Investors in London showed caution heading into the afternoon on Tuesday, while the pound was supported by the International Monetary Fund upping its economic forecast for the UK. The FTSE 100 index traded down 33.15 points, 0.4%, at 8,391.05. The FTSE 250 was down 83.38 points, 0.4%, at 20,789.95. The AIM All-Share fell 1.84 points, 0.2%, at 808.10. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 837.74, the...

AstraZeneca (AZN) has revealed a new target to grow revenue by 75% from the $45.8 billion generated in 2023 to $80 billion by 2030, driven by 'significant' growth in its existing portfolio of medicines and by launching 20 new medicines by the end of the decade. The company will also focus on efficient execution and drive operating leverage to achieve a mid-thirties core operating margin by 2026...

Singapore-based electrical engineer XP Power (XPP) has firmly rejected a cheeky buyout, and quite right too. The offer, made by precision power kit peer Advanced Energy Industries, is pitched at £19.50 per share, the latest in a run of offers made privately to XP Power management having got the ball rolling with a £17 per share proposal made more than six months ago. The latest offer values X...

Shares in Dowlais (DWL) were down over 6% to 72p in morning trading as the automotive products group released a trading update for the four months to 30 April 2024 ahead of its AGM (annual general meeting) later today. The group reported adjusted revenue of £1.7 billion in the period, a year-on-year fall of 1.9%, adding the year had started 'broadly in line' with expectations but cautioned 's...

Home improvement retailer Kingfisher (KGF) pleased investors by maintaining its full-year outlook even after seeing slightly soggy sales in the three months to the end of April. The shares gave up 0.6p or 0.2% to 263.5p, a slightly better performance than the FTSE 100 which took a breather having opened 0.25% lower. POSITIVE UK SALES Group first-quarter sales hit £3.3 billion, an increase of 0...

European equities started Tuesday in a muted fashion, following unconvincing trade from Asia. The FTSE 100 index opened down 29.22 points, 0.4%, at 8,394.98. The FTSE 250 was down 86.45 points, 0.4%, at 20,786.88. The AIM All-Share fell 2.67 points, 0.3%, at 807.27. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 837.69, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.3%, trading at 18,205.44, and the Cboe Small Companies was lar...

Investors in London showed confidence on Monday, with stocks closing up on hopes on interest rate cuts being around the corner. The FTSE 100 index closed up 3.94 points at 8,424.20. The FTSE 250 ended up 123.43 points, 0.6%, at 20,873.33, and the AIM All-Share closed up 15.92 points, 2.0%, at 809.94. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 840.87, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.6% at 18,250.48, and the C...

Private equity groups continue to pick-off some of the UK's best assets with news over the weekend that Sweden's EQT is in advanced talks with Keywords Studios (KWS:AIM) to buy the video games services company for £25.50 in cash. The potential offer equates to a 73% premium to Friday's (17 May) closing price and comes after the board rejected four previous unsolicited proposals in recent month...

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-...