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...

Shares in Supreme (SUP:AIM) drifted in afternoon trade despite the fast-moving consumer products maker reporting an 8% rise in revenue to £113 million for six months ending 30 September. Supreme supplies products across six categories: batteries, lighting, vaping, sports nutrition & wellness, branded distribution and soft drinks. CLEARLY DRINKS SUCCESS Supreme's £15.6 million purchase of UK d...

Leading UK food producer Cranswick (CWK) was the biggest faller in the FTSE 250 mid-cap index, losing nearly 5% despite serving up a tasty 16.5% increase in first-half adjusted operating profit to just shy of £100 million and reiterating full year guidance. Investors were clearly in the mood for some profit-taking after the seeing the shares gain over 25% since the start of the year, outperfor...

Stocks in Europe remained in the red on Tuesday afternoon after a plan by incoming US president Donald Trump to impose tariffs on China, Canada on Mexico on day one in office put investors on edge. The FTSE 100 index lost 18.02 points, 0.2%, at 8,273.66. The FTSE 250 slipped 117.93 points, 0.6%, at 20,631.33, and the AIM All-Share declined 2.02 points, 0.3%, at 731.51. The Cboe UK 100 was down...

Cycling and motoring products purveyor Halfords (HFD) has been the bearer of bad news for some time, with savage earnings downgrades sucking plenty of air from the tyre seller's share price. Today's (26 November) first half results revealed flat profits with discretionary spending weak and consumers remaining cautious over big ticket purchases. However, shares in Halfords staged a 12% relief ra...

Despite a drop in earnings per share and a forecast of slower growth next year, together with no word on share buybacks, investors seem minded to give global food service group Compass (CPG) the benefit of the doubt. After opening 102p or 3.8% lower, the shares inched their way into positive territory to trade 62p or 2.3% higher by mid-morning. For the year to the end of September, the group re...