Homewares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) said it delivered 'solid' sales growth in the first half to 28 December 2024, with sofas, dining chairs and coffee tables selling particularly well and digital sales penetration buoyed by strong Click and Collect sales. However, shares in the cushions-to-curtains seller softened 4% to 987p on the revelation sales growth slowed in the second quarter in 'challengi...

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were up on Thursday morning, with the FTSE 100 up comfortably despite UK economic growth undershooting expectations. Gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in November, driven by growth in services, after a fall of 0.1% in October. This undershot the FXStreet-cited market consensus of 0.2% growth. Separately, the Office for National Statistics said the...

Stock prices in London surged on Wednesday, with a sharp jump for the FTSE 250 allowing the UK-focused index to eat into some of its hefty loss so far in 2025. A favourable UK inflation reading calmed some bond markets and swung the pendulum in favour of a Bank of England rate cut at the central bank's next meeting. In addition, earnings from US banks were well-received, adding to the positive...

Stock prices in London were in the green at midday Wednesday, as investors cheered lower-than-expected consumer price index inflation, ahead of US consumer price index inflation data. The consumer price index in the UK rose 2.5% in December from a year before, slowing from a 2.6% annual increase in November. The FXStreet-cited market consensus had expected inflation to pick up to 2.7%. 'A surpr...

The relief following today's scheduled trading update from Vistry (VTY), the UK's largest housebuilder in volume terms, was palpable as the group confirmed its full-year 2024 profit forecast and talked up the 2025 outlook for its partnership business. The shares rallied as much as 50p or just shy of 10% to 565p, lifting its larger FTSE 100 peers Barratt Redrow (BTRW), Persimmon (PSN) - which re...

Shares in Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) were up over 4% to 238.50p in morning trading as the All Bar One owner said the business traded 'very strongly' across the festive season with like-for-like growth of 10.4% over the core three-week period. Across the first quarter, Mitchells like-for-like sales remained well ahead of the market growing by 3.9% despite the 'very cold and stormy weather' over t...

Global animal genetics company Genus (GNS) said first half performance has been stronger than expected and the board now expects group adjusted pre-tax profit to be at least £35 million. The shares were catapulted almost 20% higher to £16.96 which suggests investor sentiment had become too negative, with the shares registering a new 52-week low this week ahead of today's (15 January) trading...

Currys' (CURY) shares sparked up 10.5% to 91p after the electricals retailer delivered yet another full-year profit guidance upgrade following a strong festive period, with the TVs-to-laptops purveyor delivering like-for-like sales growth in both the UK and Nordics. Benefiting from a technology replacement cycle that is driving consumer demand for new AI-enabled computers, Currys also delighted...

Chip firm Intel (INTC:NASDAQ) is to spin-off its venture capital arm Intel Capital as the company grapples to re-establish its place at the top of the semiconductor table. This is a strategic move aimed at reducing costs and streamlining operations, a response to intense competition and a challenging market landscape. The spin-off is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025, with Int...

The FTSE 100 opened comfortably higher on Wednesday morning, easily beating its peers in Paris and Frankfurt, as UK consumer price inflation decelerated in December, defying expectations. The consumer price index rose 2.5% in December from a year before, slowing from 2.6% in November while FXStreet-cited market consensus had expected inflation to pick up to 2.7%. Separately, the Office for Nati...

London stocks ended mixed on Tuesday, the FTSE 250 outperforming its large-cap counterpart, enjoying its best day of the year so far as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves looked to soothe bond market nerves. The FTSE 100 index ended down 22.65 points, 0.3%, at 8,201.54. The FTSE 250 added 47.90 points, 0.2%, at 19,766.27, but the AIM All-Share lost 1.58 points, 0.2%, at 707.81. The Cboe UK 100 was dow...

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher at midday Tuesday, with London's FTSE 100 up slightly despite oil major BP losing ground as it eyes lower production figures. Meanwhile in the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will move to reassure turbulent markets amid high government borrowing costs as she faces a grilling from MPs later today. The UK chancellor will answer questions in the...

Shares in Ocado (OCDO) gained as much as 10% in early trading after the company said fourth-quarter retail revenue grew by 17.5% to £715.8 million. Ocado retail is a joint venture between Ocado group and Marks & Spencer (MKS). The online grocery retailer was reporting a trading statement for the 13 weeks to 1 December. Ocado said it delivered 'another record-breaking' Christmas with its highes...