Investors knew the pressure was on Crowdstrike (CRWD:NASDAQ). The share prices of some of the industry's key players - Fortinet (FTNT:NASDAQ), Cyberark Software (CYBR:NASDAQ), Cloudflare (NET:NYSE) among them - have limped through most of the calendar second quarter of 2024 in the wake of Palo Alto Networks' (PANW:NASDAQ) soggy growth guidance this year (see Wall Street Week link below). Invest...

Global travel retailer WH Smith (SMWH) said it had seen continued positive trading momentum in the 13 weeks to 1 June, with total travel revenue up 9% putting it on track to deliver full-year results in line with expectations. Investors welcomed the positive trading update and outlook, sending the shares close to the top of the mid-cap FTSE 250 index rising over 3% to £11.8. The shares are dow...

Shares in Centrica (CNA) were down more than 5% to 135p in morning trading despite the utilities firm saying trading so far this year had been 'in line' with expectations against a backdrop of a more 'normalised' external environment. Investors might have been spooked by the utilities firm caution for the rest of the year which mentioned 'uncertainties' like weather, commodity prices, regulatio...

Cash-generative discounter B&M European Value Retail's (BME) annual results came in towards the top end of the guided range, while management reiterated the growth opportunity from the FTSE 100 retailer's store opening programme. Why then, did shares in the affordable general merchandise seller sink 5.6% to 515.6p on the news? The answer appears to be the absence of current trading numbers or f...

Stock prices in London were in the green on Wednesday morning, despite its peers in Paris and Frankfurt falling, ahead of a slew of data from the eurozone and the US. The FTSE 100 index opened up 22.67 points, or 0.3%, at 8,254.83. The FTSE 250 was up 48.92 points, or 0.2%, at 20,766.91, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.15 points, or 0.3%, at 800.35. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 822.79, the Cbo...

Stock prices in London closed lower on Tuesday, with New York tracking down, although the cooling US job market fed hopes of interest rate cuts. The FTSE 100 index closed down 30.71 points, 0.4%, at 8,232.04. The FTSE 250 ended down 182.50 points, 0.9%, at 20,717.99, and the AIM All-Share closed down 6.96 points, 0.8%, at 798.20. The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 820.70, the Cboe UK 250 closed...

British American Tobacco (BATS) said it was on track to deliver full year 2024 guidance of low-single digit revenue and profit growth with a second half weighting, which disappointed investors. The company highlighted a challenging macro environment in the US and 'stretched' consumers with combustibles industry volume down circa 9% year-to-date. The announcement came as the tobacco firm reporte...

Stock prices in London were in the red at midday Tuesday, as BP and Shell declined, dragging down the FTSE 100. The FTSE 100 down 45.69 points, 0.6%, at 8,217.06. The FTSE 250 was down 201.18 points, 1.0%, at 20,699.31, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.59 points, 0.6%, at 800.57. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 819.51, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.0% at 18,195.00, and the Cboe Small Companies wa...

On Monday (3 Jun), analysts at investment bank Goldman Sachs did their monthly rejig of their US Conviction List, a curated selection of stocks the firm believes will outperform over the coming months. Five stocks were added this time round, including energy plays Enphase Energy (ENPH:NASDAQ) and Sempra Energy (SRE:NYSE), property firm Brixmor Property (BRX:NYSE), plus automated tech testing ki...

Aerospace and defence firm Chemring (CHG) set itself the target of reaching £1 billion of revenue in 2030 while posting a strong set of first-half results and a record-high order backlog. However, the shares, which recently touched a 10-year high, traded sideways at 392p as the market succumbed to nervousness over interest rate cuts. STRONG TAILWINDS The FTSE 250 firm operates through two divi...

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Thomas Moore, Manager, abrdn Equity Income Trust The FTSE 100 has hit new highs in recent weeks as M&A and buyback activity has revived Smaller companies are also seeing M&A and buybacks, but remain neglected There is the potential for a significant revival in unloved smaller companies After a tough few years, the UK market has been showing signs of life ove...

Stock prices in London were in the red on Tuesday morning, as non-food sales in the UK remained in decline, while retail sales edged up only mildly in May. The FTSE 100 index opened down 31.15 points, or 0.4%, at 8,229.30. The FTSE 250 was down 105.98 points, or 0.5%, at 20,794.74, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.27 points, or 0.2%, at 803.84. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 821.19, the Cboe...

The FTSE 100 in London closed lower on Monday amid a shaky start in New York, and after a difficult day for GSK and Baltic Classifieds. The FTSE 100 index closed down 12.63 points, 0.2%, at 8,262.75. The FTSE 250 ended up 170.37 points, 0.8%, at 20,900.49, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.63 of a point, 0.1%, at 805.16. The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 824.85, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1...