably outperform their counterparts in Paris and Frankfurt at midday Wednesday, as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to unveil her spring statement shortly, with welfare cuts widely anticipated.The FTSE 100 index was up 18.87 points, 0.2%, at 8,682.54. The FTSE 250 was up 114.35 points, 0.6%, at 20,095.56, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.50 points, 0.5%, at...

London's blue chip index performed better than its peers in Paris and Frankfurt on Wednesday morning, as consumer price index inflation slowed more than anticipated in February, ahead of UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spring statement.The FTSE 100 index opened up 9.74 points, 0.1%, at 8,673.54. The FTSE 250 was up 98.50 points, 0.5%, at 20,079.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.10 points, 0.5%,...

Stocks in London closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by stronger American markets while higher metal prices pushed up Anglo American and Antofagsta.The FTSE 100 index closed up 25.79 points, 0.3%, at 8,663.80. The FTSE 250 rose 58.78 points, 0.3%, at 19,981.21, and the AIM All-Share climbed 4.32 points, 0.6%, at 693.44.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 866.14, the Cboe UK 250 closed 0.3% higher...

European stocks traded higher at midday Tuesday, with FTSE 250-listed construction firm Morgan Sindall among the winners as it noted an acceleration in trading momentum.The FTSE 100 index was up 58.37 points, 0.7%, at 8,696.29. The FTSE 250 was up 134.42 points, 0.7%, at 20,056.85, and the AIM All-Share was up 6.30 points, 0.9%, at 695.45.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.6% higher at 869.80, the Cboe UK...