Stocks in London put in a subdued performance during midday trade on Thursday, as the market digested UK economic growth data.The FTSE 100 index was up 3.42 points at 8,284.22. The FTSE 250 was down 69.37 points, or 0.3%, at 20,882.92, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.12 points, or 0.2%, at 770.39.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 828.00, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.2% at 18,299.22, and the Cboe Small

First-half insurance sales top £2 billionRecord number of cars on coverInterim dividend raised by 39%UK motor insurer Admiral Group (ADM) posted surprisingly strong first-half results and raised its dividend almost 40% by including a special pay-out.The shares jumped as much as 260p or 9% to £30.71 marking a breakout from their 2024 trading range and their best level for over a year. STRO

Stock prices in London opened mixed on Thursday while European counterparts were in the green, amid news that the UK economy flatlined monthly in June amid investor caution before the general election in July.The FTSE 100 index opened up 8.31 points, or 0.1%, at 8,289.36. The FTSE 250 was down 41.98 points, or 0.2%, at 20,910.54, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.87 points, or 0.1%, at 770.64.The C

Out of nowhere, signs of life are appearing in the cannabis sector following a near total collapse in share prices over the last three years. Unlike prior booms and busts, of which there have been many over the last six years, this latest flourish appears to have legs.The Financial Times reported (15 July) several European start-ups are looking to go public to take advantage of potentially signifi

There is a phrase in business ? 'shrink to greatness' ? meaning companies selling or demerging assets and focusing on what they do best.You might call it streamlining, others might say it is an admission that the previous strategy did not work and the company was too bloated.This trend is firmly in motion across the UK stock market with nine companies in the FTSE 100 either in the middle of shrink

I have a SIPP and am currently 65 years old.If I die before the age of 75, I believe the holdings can be passed on to my wife (without any tax problems). If I die over 75, what happens when I pass holdings to my wife?Would my wife need a SIPP with the same provider so that the holdings could be placed in her name? Would she be taxed?Finally, when my wife passes, can the holdings be passed onto our

Shares in specialist insurance underwriter Beazley (BEZ) reached an all-time high at the beginning of August after the firm posted sharply higher half-year earnings and said it saw more business opportunities in underwriting cyber risk insurance. The company, which manages six Lloyd's of London syndicates, reported pre-tax profit of $729 million for the six months to June or almost double last yea

There has been a seismic swing in the polling ahead of this year's crunch US presidential election (5 November).The latest polls conducted between 5 and 9 August by the New York Times and Siena College put current Democratic vice-president and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris ahead of former US Republican president Donald Trump. Significantly Harris is ahead of Trump in three key swing states Wi

Stocks closed in the green in Europe on Wednesday, following encouraging inflation data, and with housbuilders and gaming stocks leading the winners.The FTSE 100 index closed up 45.82 points, 0.6%, at 8,281.05. The FTSE 250 ended up 208.21 points, 1.0%, at 20,952.29, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.53 points, 0.5%, at 771.51.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 827.47, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.7%

Stock prices in the UK, France and Germany were higher at midday Wednesday as investors await a US consumer price inflation print, after UK CPI inflation was reported higher.The FTSE 100 index was up 28.63 points, or 0.4%, at 8,263.86. The FTSE 250 was up 114.24 points, or 0.6%, at 20,858.32, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.10 points, or 0.1%, at 769.08.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at 826.01, the Cb

Stock prices in London were in the green on Wednesday morning, after Office for National Statistics data showed that while the rise in consumer prices accelerated, it was softer than anticipated.The FTSE 100 index opened 50.47 points, or 0.6%, at 8,285.28. The FTSE 250 was up 129.38 points, 0.6%, at 20,874.28, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.62 points, or 0.2%, at 769.60.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8%

Stock prices in London were lower at midday Tuesday, after data showed the UK unemployment rate fell unexpectedly, and ahead of a key inflationary print from the US in the afternoon.The FTSE 100 index was down 20.74 points, or 0.3%, at 8,189.67. The FTSE 250 was down 1.46 points at 20,675.73, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.68 points, or 0.1%, at 766.31.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 817.33, th

Stocks in London were higher at midday Monday, as investors sighed relief from a weeks of ups and downs, ahead of unemployment data from the UK and key inflation data from the US.The FTSE 100 index was up 37.76 points, 0.5%, at 8,205.86. The FTSE 250 was up 55.52 points, 0.3%, at 20,680.70, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.82 points, 0.2%, at 768.06.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 819.96, the Cboe UK

European stocks were higher on Friday morning, with mid-cap housebuilder Bellway on the rise, as data from the US on Thursday offered some relief for investors.A below-expected US nonfarm payrolls report for July on Friday last week set off a global sell-off in markets, but the weekly initial jobless claims report on Thursday provided reassurance.In the week ending August 3, the advance figure for

Stocks in London opened in the red on Thursday amid a slew of earnings, ahead of Irish consumer price inflation and US jobs data.The FTSE 100 index opened down 84.56 points, 1.0%, at 8,082.32. The FTSE 250 was down 282.48 points, 1.4%, at 20,293.55, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.40 points, 0.7%, at761.92.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.9% at 807.54, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.4% at 17,786.75, and th

With the UK economy seemingly headed for a 'soft landing' and interest rates set to fall at some point this year, more adventurous investors will be looking to add a little more risk to their portfolios.Given the UK market, and the mid-cap space in particular, is widely acknowledged to be cheap, the passive option would be to buy a mid-cap ETF (exchange-traded fund) such as the iShares FTSE 250 (M

Budapest-based low-cost airline Wizz Air (WIZZ) posted (1 August) a slight increase in revenue to €1.26 billion for the quarter to the end of June, but higher operating and finance costs plus a foreign exchange loss sent it into deficit for the period.The shares slumped as much as 380p or 20%, the most since the early days of the pandemic, as investors headed for the exits.The airline cut its

Stocks in London rebounded on Wednesday, as a risk-on mood returned following the latest comments from the Bank of Japan.The FTSE 100 index closed up 140.19 points, 1.8%, at 8,166.88. The large-cap index is down just 0.1% so far this week, despite Monday's 2.0% slide.The FTSE 250 rose 208.33 points, 1.0%, at 20,576.03, and the AIM All-Share closed up 7.65 points, 1.0%, at 767.32.The Cboe UK 100 en

Stock prices in Europe were in the green at midday Wednesday, as investors were more confident ahead of New York's open, following the global sell-off on Monday.The FTSE 100 index was up 79.14 points, 1.0%, at 8,105.83. The FTSE 250 was up 177.17 points, 0.9%, at 20,544.87, and the AIM All-Share was up 4.56 points, 0.6%, at 764.23.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.1% at 809.12, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0%

Stock prices in Europe recovered on Thursday morning, following the Nikkei 225 into the green after a global sell-off sparked by recession fears in the US.The FTSE 100 index opened up 26.91 points, 0.3%, at 8,035.14. The FTSE 250 was up 129.57 points, 0.6%, at 20,366.31, and the AIM All-Share was up 8.52 points, 1.1%, at 757.14.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 802.13, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.7% at