European stocks climbed on Monday, with defence firms leading gains as leaders gathered in Paris to discuss increased military spending amid calls for greater European security investment, while markets also reacted to surging gold prices.The FTSE 100 index closed up 35.55 points, 0.4%, at 8,768.01. The FTSE 250 ended up 25.67 points, 0.1%, at 20,938.68, but the AIM All-Share closed down 0.84 of a

Stocks in Frankfurt and London were boosted by defence stocks at midday Monday, as European leaders prepared for talks in Paris with a focus on Ukraine.Among individual shares, BAE Systems rose, Barclays and NatWest recovered and Wood Group continued to slide.The FTSE 100 index rose 15.78 points, 0.2%, at 8,748.24. The FTSE 250 added 18.56 points, 0.1%, at 20,931.57, and the AIM All-Share rose 0.9

Buyout firm offers 48p per shareFourth attempt to reach a dealAnalyst calls premium 'fair'Investors in healthcare facilities provider Assura (AGR) will have received the news of an approach from buyout giant KKR (KKR:NYSE) with mixed feelings given the FTSE 250 firm is an income stalwart with an attractive yield.The shares immediately jumped 7p or 18% to 46p, just short of KKR's 48p per share offe

Adjusted EBITDA at all-time highSuperSaveClub exceeds one million members£30 million buyback launchedShares in MONY Group (MONY) rallied 6% to 201.2p after the price comparison site reported record full-year revenues and its highest ever adjusted earnings and signalled the strength of its cash flows and balance sheet by launching a £30 million share buyback.There was also relief as the tech-enab

The FTSE 100 opened in the green on Monday despite geopolitical concerns and tariff worries continuing to hang over equities.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.43 points, 0.2%, at 8,745.89. The FTSE 250 added 64.96 points, 0.3%, at 20,977.97, and the AIM All-Share rose 1.33 points, 0.2%, at 727.39.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 877.63, the Cboe UK 250 also added 0.3% to 18,333.89, and the Cboe Small Compa

London stocks were mixed on Friday, on the back of geopolitical uncertainty as world leaders come together at the Munich Security Conference.US Vice President JD Vance said Friday the US was prepared to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine, ahead of a meeting in Munich with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky meanwhile said that once Kyiv reached a common position with the US and Eu

London's blue chip index was in the red around midday on Friday, as investors await US retail sales and industrial production data.The FTSE 100 index traded down 17.80 points, 0.2%, at 8,747.10. The FTSE 250 was up 65.80 points, 0.3%, at 20,981.66, and the AIM All-Share climbed 2.18 points, 0.3%, at 725.38.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 877.76, the Cboe UK 250 firmed 0.3% to 18,337.27 and the Cboe Sm

Shares down 70% over the past yearExpects negative free cash flow in 2025Deloitte review into firm continuesShares in John Wood Group (WG.) plummeted 30% in early morning trading as the Scottish-based oil and gas engineering and services firm reported weaker-than-expected trading in the fourth quarter.John Wood said it has taken actions to mitigate fourth quarter weakness by cancelling executive a

Full year to be materially aheadRegulatory change tailwindAnalysts upgrade earningsIn an unscheduled trading update, pension consulting and administration group XPS Pensions (XPS) said it expects full year results to March to be 'materially' ahead of prior expectations.The shares raced 14% ahead, hitting an all-time peak of 396p in early trading before settling around the 386p level.Over the last

Stock prices in London and Frankfurt opened in the red on Friday, as investors prepare for eurozone economic data and digest another tariff plan from the US president.In London, NatWest faced some selling pressure despite better-than-expected results. Hermes boosted Paris, keeping the CAC 40 in the green.The FTSE 100 index fell 30.67 points, 0.4%, at 8,734.05. The FTSE 250 added just 2.35 points a

London stocks were mixed on Thursday, but European equities closed in the green on news of progress towards a possible peace deal in Ukraine.The FTSE 100 index closed down 42.72 points, 0.5%, at 8,764.72. The FTSE 250 ended up 35.64 points, 0.2%, at 20,916.14, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.19 of a point at 723.20.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 877.79, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.3% at 18

London's FTSE 100 traded lower around midday on Thursday, as poorly received earnings weighed, missing out on a Ukraine peace hope-led rally elsewhere in Europe.The FTSE 100 index traded down 58.01 points, 0.7%, at 8,749.43. The FTSE 250 was down 16.97 points, 0.1%, at 20,863.53, and the AIM All-Share fell 0.71 of a point, 0.1%, at 722.68.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.6% at 876.73, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0

Amsterdam the primary Ice Cream listing destinationOrganic growth deceleratesMarket growth to remain 'soft'Packaged consumer goods powerhouse Unilever (ULVR) delivered encouraging full-year 2024 results with volume growth across every division and margins on the rise.The cash-generative Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker also announced a new €1.5 billion share buyback.Which begs the que

Full year profit up 10%Dividend hiked by 7%Buyback raised to £1.5 billionShares in business information and data analytics company Relx (REL) climbed 2% to a new all-time high of £42 after reporting 10% growth in adjusted full-year operating profit and projecting another strong year in 2025.The shares are up 27% over the last 12 months, comfortably ahead of the 16% gain in the blue-chip FTSE 100

Shares fall 8% to £31 in early morning trading£900 million share buyback planned in 2025Full year revenue down 5.2% but in line with expectationsShares in British American Tobacco (BATS) took a turn for the worse in early morning trading as the FTSE 100 tobacco giant reported a 5.2% fall in revenue to £25.8 billion for the year ending 31 December.The stock fell 8% to £31, although it is still

London's FTSE 100 was lower early Thursday, hurt by the likes of BAT, Barclays, Unilever and oil majors, but European peers confidently moved higher on hopes of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.Barclays fell despite reporting improved earnings. Unilever announced listing plans for its ice cream unit, meanwhile.The FTSE 100 index traded down 45.80 points, 0.5%, at 8,761.64. The FTSE 250 was up 42.78 poi

You often hear the word 'defensive' applied to certain stocks and sectors, but what does it mean and can buying 'defensive' stocks really help your performance as an investor?In a word, yes, because they dial down some of the risk which is inherent in markets because they tend not to be very volatile unlike most 'cyclical' or 'growth' stocks, but it's how you use them which matters.Defensive stock

London's FTSE 100 reached a record-high close at above 8,800 on Wednesday, despite a stronger-than-expected inflation report leaving the US market downcast.The FTSE 100 index closed up 30.05 points, 0.3%, at 8,807.44. It had earlier hit a new all-time high of 8,810.62.The FTSE 250 ended down 39.22 points, 0.2%, at 20,880.50, and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.15 points, 0.2%, at 723.39.The Cboe U

London's FTSE 100 was slightly higher on Wednesday afternoon, but trade lacked a spark as investors await a US inflation report and more words from Fed chief Jerome Powell.It was a similar story in Paris, but Frankfurt's blue-chip index hit another record high.The FTSE 100 index traded up 8.88 points, 0.1%, at 8,786.27. The FTSE 250 was 105.22 points higher, 0.5%, at 21,024.94, and the AIM All-Sha

Full-year profit forecast raisedEarnings to be higher than FY24Shares top FTSE 100 gainersHousebuilder Barratt Redrow (BTRW) pleased the market with its first-half trading update and its outlook for the full year, with profits seen 'towards the upper end of expectations'.The shares jumped as much as 41p or 9% to 478p taking them to the top of the FTSE 100 leader board. 'SOLID DEMAND'For the