Topps Tiles' (TPT) shares slid 4.2% to a 52-week low of 39p after the UK's leading tile specialist reported a 9.7% plunge in third quarter like-for-like sales as 'challenging' market conditions persisted. The share price reaction might have been harsher had Topps not stressed that sales stabilised through the quarter, with spending from trade customers remaining more resilient than from hard-pr...

Stock prices were in the green on Wednesday morning amid optimism that the Federal Reserve in the US might cut interest rates in the future. In the UK, it is the day before election day. Polls have seen Keir Starmer's Labour party take the lead as the Conservatives slip. The FTSE 100 index opened up 42.55 points, 0.5%, at 8,163.75. The FTSE 250 was up 99.58 points, 0.5%, at 20,294.05, and the A...

Stocks in London ended in the red on Tuesday, as cautious sentiment prevailed following hot eurozone inflation figures. The FTSE 100 index ended down 45.56 points, 0.6%, at 8,121.20. The FTSE 250 fell 27.61 points, 0.1%, at 20,194.47, while the AIM All-Share slipped 0.81 of a point at 764.37. The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.7% to 808.01, the Cboe UK 250 declined 0.5% to 17575.03, and the Cboe Small Comp...

European stocks were under pressure on Tuesday, while US equities are set to open lower, after eurozone inflation data veered towards being unfavourable, as core price pressure remains robust. The data may have given European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde some food for thought. Lagarde, and her Federal Reserve counterpart Jerome Powell, speak at a conference in Sintra, Portugal later...

Shares in Craneware (CRW:AIM) were up over 2% to £23.65 in morning trading as the Edinburgh-based healthcare software company announced a tie-up with tech giant Microsoft (MSFT:NASDAQ). Craneware provides software solutions that help hospitals and other healthcare providers discover and optimise assets to improve clinical outcomes and financial performance. WHAT WILL THE TIE-UP ACHIEVE? The ti...

It is perhaps not surprising that footwear retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) lowered its full-year profit forecast amid increasing shipping disruption in the Suez Canal, which has led to 'significantly' higher container prices over the last six months. Investors were already braced for such news after the company referenced the issue in March and warned of the impact on earnings at the half-year re...

The UK's second-largest supermarket chain Sainsbury's (SBRY) delivered a first-quarter trading statement which was pretty much in line with expectations in terms of grocery sales and maintained its full-year profit and cash-flow forecasts. However, a slowdown in total like-for-like sales growth and the resulting lack of an upgrade saw the shares drop 10p or 4% to a three-month low of 247p. WEAK...

European stocks opened in the red on Tuesday, with eyes on eurozone inflation data, a US labour market report, and words from central bankers at a conference in Portugal. The FTSE 100 index traded 51.69 points lower, 0.6%, at 8,115.07. The FTSE 250 fell 75.96 points, 0.4%, at 20,146.12, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.67 points, 0.2%, at 763.51. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 807.43, the Cbo...

Stocks in London closed a mixed bag on Monday, as elections took top billing in a data-heavy day for Europe and the US. The FTSE 100 index ended up slightly at 8,166.76. The FTSE 250 fell 63.95 points, 0.3%, at 20,222.08, while the AIM All-Share climbed 0.80 points, 0.1%, to 765.18. The Cboe UK 100 rose marginally to 813.97, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.2% to 17,654.04, and the Cboe Small Companies c...

European markets were solidly higher heading into Monday afternoon, with the blue-chip benchmark in Paris leading the way after more favourable than expected French election results. The FTSE 100 index was up 24.91 points, or 0.3%, at 8,189.06. The FTSE 250 was up 74.56 points, or 0.4%, at 20,360.19, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.46 points, or 0.2%, at 765.84. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 81...

A combination of AstraZeneca's (AZN) cancer treatments Imfinzi and Lynparza has been recommended for approval in the EU by the CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use) for patients with certain advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. In addition, Imfinzi plus chemotherapy followed by Imfinzi alone has been recommended for patients with mismatch repair deficient disease. These pat...

Shares in Raspberry Pi (RPI) were up more than 2% this morning to 410p despite it emerging that the asset management arm of US investment bank JPMorgan (JPM:NYSE) has taken a short position in the affordable computer developer. Short sellers pay a fee to borrow shares from existing shareholders and sell them with the aim of buying them back at a lower price at some point in the future. The Time...

Shares in residential developers started the week on the front foot after the latest survey by building society Nationwide showed average house prices continuing to rise. Investors were also looking to Thursday's general election and the prospect of a Labour win with the party promising in its manifesto to build 1.5 million new homes during the next parliament. Shares in Barratt Developments (B...