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...

Hard-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 after it flagged improved trading since the start of the Autum/Winter season and left...

All-day bar/restaurant operator Loungers (LGRS:AIM) came to the market on the eve of the pandemic in 2019 and now appears to be going back to private equity ownership after agreeing a takeover offer from Fortress Investment at a 30% premium to the last closing price. The shares jumped 28% to a record high of 310p, giving those investors who bought at the IPO (initial public offering) price of 2...

Motor and home insurer Direct Line Insurance (DLG) received its third bid of 2024 with larger UK rival Aviva (AV.) pitching a 250p cash-and-shares after the closing bell last night. Direct Line shares jumped 59p or 37% to 218p, more than reversing their losses year-to-date and leaving them at a six-month high. THIRD TIME UNLUCKY Direct Line has already received two cash and shares bids this yea...

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...

London's stock indices closed higher on Wednesday, contrasting with broader European declines, with confidence from easing bond yields lifting housebuilders over the session. The FTSE 100 index rose 16.14 points, 0.2%, at 8,274.75. The FTSE 250 climbed 32.98 points, 0.2%, at 20,601.63, and the AIM All-Share firmed 0.81 of a point, 0.1%, at 731.40. The Cboe UK 100 advanced 0.1% at 831.73, the Cb...

Stock prices in London were just about in the green at midday, outperforming Paris and Frankfurt, where shares succumbed to French budget concerns and worries that the European economy could be next to fall into the cross-hairs of Donald Trump tariffs. The FTSE 100 index added 4.24 points, 0.1%, at 8,262.85 heading into Wednesday afternoon. The FTSE 250 rose 15.49 points, 0.1%, at 20,584.14, an...

EasyJet (EZJ) shares made marginal gains this morning after the low-budget airline reported a 34% rise in pre-tax profit to £610 million for the year ending 30 September. There was good news for EasyJet holidays' division which reported a pre-tax profit of £190 million, driven by 36% growth in customer numbers, showing that people are still booking holidays despite a squeeze on household budg...

Pets at Home's (PETS) shares plunged 11.5% to a two-year low of 245.5p after the UK pet care leader downgraded profit guidance for the year to March 2025, pinning the blame on 'subdued' conditions in the traditionally resilient pet retail market. The FTSE 250 pet specialist also warned the government's planned changes to the National Living Wage and employers National Insurance Contributions wi...

Pub group Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) served up better than expected full-year sales and profit growth and said the business had made a strong start to the new financial year with like-for-like sales up 4% in the first seven weeks. Investors cautiously welcomed the results with the shares trading up 6.5p or 2.6% to 251p, reducing year-to-date losses to 1% compared with a 6% gain in the FTSE 250 m...

Texas-headquartered Dell Technologies (DELL:NYSE) is doing the right things, judging by latest earnings. Shares in the company lost 13% pre-market after issuing soft guidance for the fourth quarter despite Q3 earnings beating expectations. Dell is a major player in computing infrastructure and is rapidly churning out advanced servers for AI users, including Elon Musk's xAI. AI server orders hit...

Stock prices in London beat their counterparts in Paris and Frankfurt on Wednesday morning, edging slightly higher, despite a weaker oil price hitting Shell and BP. Shell lost 0.4% and BP 0.2% on Middle East ceasefire hope. The FTSE 100 index added 11.44 points, 0.1%, at 8,270.05. The FTSE 250 rose 36.35 points, 0.2%, at 20,605.00, and the AIM All-Share added 2.55 points, 0.4%, at 733.14. The C...

Stock indices in London ended Tuesday's session in the red as US President-elect Donald Trump exacerbated investor concerns with threats of tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico. The FTSE 100 index fell 33.07 points, 0.4%, at 8,258.61. The FTSE 250 slid 180.61 points, 0.9%, at 20,568.65, and the AIM All-Share declined 2.94 points, 0.4%, at 730.59. The Cboe UK 100 slipped 0.4% at 830.71, the Cboe...