London's FTSE 100 ended lower, while the pound struggled after hawkish comments from a Bank of England policymaker were outweighed by a blockbuster US jobs report, which boosted the odds of a smaller 25 basis point cut at the next Federal Reserve meeting. 'The September employment report was much stronger than expected, with job growth blowing past expectations, the unemployment rate declining...

Stocks in London were mixed during midday trade on Friday, with the FTSE underperforming its European equivalents, in anticipation of critical data on US jobs. The FTSE 100 index was down 36.14 points, 0.4%, at 8,246.38. The FTSE 250 was up 53.28 points, 0.3%, at 20,793.34, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.11 points, 0.3%, at 735.95. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 825.03, the Cboe UK 250 was up...

Watches of Switzerland's (WOSG) shares ticked up 2% to 466p on news it has acquired publishing firm-to-luxury watch platform Hodinkee as the Patek Philippe-to-Audemars Piguet seller seeks to accelerate online growth and grab a greater share of America's expanding high-end timepiece market. Described by Watches of Switzerland as a 'go-to, global destination for luxury watch enthusiasts', New Yor...

Pub chain JD Wetherpoon (JDW) served up a tasty cocktail of continuing like-for-like sales growth and reinstatement of the dividend after a five-year hiatus, which was enough to send the shares up 2.8p or 0.5% to 726p in early trading. While the shares are up around 80% from the trough in September 2022, they remain 50% below pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the fact profitability is yet to full...

After September's boom, US stocks have gone limp into early October with investor's troubled by escalating aggression in the Middle East, pushing oil prices to their biggest increases in nearly a year. At the same time, mixed economic data offered little firm clue as to the future of the Federal Reserve's easing cycle after Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted the central bank is not in a rush to rap...

Stocks in London were making little progress on Friday morning, as the market awaited the key catalyst of the afternoon's US nonfarm payroll data. 'Today's jobs data will be very important in providing a final conclusion to the week's so far stronger-than-expected US jobs figures,' comments Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'The US economy is expected to have added near 147,000 new nonfarm jobs i...

Stocks in London slipped into the red by the close on Thursday, as worries about escalations in the Middle East conflict sapped risk appetite. London's FTSE 100 was spared the steeper falls seen by its European equivalents, however. This was thanks to some dovish comments from the Bank of England, strong results from Tesco, and the index's general defensive positioning. The FTSE 100 index close...

Shares in SSP (SSPG) were marginally higher at 157p in morning trading as the food travel expert reported 'good underlying trading momentum' for the fourth quarter. The FTSE 250 company said like-for-like sales growth in UK & Ireland was 9% for the year 'comfortably within the planning assumption range of 6% to 10%' reflecting strong trading over the summer. In the UK & Ireland sales were lifte...

Dovish remarks from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey helped to boost the FTSE 100's housebuilders on Thursday at midday, while grocers rose following a strong interim showing from Tesco. The FTSE 100 index was up 21.96, 0.3%, at 8,312.82. The FTSE 250 was down 18.71 points, 0.1%, at 20,765.07, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.26 of a point at 734.04. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 831.77,...

The divergence in fortunes between large listed commercial property companies and some of the smaller players was thrown into relief today with the announcement by British Land (BLND) it had raised capital for a large retail acquisition on the same day two small REITs (real estate investment trusts) revealed they were packing their bags. Shares in British Land were steady at 435p after it raise...

The UK's biggest grocery chain Tesco (TSCO) raised its full-year 2025 earnings guidance after delivering better-than-expected volume growth and a near-10% uplift in profit for the half ended 24 August. Chief executive Ken Murphy insisted his charge is 'in good shape' ahead of Christmas and Britain's biggest retailer demonstrated confidence in its festive prospects by bumping up the interim divi...

Stock prices in London were mixed on Thursday morning after Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey hinted at a more aggressive path for interest rate cuts, while also showing concern over the situation in the Middle East. Escalating tensions between Iran, Israel and militant Lebanese group Hezbollah continue to affect commodity prices. In an interview with the Guardian, Bailey said he was watch...

Stocks in London ended mixed on Wednesday, but the FTSE 100 held on to finish in the green, despite oil prices tailing off and trade in mainland Europe being slightly less convincing. The FTSE 100 index ended up 14.21 points, 0.2%, at 8,290.86. The FTSE 250 closed 130.92 points lower, 0.6%, at 20,783.78, and the AIM All-Share shed 2.50 points, 0.3%, at 734.30. The Cboe UK 100 ended 0.1% higher...