The FTSE 100 and 250 closed in the red on Friday, as this week's US interest rate cut was offset by a disappointing consumer confidence reading.The FTSE 100 index closed down 98.73 points, or 1.2%, at 8,229.99. The FTSE 250 ended down 330.87 points, or 1.6%, at 20,831.84, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.3%, or 2.46 points, at 745.62.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.2% at 823.77, the Cboe UK 250 cl

Stocks prices in London fell into the red on Friday, as unexpectedly high US jobs growth squashed hopes of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve sooner rather than later.The FTSE 100 index closed 64.73 points, 0.8%, at 7,911.16. The FTSE 250 ended down 147.25 points, 0.7%, at 19,725.94, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.53 points, or 0.3%, at 740.05.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.9% at 790.22,

Stocks in London slumped as increased geopolitical tensions and interest rate uncertainty added to investor nerves ahead of the US jobs report.The FTSE 100 index was down 77.03 points, 1.0%, at 7,898.86. The FTSE 250 was down 202.97 points, 1.0%, at 19,670.22, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.61 points, 0.5%, at 738.97.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.9% at 789.74, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.0% at 17,12

Stocks in Europe had a weak start on Friday, as the threat of more Middle East sabre-rattling and doubt of US interest rate cut timing damaged investor morale.Perhaps in a sign of the times, BAE Systems was among only a handful of large-caps in London to trade higher.A red-hot US jobs report could damage sentiment further later. The data is reported at 1330 BST.The FTSE 100 index opened down 73.44

Stocks in London were on the rise at the start of the afternoon, ahead of the eagerly-anticipated UK budget announcement, though eyes are also on events in the US with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaking later and as the race for the White House hots up.The FTSE 100 index was up 26.81 points, 0.4%, at 7,672.97. The FTSE 250 was up 148.97 points, 0.8%, at 19,420.00, and the AIM All-Share w

Stock prices in London were higher at midday on Tuesday, amid an absence of US markets due to the Fourth of July holiday.The FTSE 100 index was up 10.31 points, or 0.1%, at 7,537.57. The FTSE 250 was up 44.46 points, or 0.2%, at 18,552.23, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.95 of a point, or 0.1%, at 755.28.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 751.83, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 16,240.33, and the Cboe S

Stocks in London closed in the red on Tuesday after comments from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell appeared to suggest that interest rates in the US would remain higher for longer.'Jerome Powell's testimony shows that opinion has shifted again with the strength in data suggesting the need for a higher ultimate policy rate and potentially faster rate hikes. Given long and varied lags the odds

Stock prices started lower in London and elsewhere in Europe on Tuesday, though less alarmingly so than in New York overnight, as the dollar soared to historic highs against the pound and euro.The FTSE 100 index was down 33.43 points, or 0.4%, at 7,500.36 early Tuesday. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index was down 15.57 points, or 0.1%, at 19,483.77. The AIM All-Share index was down 1.39 points, or 0.2%, a

- First quarter sales rise 6%- Premier Foods fending off inflation for now- Mr. Kipling achieves highest ever market share in AustraliaShares in Mr. Kipling cakes-to-Bisto gravy maker Premier Foods (PFD) edged 0.4% higher to 111p after the St Albans-based food producer insisted it is 'firmly' on track to meet full year expectations. The news came as it reported a 6% increase first quarter sales an

Sterling gave back some recently recovered ground against the dollar, but London stock prices were barely moved, after official figures showed UK inflation hit a 40-year high in April.Versus the prior month, consumer prices were up 2.5% in April, accelerating from March's 1.1% rise, but they fell short of market forecasts - according to FXStreet - of a 2.6% month-on-month rise. Annually, consumer

- Trading profits top raised guidance- Best ever sales for Mr Kipling- Further growth to come this yearHaving raised its full year earnings guidance in January, sparking a round of upgrades, grocery products and cake-maker Premier Foods (PFD) served up an even more appetising set of results for the year to March.Shares in the St Albans-based manufacturer jumped 5.5% to 112.5p to top the FTSE 250 m

London share prices reversed direction again on Tuesday, falling from the outset of trading after a sell-off in Hong Kong and Shanghai as the Covid-19 pandemic re-emerged with a vengeance in China.The return of the pandemic to front-of-mind for UK investors comes as the war in Ukraine continues to rage and the US central bank prepares to raise interest rates.'Investors anticipate a quarter basis p

The FTSE 100 nudged into positive territory on Friday in a muted end to the week, with big oil helping to offset falls in commodity-related stocks. BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) rose 1.7% and 1.3% to 342.4p and £16.514 respectively, tracking firmer crude prices after OPEC+ said it would review supply additions ahead of its next scheduled meeting if the Omicron variant dents demand.Miners

Across the UK voters go to the polls today (6 May) with investors' attention likely to be focused on voting for the Scottish parliament - with the SNP looking to secure the majority it can claim as a mandate for a new independence referendum.Polling suggests the outcome is on a knife edge. The SNP could remain in power but having staked so much on getting a majority, the market is likely to sit up

It may seem churlish to worry, given the enthusiastic response the markets are giving to news of the Phase III Covid-19 vaccine trial by Pfizer and BioNTech, but investors need to keep an eye on Turkey once more.The Turkish lira is on the slide and Ankara is facing what could yet become its second economic crisis in just three years.Thankfully the situation is not yet comparable with 2018 when the

A new year brings with it a raft of changes to your personal finances, so what has 2020 got in store for your money and will it make you richer or poorer?1. Inheritance tax breaks get more generousFrom April 2020 everyone will be able to leave more money as part of their estate before they have to pay inheritance tax. New rules in April 2017 saw anyone with residential property given an extra inhe

Mr Kipling, Batchelors and Bisto gravy maker Premier Foods' (PFD) forecast-beating annual results show its strongest revenue growth for over five years, a weak first quarter followed by 'excellent progress' during the remainder of the year.Shares in the St. Albans-headquartered foods giant rise 2.4% to 38.65p on the news, although this is still some 40% below the 65p third and final takeover offer

Staffer Robert Walters (RWA) kicks off the recruitment reporting season and reveals its first quarter gross profits are up 17% on a year-on-year basis to £88.5m.While the company is continuing to prosper from improving global economic conditions, the usually high growth Asia Pacific region only grew 3% in the quarter to 31 March.AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould says this was due to 'movemen

FTSE 100 miner Rio Tinto (RIO) and two former directors have been accused of fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for not accurately disclosing the value of a troubled coal mining project in Mozambique in 2012.The SEC alleges that former CEO Thomas Albanese and former CFO Guy Elliott failed to follow accounting standards and company policies to accurately value and record its a

Shares in industrial threads manufacturer Coats (COA) shot up 7.3% to 66.5p on news full year profits should beat management's prior expectations. Analysts have upgraded forecasts and price targets following a strong start to the year. Coats' apparel & footwear is a stand out, as is the performance materials business, the latter a key strategic focus for management.With a rich heritage dating back