Taiwan's TSMC (TSM:NYSE) may dominate the chip foundry sector but it is far from being the only potential winner as the industry picks up through 2024 and beyond. For example, South Korea's SK Hynix (000660:KRX) recently revealed that it had nearly sold out its entire manufacturing capacity through to the end of 2025, such is the demand from chip designers, not just for AI chips, but from indus...

Online fast fashion seller Boohoo's (BOO:AIM) adjusted pre-tax losses widened by 30% to £31 million in the year to February 2024 as sales continued to plunge amid weak consumer demand and cut-throat competition. The Manchester-based clothing and beauty purveyor also reported a 7% drop in adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) to £58.6 million. That was...

The post-pandemic recovery at JD Wetherspoon (JDW) continues at pace after the pub group delivered another period of strong like-for-like sales growth and said full-year profit was expected to come in at the top end of market expectations. The news sent the shares 3% higher to 748.6p, meaning they are roughly flat over the last 12 months compared with a 6% gain for the mid-cap FTSE 250 index. Y...

Shareholders in FTSE 250 motor and home insurer Direct Line (DLG) were unmoved by the latest trading update despite chief executive Adam Winslow talking up the firm's positive start to the year. The shares, which touched 240p two months ago after Belgian insurer Ageas (AGS:EBR) made a preliminary offer, drifted 5p or 2.5% lower to 184p. PREMIUMS UP BUT CLAIMS ALSO UP The Bromley-based company's...

Stock prices in London opened higher on Wednesday, beating Asian peers which trended lower over night, and following a flatter session in the US. The FTSE 100 index opened up 34.20 points, 0.4%, at 8,347.87. The FTSE 250 was up 30.83 points, 0.2%, at 20,443.91, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.94 points, 0.3%, at 778.36. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 833.39, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 17,713...

London's FTSE 100 registered a bullish start to the holiday shortened week on Tuesday, with US interest rate optimism sending equities into the green. Financial markets in London were closed on Monday for the May Day bank holiday. Missing out on the confident trade were budget carriers, as the likes of easyJet and Wizz Air fell after a summer pricing warning from peer Ryanair. The FTSE 100 inde...

Stocks prices in London were higher at midday on Tuesday, as local data added to the uplift provided by US markets on Monday. The FTSE 100 index was up 82.73 points, 1.0%, at 8,296.22. The FTSE 250 was up 225.42 points, 1.1%, at 20,389.96, and the AIM All-Share was 5.72 points, 0.7%, at 777.25. The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.0% at 828.39, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0% at 17,662.42, and the Cboe Small C...

Talk of a chips industry recovery looks a little premature based on what Microchip Technology (MCHP:NASDAQ) laid before investors overnight. Pre-market data has the stock down more than 3% to around $91 after the company issued fiscal first quarter 2025 guidance below analyst estimates. The Arizona-based business sees Q1 2025 EPS (earnings per share) in a range between $0.48 and $0.56, falling...

Shares in BP (BP.) fell 0.75% to 506.6p in a rising market after the energy producer's first-quarter results missed expectations with weaker oil and gas prices and an unplanned US refinery outage curbing profits. However, the FTSE 100 energy titan's shareholder-friendly focus helped limit the price damage. BP maintained its share buyback at $1.75 billion for the quarter and recommitted to buyba...

Having surprised the market a month ago by confirming it would hit its full-year revenue guidance, games video maker Frontier Developments (FDEV:AIM) has done it again with news it would report a smaller loss than previously anticipated. The shares climbed 4% to 276p, continuing their striking run from a low of 108p just two months ago. SMALLER-THAN-EXPECTED LOSS The Cambridge-based firm said i...

Stocks in London were in the green on Tuesday morning, tracking a rise in global equities following weaker US jobs data and a UK public holiday on Monday. The FTSE 100 index opened up 69.25 points, 0.8%, at 8,282.95. The FTSE 250 was up 187.86 points, 0.9%, at 20,352.21, and the AIM All-Share was up 4.81 points, 0.6%, at 776.37. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.9% at 826.93, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.9%...

Markets were sunny at the time of London's closing bell on Friday, with investors across the pond enthused by renewed hopes for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut. The FTSE 100 index closed up 41.34 points, 0.5%, at 8,213.49. The FTSE 250 ended up 112.21 points, 0.6%, at 20,164.54, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.42 points, 0.5%, at 771.53. Over the course of the week, they were up 0.9%, 1.7...

US biotechnology firm Moderna (MRNA:NASDAQ) surged 13% after reporting a smaller than expected quarterly loss and reaffirming the timeline for expected regulatory approval of its RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine. Management said it expects the regulator to announce a decision on 12 May which, if granted means the drug could be launched in the third quarter, in time for the Autumn vacci...