London's FTSE 100 started 2025 strong, boosted by retailers on Christmas cheer and gains in miners, despite weak manufacturing data and a falling pound. The FTSE 100 index ended up 87.07 points, 1.1%, at 8,260.09. The FTSE 250 rose 17.62 points, 0.1%, at 20,640.23. The AIM All-Share jumped 4.07 points, 0.6%, at 723.70. The Cboe UK 100 closed up 1.1% at 827.66, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.2% at 18,02...

London's FTSE 100 was in the green at midday on Thursday, as climbing oil and gold prices offset declines for banking and airline firms on the first day of trading in 2025. The FTSE 100 index traded up 9.94 points, 0.1%, at 8,182.96. The FTSE 250 was down 78.07 points, 0.4%, at 20,544.54, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.45 points, 0.3%, at 722.08. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 820.39, the Cboe...

Shares in Mission Group (TMG:AIM) gained over 19% to 28.75p in morning trading as the digital and marketing communications group said it had sold April Six to US-headquartered Marketbridge for £17.4 million. Fiona Shepherd, founder, and CEO of April Six will remain at the company but will step down from the Mission Group's board with immediate effect after 14 years' service. Investors welcomed...

Shares in Revolution Beauty (REVB:AIM) soared 16% to 16p after the unloved cosmetics company agreed a settlement with disgruntled former shareholder Chrysalis Investments (CHRY). Investment trust Chrysalis had previously threatened legal action against Revolution Beauty, alleging the makeup-to-skincare products purveyor had misled investors. A full-blown court case could have knocked Revolution...

Shares in UK housebuilders received an early New Year's lift after the latest Nationwide price survey showed the market ended on a high note last month with particular strength in northern England. However, the rally didn't last long with Barratt Redrow (BTRW), Berkeley Group (BKG) and Persimmon (PSN) slipping into the red by mid-morning leaving just Taylor Wimpey (TW.) holding onto a small gai...

London's FTSE 100 made a solid start to 2025, shaking off underwhelming trade in Asia. The FTSE 100 index opened up 17.71 points, 0.2%, at 8,190.73. The FTSE 250 was up just 9.30 points, at 20,631.91, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.11 points, 0.3%, at 721.74. The FTSE 100 added 5.7% over the course of last year. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 821.34, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.1% higher at 18,078.53...

London's FTSE 100 closed higher on Tuesday in a shortened trading day, securing the strongest annual gain for the index in three years. Advances in New York this year towered over the UK blue-chip index, however. The FTSE 250 registered an even weaker annual gain and the AIM All-Share shrunk over the course of 2024. The FTSE 100 index ended up 52.01 points, 0.6%, at 8,173.02. It is up 5.7% for...

Humans generally feel more comfortable in groups which partly explains why stock prices often move in broad trends: knowing other investors and analysts have come to the same conclusion about a company breeds confidence in the investment case, whether or not it turns out to be correct. A rarer breed of investor prefers to stand alone and deliberately take a contrarian view, opposite to the crow...

Shares in Wizz Air (WIZZ) gained around 2% to £14.44 in morning trading as investors welcomed the European budget carrier's support agreement with engine maker Pratt & Whitney in relation to its grounded aircraft. As well as giving operational support, Pratt & Whitney - which is part of US defence group RTX Corp (RTX:NYSE) - will pay Wizz compensation 'covering the company's direct costs assoc...

Analysts at Wedbush believe 2025 will be a year of significant growth for the software sector as the AI (artificial intelligence) revolution begins a new phase fuelled by enterprise adoption of generative AI and machine learning large language models. The Wedbush team, led by managing director and senior equity research analyst Dan Ives, highlighted the transformative potential of AI-driven app...

The FTSE 100 opened in the red on Tuesday morning, as the shortened final day of trading for the year kicked off with some trepidation. Stocks in New York struggled on Monday, trade in Asian equities was unconvincing, and the nerves fed through to Europe on New Year's Eve. The FTSE 100 index opened down 8.35 points, 0.1%, at 8,112.66. It is up 5.0% for the year. The FTSE 250 was up just 9.64 po...

Equities in Europe declined on Monday, in holiday-thinned trade, while declines in New York were more dramatic, with tech stocks bearing the brunt. The FTSE 100 index ended down 28.77 points, 0.4%, at 8,121.01. The FTSE 250 shed 84.10 points, 0.4%, at 20,404.55, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.89 of a point, 0.1%, at 714.23. The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% at 814.55, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.4% at 1...

The week before Christmas was a busy one for the boards of several UK firms as they offloaded shares ahead of the holidays. At defence contractor Chemring (CHG), chief executive Michael Ord and two other directors sold a total of 274,000 shares at 315p each on 18 December raising just shy of £800,000 between them. The shares were all part of previous awards which vested in December 2024 and th...