Key UK indices closed in the red on Friday as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves remains under pressure following increased government borrowing costs. The FTSE 100 index closed down 71.20 points, 0.9%, at 8,248.49. The FTSE 250 ended down 271.20 points, 1.4%, at 19,733.94, and the AIM All-Share closed down 6.48 points, 0.9%, at 713.48. The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.7% at 826.80, the Cboe UK 250 closed...

The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has accepted for review the regulatory application of GSK's (GSK) pre-filled syringe presentation of its shingles prevention drug Shingrix. The new application removes the need for healthcare professionals to reconstitute separate bottles prior to administrating the drug. The company said over 90 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed sinc...

The FTSE 100 in London underperformed against its peers in Paris and Frankfurt, but Centrica on the FTSE 100 edged up after warning of 'concerningly low' UK gas storage levels during the ongoing cold snap. The FTSE 100 index was down 32.62 points, 0.4%, at 8,287.82. The FTSE 250 was down 135.35 points, 0.7%, at 19,869.79, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.64 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.32. The Cboe UK...

There are plenty of sceptics who think the wheels will come off the AI bandwagon this year, but that's not what TSMC (TSM:NYSE) is seeing. The world's largest chip manufacturer posted forecast-thumping Q4 2024 revenue that implies the AI boom is still running at top speed. Revenue surged by 34.4% year-on-year, reaching T$868.42 billion (Taiwanese dollars, or $26.36 billion), surpassing market e...

Hot on heels of rival Tesco (TSCO), second-placed UK supermarket group Sainsburys (SBRY) posted an upbeat third-quarter trading statement saying it had had 'the biggest-ever Christmas'. Inevitably, just as Tesco shares were sold off yesterday, Sainsburys shares were also down on the day losing 5p or 2% to 258p. GAINING MARKET SHARE For the 16 weeks to 4 January, Sainsburys recorded a 2.8% incre...

Shares in Anpario (ANP:AIM) soared 10.2% to a two-year high of 405p after the natural sustainable feed additives supplier delivered its fifth upgrade to full-year 2024 guidance on the spin. Following a stronger-than-expected second half performance, Anpario now expects revenue for the year to December 2024 to be £37.5 million. That's up 21% year-on-year and comfortably ahead of the £35.5 mill...

As Mike Tyson famously said, everyone has a plan until they are punched in the face, and much of the optimism surrounding the start of 2025 seems to have gone out of the window as investors have been left reeling from a one-two combination of economic data with better-than expected employment data contrasting with stubbornly high inflation. That means the dream of lower interest rates is fading...

Stocks in London, Paris and Frankfurt made a slow start to the day on Friday morning, while FTSE 100-listed grocer Sainsbury's fell despite celebrating a bumper Christmas period. The FTSE 100 index opened down just 0.55 of a point at 8,319.14. The FTSE 250 was up just 9.28 points at 20,014.42, and the AIM All-Share lost only 0.23 of a point to sit at 719.76. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 833.2...

Key UK retailers ended Thursday firmly in the red but calmer bond markets and rising commodity prices helped keep blue-chip stocks in the green. The FTSE 100 index ended up 68.66 points, 0.8%, at 8,319.69. The FTSE 250 climbed 52.90 points, 0.3%, at 20,005.14, bouncing from an intra-day low of 19,733.12. The AIM All-Share ended down 0.15 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.96. The Cboe UK 100 closed up 0....

London's blue-chips were higher around midday on Thursday, but fresh falls in the pound and bond market angst kept domestically-focused stocks on the back foot. The FTSE 100 index was up 46.80 points, 0.6%, at 8,297.83. The FTSE 250 was down 95.22 points, 0.5%, at 19,857.02, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.68 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.43. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6% at 830.81, the Cboe UK 250 lost...

Shares in Greggs (GRG) fell by as much as 10% to £23.46 in morning trading despite the food-on-the-go purveyor reporting a 11.3% rise in full-year 2024 sales to £2 billion. Greggs said seasonal lines were in high demand in the fourth quarter including Festive Bake, the Vegan Festive Bake, and the all-new Festive flatbread. Food items like pizza continued to prove popular with consumers, with...

Global equity fund Fundsmith (FUND:B41YBW7) delivered a total return of 8.9% in 2024, undershooting the 20.8% gain in the MSCI World index for the fourth consecutive year, resulting in the popular fund slipping behind the index on a five-year annualised basis. Eponymous founder Terry Smith is quick to highlight the longer-term performance of the £22 billion fund which has bested the MSCI World...

Retail bellwether Marks & Spencer (MKS) delivered 'another good Christmas' with sales records broken across the business as it gained market share in both food and clothing. However, shares in the high street stalwart fell 5% to 358p as third quarter clothing, home and beauty came in light of expectations and management's cautious outlook stoked profit-taking after a strong share price run. Mar...