Equities in London made a bright start to trading, led by lender HSBC, as the recent bullish run continued. Trade was more cautious in mainland Europe, however, ahead of key eurozone data later. The FTSE 100 index rose 26.28 points, 0.3%, at 8,173.31. The FTSE 250 was up 51.07 points, 0.3%, at 20,135.86, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.36 points, 0.2%, at 764.69. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 8...

London equities finished in the green on Monday, outpacing its European peers, ahead of the Federal Reserve's eagerly awaited interest rate decision on Wednesday. The FTSE 100 index closed up 7.20 points, 0.1%, at 8,147.03. The FTSE 250 ended up 260.63 points, 1.3%, at 20,084.79, and the AIM All-Share closed up 8.05 points, 1.1%, at 763.33. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 814.08, the Cboe UK 2...

Shares in AstraZeneca (AZN) got a further boost today, rising 2% after posting positive late-stage trial results for breast cancer treatment Enhertu which demonstrated clinically-meaningful progression-free survival improvements. This follows strong market-beating first-quarter results last week (25 April) which sent the shares up 5% to a new 52-week high. Today's gain sees the shares up 13% fo...

Shareholders in Elementis (ELM) once again expressed dissatisfaction with the specialty chemicals company by writing an open letter to the board calling for change which is 'long overdue.' Liad Meidar, managing partner at Gatemore Capital Management - Gatemore Special Opportunities Fund (GSOF) currently holds over 4 million shares in Elementis - referred to 'the gulf between the fundamental str...

Stock prices in London were up heading into the afternoon on Monday, beating more cautious trade on mainland Europe, as investors shifted focus onto this week's Federal Reserve interest rate decision in the US. The FTSE 100 index rose 40.94 points, 0.5%, at 8,180.77. It had climbed to 8,189.14, its best-ever level. 'The blue-chip index continues to glow and sustain energy that we haven't seen i...

Technology tiddler Eagle Eye Solutions (EYE:AIM) has secured a new contract with Tesco (TSCO) for personalised promotions, exciting news which sent shares in the UK SaaS (software-as-a-service) firm up 9% to 510p on Monday. While no financial details were disclosed, house broker Shore Capital believes Eagle Eye's contract win with Britain's biggest retailer, which includes the option to renew f...

London market insurance group Beazley (BEZ) posted an in-line first-quarter trading update and confirmed its full-year guidance for written premiums and costs. The shares, which closed at an all-time high of 694p in March, continued to ease down 0.4% to 636p. STRONG PROPERTY PREMIUMS Insurance written premiums for the three months to the end of March increased by 7% to $1.48 billion driven by a...

Stocks in London rose to a record high on Monday morning, as market attention moves to the US Federal Reserve interest rate decision due on Wednesday. The FTSE 100 index rose 40.03 points, 0.5%, at 8,179.86. It had climbed to 8,185.59 shortly after the opening bell, its best-ever level. The FTSE 250 was up 42.62 points, 0.2%, at 19,866.78, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.45 points, 0.3%, at 757....

London's FTSE 100 hit another record high on Friday, rounding off a strong week with another gain, despite a robust US inflation reading threatening to spoil the party. The FTSE 100 index added 60.97 points, 0.8%, at 8,139.83. It is its best closing level ever, and it earlier hit a record intraday high of 8,146.75. The FTSE 250 was up 222.18 points, 1.1%, at 19,824.16, and the AIM All-Share ros...

Shares in Alphabet (GOOG:NASDAQ) are set to open at a new all-time high after the Google parent reported strong double-digit first quarter revenue growth, and bested Wall Street profit estimates. The internet search giant also announced it would pay its first ever dividend. Pre-market data has the shares surging 12% to $176, taking year to date gains to 25% and pushing the company's market cap...

With Barclays (BARC) and Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) having already posted first-quarter results and seen their shares rally in response, the onus was on NatWest Group (NWG) not to let the side down and the bank duly delivered a positive update with earnings a touch above estimates despite a weak year-on-year performance. Investors responded positively, sending the shares up 10p or 3.5% to the...

London's blue-chips remained in demand, pushing to new highs, with investors hoping US inflation data later does not derail the optimistic mood. In the FTSE 100, ConvaTec was an outlier, after Peel Hunt downgraded the firm's investment rating. On the other side of the index was NatWest, with a set of well received results. The FTSE 100 index was up 35.73 points, 0.4%, at 8,114.59. The FTSE 250...

It has certainly not been a dull time for shareholders in cybersecurity firm Darktrace (DARK) since it listed three years ago and now it looks like its short sojourn has come to an end after agreeing an all-cash offer from private equity outfit Thoma Bravo at 620p per share. Having listed on the London Stock Exchange at 250p per share on 30 April initial excitement boosted the shares to almost...