Equities in London made a slow start on Thursday, but peers in Europe traded more confidently, with market focus on upcoming US data and political developments either side of the English Channel, and across the Atlantic. In London, a US blow for GSK hurt its shares. Miners also struggled in early dealings. Elsewhere, there was a guidance boost for outsourcer Serco, Watches of Switzerland report...

Stock prices in London closed lower on Wednesday, as European markets brace themselves for political instability in the run-up to UK and French elections. The CAC 40 in Paris took the biggest hit on Wednesday, ahead of the snap election in France on Sunday. The FTSE 100 index closed down 22.46 points, 0.3%, at 8,225.33. The FTSE 250 ended down 65.33 points, 0.3%, at 20,298.10, and the AIM All-S...

Stocks in London were mixed at midday Wednesday after an early morning recovery as US tech stocks had recovered, while the CAC 40 in Paris was down ahead of Sunday's election. Uncertainty in the political sphere was not limited to France, with so-called 'gamblegate' dominating the UK election. Amongst individual stocks, Phoenix Group mulled the possible sale of SunLife. Small-caps' ProCook surg...

Economic bellwether FedEx (FDX:NYSE) saw its shares jump 15% in after-market trading after the delivery giant guided for 2025 earnings above Wall Street consensus expectations. If the shares hold onto their overnight gains, they are expected to open around the highs of the year at $290, representing a 15% gain, in line with the S&P 500 index. Positive sentiment spilled over into shares of rival...

Electrical retailer AO World (AO.) published a pleasing set of results for the full year to the end of March showing the benefit of its decision to shift its focus from market share gains towards profitable growth. The shares added 5p or 4.5% to 118p, taking them to a new 12-month high and bringing gains to 37% since June last year. NEW STRATEGY A SUCCESS After removing non-core channels and lo...

Two of the biggest investment trusts are combining in the sector's largest-ever merger, with Witan (WTAN) to be rolled into Alliance Trust (ATST) in a mega-deal expected to complete later this year. The combination of these FTSE 250 constituents will create 'Alliance Witan', an investment trust goliath with net assets north of £5 billion and big enough for FTSE 100 inclusion. Shares in Witan r...

European equities opened higher on Wednesday, after US tech shares, including chipmaker and artificial intelligence titan Nvidia, returned to form overnight. In London, investors had a host of corporate updates to sink into, including bullish earnings from pandemic winners AO World and ProCook. A merger agreement between Witan Investment Trust and Alliance Trust also grabbed some of the spotlig...

Stock prices in London closed lower on Tuesday, as UK political parties enter their final full week of campaigning before the general election. Looking ahead to the rest of the week, focus is on US data, with a gross domestic product reading Thursday and the latest personal consumption expenditures data on Friday. The FTSE 100 index closed down 33.76 points, 0.4%, at 8,247.79. The FTSE 250 ende...

Over 50s travel and insurance specialist Saga (SAGA) had a bounce in its step on Tuesday after revealing a good start to its new financial year, putting the business on track to meet full-year expectations. Investors welcomed the trading update for the four months to 24 June ahead of the firm's annual general meeting, with the shares gaining 1.3% to 114.3p, although they remain 22p or 16% below...

Stocks in Europe took a hit on Tuesday around midday, as election nerves in the UK and France heat up. Amongst individual stocks, Rolls-Royce and Melrose took a hit following a forecast warning for Airbus. The FTSE 100 index traded 15.07 points lower, 0.2%, at 8,266.48. It has risen some 3.9% so far in the second-quarter of the year. The FTSE 250 was down 130.67 points, 0.6%, at 20,431.90, thou...

Shares in Gear4music (G4M:AIM) rallied 10% to 147.5p after the online musical instrument seller said it was 'optimistic' about its prospects for further profitable growth during full year 2025 having implemented a refreshed growth strategy. While the electric guitar, drum kit and piano purveyor's results for the year ended 31 March 2024 showed a 5% drop in revenue to £144.4 million, this refle...

UK aerospace and defence suppliers were knocked lower by a warning from Toulouse-based Airbus (AIR:EPA), which cut both its production forecast and its earnings outlook for this year due to continuing geopolitical and supply chain tensions. UK engineering companies such as Rolls-Royce (RR.) and Melrose (MRO), together with European manufacturers like MTU Aero Engines (MTX:FRA) and Safran (SAF:E...