Shares in Just Eat Takeaway.com (JET) were off to a flying start in morning trading gaining 10% from a multi-year low to £10.04 despite the food delivery business posting a slight dip in first-half sales and a bigger loss. Investors were encouraged instead by the firm sticking to its full-year turnover target and announcing a €150 million share buyback. SALES HOLDING UP For the six months to...

Global banking giant HSBC (HSBA) pleased investors with its first-half trading update and another bumper buyback as it said goodbye to chief executive Noel Quinn who is passing the baton on to Georges Elhedery. HSBC shares were marked up 24p of 3.5% to 701p making them the biggest gainer in the FTSE 100. PROFIT BEAT AND GUIDANCE RAISED For the six months to the end of June, revenue inched up $0...

Stocks in Europe traded higher on Wednesday morning amid a slew of corporate earnings and a rise in oil prices, after the Bank of Japan raised its main interest rate and before the Federal Reserve's decision later. The FTSE 100 index shot up 93.67 points, or 1.1%, at 8,368.08 on Wednesday morning. But the FTSE 250 rose 194.53 points, 0.9%, at 21,627.04, while the AIM All-Share added 3.72 points...

The FTSE 100 closed in the red on Tuesday, underperforming against its European peers, as investors wait for three major interest rate decisions. The FTSE 250, however, got a boost. St James's Place took the spotlight, soaring 25%. The FTSE 100 index closed down 17.94 points, 0.2%, at 8,274.41. The FTSE 250 ended up 180.44 points, 0.9%, at 21,432.51, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.84 of a po...

London's blue-chips remained in the red, but off early lows, as investors await US data, tech earnings and a trio of central bank interest rate calls. The FTSE 100 index traded down 18.36 points, or 0.2%, at 8,273.99 on Tuesday. But the FTSE 250 rose 190.83 points, 0.9%, at 21,442.90, while the AIM All-Share fell just 0.22 of a point to 777.10. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 826.07, the Cboe...

Shares in BP (BP.) were up over 2% in morning trading to 465p after the oil giant's second quarter profit came in ahead of market expectations. The company reported a second quarter underlying replacement cost profit of $2.8 billion reflecting an average gas marketing and trading result, significantly lower realized refining margins, stronger fuels margins and lower taxation. BP said it generat...

Spirits maker Diageo (DGE) managed to undershoot consensus full-year sales and profit expectations despite a fairly 'low bar' driven by downward estimate revisions. The disappointment spurred a 9% fall in the shares to a new seven-year low of £23.05, taking 12-month losses to 33% compared with a 7% gain for the blue-chip FTSE 100 index. WHAT DID THE COMPANY SAY? The world's largest alcoholic d...

Investors in London-based, Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered (STAN) were treated to a quadruple helping of good news as half-year earnings beat forecasts, leading the group to raise its full-year guidance, hike the interim dividend by 50% and launch its largest-ever share buyback. The shares climbed 43p or 6% to 770p, taking their gains for the year to over 16%. HIGHER SHAREHOLDER RETURNS Fo...

London's FTSE 100 fell on Tuesday, underperforming European peers, held back by some underwhelming earnings, with Diageo particularly badly hit. The FTSE 100 index traded down 42.60 points, or 0.5%, at 8,249.75 on Tuesday morning. But the FTSE 250 rose 130.10 points, 0.6%, at 21,382.17, while the AIM All-Share fell 0.54 of a point, 0.1%, at 776.78. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.6% at 823.55, the C...

Stocks in London ran out of steam by the end of Monday, with focus on the trio of major central bank meetings this week, and the UK chancellor's latest update on the '£22 billion black hole' in the country's finances. The FTSE 100 index closed up 6.64 points, 0.1%, at 8,292.35. The FTSE 250 ended down 104.23, 0.5%, at 21,252.07, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.35 points, 0.3%, at 777.32. T...

London's equity markets started the week on a strong footing on Monday, though the pound weakened ahead of a trio of central bank decisions. The Bank of England will announce its latest interest rate decision on Thursday, after rate calls from the Bank of Japan and the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday. The FTSE 100 index traded up 60.77 points, or 0.7%, at 8,346.48 on Monday afternoon. The FTSE...

Shares in hygiene, health and nutrition products powerhouse Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) sank as much as 10% to around £40.40, their lowest level since 2013 after a US jury found Abbot Laboratories' (ABT:NYSE) specialised infant formula caused an Illinois girl to develop a dangerous bowl disease. In pre-market trading, Abbot Labs' shares were around 7% lower. Reckitt shares are down by more than a...