Sofa seller DFS Furniture (DFS) has coughed up its second profit warning this year, pinning the blame on weak consumer spending and Red Sea disruption, news that sent shares in the Doncaster-based retailer down 11% to 100.2p. In March, the UK living room furniture leader warned pre-tax profits for the year to June 2024 would be between £20 million and £25 million, but also flagged 'additional...

Video games developer and publisher Frontier Developments (FDEV:AIM) revealed better-than-expected full-year results and gave a confident outlook, sending the shares 10% higher to 306p, taking gains for the year to 124%. The shares remain 90% below the highs reached in 2021 following a string of profit warnings and a strategy reset to focus on the company's core CMS (creative management simulat...

Pest control and hygiene firm Rentokil (RTO) has been one of the worst-performing stocks in the FTSE 100 this year, so it is no great surprise talk is circulating of an activist investor taking an interest in the business. Shares in the group jumped as much as 68p or 15% to 482p shortly after the open and were still trading up nearly 50p or 12% by mid-morning. LAGGING BEHIND Rentokil has been s...

Stocks mostly rose on Wednesday morning in London despite the UK economy stalling, amid news that what would have been the largest IPO in the UK so far in 2024 collapsing. The FTSE 100 index opened up 55.24 points, 0.7%, at 8,203.05. The FTSE 250 was up 84.20 points, 0.4%, at 20,351.05, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.37 points, 0.3%, at 783.88. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at 817.56, the Cboe UK...

European shares fell again on Tuesday, as a tricky start to the week continued in the wake of elections on the continent over the weekend, while stocks in New York were mostly lower on the eve of the next US central bank decision. The FTSE 100 index ended down 80.67 points, 1.0%, at 8,147.81. The FTSE 250 fell 179.19 points, 0.9%, at 20,266.85, and the AIM All-Share closed 6.77 points lower, 0....

Stock prices in London fell on midday Tuesday, as investors digested the rising UK unemployment rate, a day before the next interest rate decision by the Fed in the US. The FTSE 100 index was down 61.69 points, 0.8%, at 8,166.79. The FTSE 250 was down 49.29 points, 0.2%, at 20,396.75, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.35 points, 0.3%, at 785.93. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 814.50, the Cboe...

Shares in FirstGroup (FGP) were up marginally in morning trading to 169p as the FTSE 250 transport group reported a pre-tax loss of £24.4 million for the 53 weeks ending 30 March 2024. The pre-tax loss included non-cash charges of £146.9 million relating to the group's termination of its participation in two local government pension schemes during the year. The group's outlook for full year 2...

GSK (GSK) confirmed it has taken steps to appeal a Delaware judge's decision (31 May) to allow 70,000 cases to go to trial and present expert testimony in ongoing litigation claims that its discontinued heartburn drug Zantac caused cancer. The company said it 'strongly' disagrees with the Delaware Superior Court ruling and has filed an application with the court of appeal to the Delaware Suprem...

Affordable computer developer Raspberry Pi (RPI) made a stunning debut on the London Stock Exchange with its IPO (initial public offering) priced at 280p, the top end of the range, and the shares surging 30% higher to 360p in early dealings. UK tech stories are few and far between in London, so investors will be hoping Raspberry Pi's success can attract more tech sector peers to the market. Bac...

High-tech equipment maker Oxford Instruments (OXIG) posted a relatively unexceptional set of results for the year to March with a drop in operating margins and EPS (earnings per share) but outlined a plan to simplify the business and improve returns. Investors responded enthusiastically to the strategy reset, sending the shares up 280p or 11% to a new high for the year of £27.40. MORE FOCUSED...

Stock prices in London opened higher on Tuesday as investors became focused on the upcoming US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, after shares fell Monday following the EU election. The FTSE 100 index opened up 11.92 points, 0.1%, at 8,240.40. The FTSE 250 was up 65.24 points, 0.3%, at 20,511.28, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.08 of a point at 788.36. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 821.5...

European equities closed lower on Monday, with markets unnerved by election results in Europe, ahead of a US interest rate decision later in the week. The FTSE 100 index closed down 16.89 points, 0.2%, at 8,228.48. The FTSE 250 ended down 109.33 points, 0.5%, at 20,446.04, and the AIM All-Share fell 5.25 points, 0.7%, at 788.28. The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 820.02, the Cboe UK 250 also fe...

Stock prices in Europe were lower at midday Monday, as investors digested the results of the EU election, which saw a rise in support for right-wing parties. The FTSE 100 index was down 23.67 points, 0.3%, at 8,221.70. The FTSE 250 was down 66.99 points, 0.3%, at 20,488.38, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.26 points, 0.5%, at 789.27. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 819.76, the Cboe UK 250 was...