European stocks traded lower at midday on Friday as weak US data sparked concerns that growth in the world's largest economy could be slowing. The FTSE 100 index was down 34.90 points, 0.4%, at 8,248.46. The FTSE 250 was 358.17 points, 1.7%, at 21,101.06, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.27 points, 0.7%, at 777.81. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4%, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.2% at 18,461.00, and t...

Shares in International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) rose over 6% in morning trading to 169p as the British Airways owner said strong demand for travel helped lift its results in the six months to 30June 2024. Total revenue increased 8% to €14.72 billion compared to €13.58 billion in the same year ago period. EARNINGS BEAT The airline group's transformation programme helped to deliver stron...

Once again, we find ourselves riffing on the Dinah Washington jazz classic, 'What a difference a day makes'. Barely 24 hours earlier US markets were all sporting weekly gains, but another bad session for 'Big Tech' stocks pushed the Dow and the Nasdaq into negative territory and sent the Russell small-cap index sharply lower. Investors had hoped that latest earnings from Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ) and...

Investors can be a tough bunch to please, just beating expectations is often not enough. Biotechnology firm Moderna (MRNA) is a case in point, with its shares slumping 21% overnight despite second quarter earnings coming in ahead of Wall Street estimates as the company slashed its full year sales forecast. The shares registered one of their biggest daily falls on record which leaves them down 1...

Investors in FTSE 250 professional services and outsourcing group Capita (CPI) may be scratching their heads this morning after the firm's positive half-year trading update was met with sustained selling. The shares, which had already lost 11% year-to-date, dropped as much as 2.1p or another 11% to 17p in early trading before recovering to settle down 1p or 5.5% at 18.1p. FOCUS ON MARGIN Adjust...

European stocks were in the red on Friday morning as investors eagerly await non-farm payrolls from the US, after tech earnings and economic data disappointed on Thursday. The FTSE 100 index slipped 27.81 points, or 0.3%, to 8,255.55 on Friday morning. The FTSE 250 fell 257.34 points, 1.2%, at 21,201.89, while the AIM All-Share traded down 3.42 points, 0.4%, at 779.66. The Cboe UK 100 was down...

The FTSE 100 closed in the red on Thursday, but outperformed its European peers, after the Bank of England cut interest rates for the first time in over four years. The FTSE 100 index closed down 84.62 points, 1.0%, at 8,283.36. The FTSE 250 ended down 141.48 points, 0.7%, at 21,459.23, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.94 points, 0.5%, at 783.08. The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.0% at 826.39, th...

Rhys Davies Fund Manager Invesco Bond Income Plus Ltd A higher credit quality portfolio Over the past two years, we have increased the credit quality profile of the Invesco Bond Income Plus (BIPS) portfolio. Exposure to investment grade bonds has risen steadily. Within high yield bonds, we have increased the number of bonds we hold with a credit rating of BB and reduced our holdings in the lowe...

Markets in London edged higher on Thursday around midday, after news that the Bank of England has cut interest rates for the first time in over four years. Against the dollar, the pound slipped to $1.2768 early on Thursday afternoon in London, from $1.2844 at the London equities close on Wednesday. Sterling traded as low as $1.2755 earlier on Thursday, its weakest level in around a month. The F...

All gardeners know you plant seeds today to reap a harvest tomorrow and it's what Facebook-owner Meta Platforms (META:NASDAQ) is doing with AI (artificial intelligence). Yes, it means higher capex now, but the rewards down the line could be considerable. Investors seems to understand this, which is why the stock is primed for a near-7% surge when Wall Street reopens later today, following secon...

Global medical technology company Smith & Nephew (SN.) notched-up a new 12-month high of £12.30 as the shares leapt 10% following a strong first half which came in ahead of market forecasts. The rally takes gains for the year ahead of the FTSE 100, but the shares remain roughly 35% below pre-pandemic levels. INCREASING MOMENTUM First half revenue to 29 June increased 3.4% year-on-year to $2.83...

In line with its rivals, Barclays (BARC), the last of the Big Four high-street banks to report, pleased investors with its second-quarter update although there was less of a reaction to its increased guidance or latest buyback. The shares opened up 8p or 3.4% at 241.8p but those early gains faded leaving the shares up just 3p or 1.3% by mid-morning. INVESTMENT BANK BOOST For the three months to...

Shares in Next (NXT) rose 8% to an all-time high of £98.30 as the fashion and homeware retailer reported a forecast-beating rise in second-quarter sales and raised its outlook for the full year yet again. OVERSEAS SALES BOOST For the 13 weeks to 27 July, full-price sales - which include all items sold in Next Retail, Next Online including third-party brands, and Next Finance interest income -...