European stocks moved lower on Wednesday afternoon, in risk-off trade ahead of a tariff announcement from the White House later. The FTSE 100 index was down 74.44 points, 0.9%, at 8,560.36. The FTSE 250 lost 139.64 points, 0.7%, at 19,451.22, and the AIM All-Share slipped 3.61 points, 0.5%, at 684.77.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.8% at 854.21, the Cboe UK 250 shed 0.9% to 16,926.38, but the Cboe...

European shares were in the red on Wednesday morning, as investors await tariff announcements from the US, with eyes also on labour market data from the world's largest economy in the afternoon.The FTSE 100 index was down 19.94 points, 0.2%, at 8,614.86. The FTSE 250 lost 24.12 points, 0.1%, at 19,566.74, and the AIM All-Share slipped just 0.31 of a point at 688.07.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.2% at...

Weak prices and volumes hit salesFTSE 250 firm swings to pre-tax loss for 20242025 guidance below expectationsLuckless shareholders in builders' merchant Travis Perkins (TPK) saw their shares hit a 15-year low after the firm posted a loss for 2024 and warned profit this year would miss forecasts due 'challenging' trading conditions.The stock price fell 55p or 10% to 495p, taking out the...

It was a sea of red on the FTSE 100 on Monday afternoon, with tobacco and utility stocks among the rare few to trade higher.Tariff worries continued to take a toll on equities, as 'liberation day' edges ever closer.The FTSE 100 index fell 100.89 points, 1.2%, at 8,557.96. The FTSE 250 slumped 389.25 points, 2.0%, at 19,475.73, and the AIM All-Share fell 12.16 points, 1.8%, at 684.46.The Cboe...

Lower 2026 pre-tax profitExternal cost pressuresRetail expected to return to growthPets at Home (PETS) was in the doghouse with investors on 31 March after the UK's leading pet care business warned that subdued consumer demand and extra costs could see pre-tax profit fall by around a tenth in 2026.The shares fell 12% to 208.4p versus a 1% drop in the mid-cap index, almost wiping out the gains...

Alleged inappropriate behaviour probedPrimark boss departs with 'immediate effect'Investors disappointed by leadership changePrimark parent company Associated British Foods (ABF) was the FTSE 100's biggest faller on 31 March following the shock news Paul Marchant has resigned as the cut-price clothing chain's chief executive 'with immediate effect'.The unexpected departure of Primark's...

Burford team invest $17.5 millionPhoenix director raises £538,000 LXi execs cash in for £47 millionTop executives at litigation finance firm Burford Capital (BUR:AIM) invested a total of $17.5 million (£13.5 million) in the company's shares earlier this month through its deferred compensation scheme, with chief executive Christopher Bogart committing to 630,249 shares at a cost of £6.65...

Stocks in Europe opened in the red at the start of the week, as risk sentiment was low amid tariff worries, with 'liberation day' looming large.The FTSE 100 index was down 69.81 points, 0.8%, at 8,589.04. The FTSE 250 was down 263.99 points, 1.3%, at 19,600.99, and the AIM All-Share fell 5.39 points, 0.8%, at 691.23.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.8% at 856.82, the Cboe UK 250 shed 1.5% at 17,097.64,...

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...

Creates travel-focused retailerSale to accelerate growth, enhance marginsWHSmith brand retainedWH Smith (SMWH) has agreed to sell its UK High Street business to private equity outfit Modella Capital for £76 million in a move that marks an end of an era for the British retailer, which opened its first shop in London way back in 1792.The transaction completes WH Smith's transformation into a...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The benefits of a stocks and shares ISA are best measured over the long term. Investors should look to get rich slowly through the power of compounding.Compounding describes the process whereby investment returns themselves generate future gains. The value of an investment can increase exponentially because growth is earned on both the initial sum of money plus the accumulated wealth.Imagine...

So far this year shares in banking group Lloyds (LLOY) have closed the gap which opened up between it and peers like Barclays (BARC) and NatWest (NWG) in 2024.That the stock has advanced year-to-date is even more impressive when you consider the company has significant exposure to the ongoing motor finance mis-selling scandal.While this remains a source of uncertainty, elsewhere the business...

The upcoming trading update on 3 April from online greetings card outfit Moonpig (MOON) needs to demonstrate it is on track with its ambitious medium-term targets.Moonpig is the leading online designer, printer and retailer of greetings cards in the UK through its eponymous platform, and in the Netherlands (through Greetz), with close to 70% market shares in both markets. The company has...