Stock prices in London were higher at midday on Monday as gold hit a record high ahead of a UK inflation reading later in the week which will be essential for interest rate cut hopes. Amongst individual stocks, gold miner Fresnillo was the top performer of the morning on the FTSE 100 index, climbing with hopes of interest rate cuts. In the FTSE 250 index, Kainos jumped thanks to an increase in...

The average price of a property coming to the market for sale in May hit a new record of £375,131 up 0.8% or £2,807 in the month, according to data from online property portal Rightmove (RMV). The reason for the modest upwards price pressure was due to the spring selling season, said Rightmove, adding 'May is typically a strong month for price growth, with new price records having been set in...

Bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing (VIC:AIM) has acquired loss-making arch-rival Victoria Plum as the taps-to-toilets seller looks to accelerate its growth in a competitive yet sizeable total addressable market. Shares in Victorian Plumbing rose 5.6% to 90.2p on news of the deal, funded from the company's existing cash reserves and representing 'another exciting strategic milestone' for the o...

Stocks in London started the week strongly on Monday, as hopes of a US interest rate cut lifted equities, gold and kept the pound supported around the $1.27 mark. The FTSE 100 index opened up 21.60 points, 0.3%, at 8,441.86. The FTSE 250 was up 84.15 points, 0.4%, at 20,834.05. The AIM All-Share surged 13.56 points, 1.7%, at 807.58, getting a boost from possible M&A at Keywords Studios, one of...

Blue-chip stocks in Europe and New York struggled on Friday, though there was some impetus from a surge in the gold price, while base metals also shone. That gave a lift to mining stocks in London, though the FTSE 100 still ended lower, making a weekly loss. The FTSE 100 index ended down 18.39 points, 0.2%, at 8,420.26. The FTSE 250 closed down 72.94 points, 0.4%, at 20,749.90, and the AIM All-...

Stocks in London and Europe were down at midday on Friday, following a steady eurozone inflation reading from Eurostat for April, with Land Securities and GSK among the largest fallers on the FTSE 100. The FTSE 100 index was down 31.84 points, 0.4%, at 8,406.81. The FTSE 250 was down 117.22 points, 0.6%, at 20,705.62, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.98 of a point, 0.1%, at 791.52. The Cboe UK...

Business advisory specialist FRP Advisory (FRP:AIM) has revealed full-year revenue to the end of April grew 23% and profit increased 37%, both ahead of market expectations, sending the shares up by a tenth to 142.1p. Today's gain lifts the shares back into positive territory for the year to date and means they are up 27% over the last 12-months compared with a 2% fall in the FTSE AIM All-Share...

Leo Quinn, chief executive of construction group Balfour Beatty (BBY), sold 189,921 shares at 384p for a total value of £730,423 on 16 May. Quinn's move could be seen as 'cashing in' on good news after Balfour Beatty shares have gained over 9% year-to-date. The FTSE 250 company recently said it continued to expect an increase in earnings after trading had been in-line so far in 2024. Balfour...

Sales at Swiss luxury watches-to-jewellery retailer Compagnie Financière Richemont (CFR:SWX), typically known as Richemont, slowed in the fourth quarter of the year to March 2024 amid softening demand for high-end goods in the Asia Pacific region. However, shares in the Cartier-to-Montblanc owner rose 5% to 144 Swiss francs as record annual sales highlighted Richemont's resilience and investor...

Wall Street spirits have been higher over the past week than a couple of college dropouts, with all three major indexes ripping up the record books, including the S&P 500 closing above 5,300 (15 May) for the first time. Cooler-than-expected inflation in April sets the scene for a potential Fed rate cut soon despite a string of hot inflation reports from the first three months of the year. Like...

London Equities were down on Friday morning, after Thursday's mid-day rally across the pond ground to a halt, with Land Securities leading the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100. The FTSE 100 index opened down 13.93 points, 0.2%, at 8,424.72. The FTSE 250 was down 36.70 points, 0.2%, at 20,786.14, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.43 of a point, 0.1%, at 792.07. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 841...

Blue-chip stocks in Europe ended lower on Thursday, with a handful of ex-dividend shares hurting the FTSE 100, though there was bullishness in New York, as major benchmarks across the Atlantic hit record highs. The mood in New York was supported by retailer Walmart's first-quarter earnings beat and outlook raise. The FTSE 100 index edged down 7.15 points, 0.1%, at 8,438.65. The FTSE 250 added 4...

Stocks in London and Europe on Thursday failed to share in Wall Street's Wednesday triumph, with easyJet and Sage dragging down the FTSE 100 despite a rally at BT. The FTSE 100 index was down 23.84 points, 0.3%, at 8,421.96. The FTSE 250 was down 13.91 points, 0.1%, at 20,761.72, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.98 of a point, 0.1%, at 792.59. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 841.60, the Cboe UK...