European equities were higher heading into Tuesday afternoon, boosted by hope that China's top leaders will meet to set out lofty economic aims and discuss stimulus measures for next year. The FTSE 100 index rose 58.76 points, 0.7%, at 8,371.65. The FTSE 250 added 125.89 points, 0.6%, at 20,894.94, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.10 points, 0.3%, at 735.14.The Cboe UK 100 added 0.8% at 840.75, the Cb

Blue-chips in Europe opened in the green on Tuesday, with French stocks casting aside political uncertainty for now, and strong earnings boosted London-listed mid-caps.The FTSE 100 index rose 48.97 points, 0.6%, at 8,361.86. The FTSE 250 added 103.70 points, 0.5%, at 20,872.75, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.54 point, 0.4%, at 735.58.The Cboe UK 100 added 0.7% at 840.00, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.6%

London stocks started the week mixed ahead of a 'pivotal' US jobs report on Friday, and after data showed the UK manufacturing sector enduring a sharper decline than expected last month.The FTSE 100 index rose 25.59 points, 0.3%, at 8,312.89. The FTSE 250 ended 2.52 points lower at 20,769.05, and the AIM All-Share rose 0.55 of a point, 0.1%, at 733.04.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 834.02, the C

Arbuthnot chairman snaps up 116,000 sharesJohnson Matthey CEO buys 10,000 sharesHalma director sells 50,000 sharesHenry Angest, chairman and chief executive of banking group Arbuthnot (ARBB:AIM), bought 116,000 shares at 900p for a total value of £1.04 million on 25 November.Angest now holds 9,392,185 ordinary shares representing 58.03% of the company's voting rights.The banking group recently re

Quarterly index changes this weekThree new names to join FTSE 100Four new stocks to join FTSE 250This Wednesday, FTSE Russell ? part of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) ? will announce the results of its latest quarterly index review.This includes potential changes to the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and FTSE Small-Cap indices which will become effective from the start of trading on 23 December.WHO'S

London's FTSE 100 held modest gains around midday on Monday but there were mixed fortunes elsewhere in Europe, as the DAX 40 hit a new high while the CAC 40 faltered.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.07 points, 0.2%, to 8,300.37. The FTSE 250 slipped just 6.30 points at 20,765.27, and the AIM All-Share added only 0.18 of a point at 732.67.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 833.95, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.1% a

Stocks in London trod water at the start of a week, though moves were more pronounced in Asia and Paris.The CAC 40 in Paris has French political uncertainty and a plunge in Stellantis shares hanging over it. Asian stocks climbed after decent China data.The FTSE 100 index fell just 1.40 points to 8,285.90. It goes into the final month of 2024 with a roughly 7% year-to-date gain.The FTSE 250 nudged

Indices in London ended the session in the green on a mixed day for retailers on Black Friday as US equities pushed higher in a shortened trading session.The FTSE 100 index rose 6.08 points, 0.1%, at 8,287.30. The FTSE 250 climbed 8.79 points, at 20,771.57, and the AIM All-Share firmed 1.58 points, 0.2%, at 732.49.For the week, the FTSE 100 rose 0.3%, the FTSE 250 advanced 0.9% and the AIM All-Sha

London's FTSE 100 was largely flat, though the FTSE 250 made a more sizeable move heading into Friday afternoon, as M&A activity continued.The FTSE 100 index added just 3.66 points to sit at 8,284.88. The FTSE 250 registered a more convincing 31.63 point gain, 0.2%, at 20,794.41, and the AIM All-Share added 1.49 points, 0.2%, at 732.40.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.1% at 832.14, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.3

Bid from Indian group reportedly in worksShareholders supportivePlans to take controlling stakePrivate healthcare provider Spire Healthcare (SPI) jumped 8% after the Economic Times reported that Indian medical group Narayana Hrudayalaya (NH:NSE) is looking to acquire a controlling stake in the FTSE 250 company.Narayana is led by renowned heart surgeon Devi Shetty, whose senior management team have

Blue-chips in Europe traded slightly lower in a tepid open on Friday, ahead of eurozone data later and an abbreviated session in New York.The FTSE 100 index fell 8.73 points, 0.1%, at 8,272.49. It is up some 2.0% so far this month.The FTSE 250 rose 32.01 points, 0.2%, at 20,794.79, and the AIM All-Share added 0.94 of a point, 0.1%, at 731.85.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 831.08, the Cboe UK 250

London indices saw modest gains on Thursday, driven in part by strong performances from food retailers Tesco and Sainsbury's, which rose on analyst upgrades, while trading volumes remained light with US markets closed for Thanksgiving.The FTSE 100 index rose 6.47 points, 0.1%, at 8,281.22. The FTSE 250 climbed 146.81 points, 0.7%, at 20,748.44, and the AIM All-Share eased 0.49 of a point, 0.1%, at

Stocks in London were mixed around midday on Thursday, although a burst of takeover action provided some energy to a quiet trading day due to a public holiday in New York.Renewi said it would be minded to accept a bid from Macquarie, which came back to the negotiating table after walking away more than a year ago. Direct Line rebuffed an Aviva tilt, however. Loungers agreed to a private equity bid

Recent trading 'encouraging'Cost savings at top of guidanceInventory and net debt downHard-pressed footwear company Dr Martens (DOCS) lurched into loss for the half ended 29 September 2024 as higher costs and a slump in wholesale revenue, notably in the US, took a heavy toll on its performance.Yet despite this swing into the red, shares in the boots, shoes and sandals seller rallied 15% to 67p aft

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the green on Thursday morning, with Direct Line shining on the FTSE 250, as traders in New York sit on the sidelines amid the Thanksgiving holiday.The FTSE 100 index added 17.45 points, 0.2%, at 8,292.20. The FTSE 250 rose 133.28 points, 0.7%, at 20,734.91, and the AIM All-Share added 0.32 of a point at 731.72.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 833.2

Consumer goods goliath Unilever (ULVR) is pushing ahead with the IPO (initial public offering) of its ice cream unit and plans to slim down rather than spin off its food division, as CEO Hein Schumacher's turnaround strategy continues to gain traction.At the FTSE 100 giant's recent investor event (22 November), the Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker set out its strategic priorities under Sch

Recent downward momentum in JD Sports Fashion (JD.) has been exacerbated by the company's latest disappointing update.The firm announced on 21 November it now expects pre-tax profit for the year to January 2025 to be at the lower end of its original £955 million to £1.035 billion guidance range, news which sent the shares tumbling 16% to a two-year low of 95.2p.JD blamed 'increased trading volat

Fidelity Special Values (FSV) 311.5pMarket cap: £1.01 billionWider than the five and 10-year average of 4%, a near-9% share price discount to NAV (net asset value) at Fidelity Special Values (FSV) presents an attractive entry point into a fund with an impressive long-run record and a contrarian, value-focused investment philosophy that's proven to work.The trust, which recently celebrated its 30

Shares in multi-national tobacco company Imperial Brands (IMB) recently hit a new five-year high (25 November) of £25.64 despite a push by governments around the world to crack down on the number of people smoking and vaping.Year-to-date the shares have gained 41% outperforming three of the 'Magnificent Seven' group of tech giants said analysts at Panmure Liberum in a recent note.So, what is the

The first Budget from a Labour Government in 14 years continues to stir heated debate and sceptics readily point to the increase in the yield in the UK's 10-year gilt to a one-year high to support their case that chancellor Rachel Reeves is on the wrong track. It does not look great that yields are rising in the wake of August's interest rate cut from the Bank of England, but 10-year government bo