Stock prices in London were mostly lower but the FTSE 100 was held up by rising oil prices following Iran's attack on Israel, as investors await US unemployment data.The FTSE 100 index was up 6.31 points, or 0.1%, at 8,282.58. The FTSE 250 was down 147.04 points, or 0.7%, at 20,767.66, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.58 points, or 0.4%, at 734.22.The Cboe UK 100 was up slightly at 828.88, the Cbo

Stocks in London finished largely higher on Monday, while the FTSE 100 ended in the red, hurt by a disappointing growth outlook from China which knocked its mining stocks.The FTSE 100 index closed down 17.32 points, 0.2%, at 7,929.79. The FTSE 250 closed up 138.34 points, 0.7%, at 20,064.11, and the AIM All-Share closed up just 0.34 of a point, at 865.31.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 793.30,

Equities and currencies were hardly changed on Thursday at midday in London, as traders hunkered down ahead of some big data reports and three major central bank decisions next week.The FTSE 100 index was down just 0.75 of a point at 7,488.44. The FTSE 250 was down 35.42 points, 0.2% at 18,895.15, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.40 points, 0.3%, at 832.13.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 749.36,

Shares in chemicals company Johnson Matthey (JMAT), have fallen by 24% over the last month. The company pre-empted its first half results announcement indicating that that full year earnings would be towards the lower end of expectations, and that it intended to dispose of its battery materials business.This marked a major strategic failure given investment of over £400 million, and the recent em

Exciting UK founded health technology company Babylon Health has confirmed plans to list shares on the US Nasdaq stock market after agreeing a deal with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC as they are popularly known.Babylon will merge with Nasdaq-listed Alkuri Global in a deal that will value the combined company at approximately $3.6 billion, implying an 11.3 enterprise value to sales

The risk-to-reward on offer at IP Group (IPO) is very attractive with many investors unappreciative of the near-term positive catalysts at various mature companies in its portfolio.IP Group was set up to evolve ideas from partner universities into world changing companies. It pioneered the partnership model with UK universities and has spent many years honing a unique approach to building business

Specialist pharmaceutical company Diurnal (DIU:AIM), which targets patients with chronic hormonal diseases, reported strong growth in revenues to £6.3 million for the 12 months ended 30 June 2020, pushing the shares 4.5% higher to 59p.The company has developed and commercialised Alkindi, a drug aimed at children suffering from cortisol deficiency. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that helps the body

The FTSE 100 index of leading stocks edged higher in early trade, adding 0.2% or 10 points to 7,336 as investors awaited a crucial court ruling on prime minister Johnson's prorogation of parliament.After dragging the market down yesterday, banks were making amends with HSBC (HSBA) up 0.6% to 617p, Lloyds (LLOY) up 0.5% to 54.5p and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) up 1.2% to 211p.ALL-CLEAR FROM TUIFol

Last week investors in oil and gas exploration plays 88 Energy (88E:AIM), Red Emperor Resources (RMP:AIM) and Pantheon Resources (PNR:AIM) were excited by the prospect of a big new discovery in Alaska.Seven days later and their hopes are in tatters as more detailed results from the Winx-1 well show it has definitively not made a commercial oil find. Pantheon dives 27.7% to 20.5p, 88 Energy falls 3

Corporate activity in the healthcare sector is heating up. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and US rival Pfizer plan to marry their consumer health businesses in a £10bn joint venture. Bristol-Myers Squibb has made a $74bn takeover offer for Celgene and Eli Lily is to pay $8bn for Loxo Oncology.Analysts are confident the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) trend still has legs in the sector and many believe ther

The drive for efficiency will be every bit as important, if not more so, than cyclical energy prices in determining the destiny of clean energy in the future. That is certainly one of the main takeaways from an afternoon in the company of Adam Bond, the chief executive of AFC Energy (AFC:AIM).Since taking over at the helm of the alkaline fuel cell specialist in December 2014, Bond has pursued a cl

Stonegate Pub eyes IPOStonegate Pub, the UK's fourth-largest managed pub company, is thought to be considering a £1 billion stock market float early next year. The Slug & Lettuce and Yates's owner recently bought 53 pubs from Lone Star Funds for a rumoured £100 million, taking its estate to 665 pubs. (EP)AFC makes grid deliveryAlkaline fuel cell specialist AFC Energy (AFC:AIM) has delivered its

FTSE indices raced higher in early deals on Wednesday after positive sessions on Wall Street overnight and Asia this morning, while key European bourses leap. Blue-chip financials, leisure and retail stocks are enjoying heady gains. Shortly after the open, FTSE 100 is up 50-odd points, or 0.85%, at 6,190, while midcaps make similar gains. But Small cap stocks fail to match the progress of their la

Out of steamThe impressive share price run of electronic components supplier Laird (LRD) could be about to peter out. Laird supplies electro-magnetic shielding kit to Apple (AAPL:NDQ) and others, but having rallied around 15% since the start of the year, analysts believe the stock is likely to take a breather at 373p. (SFr)Punch sells 158 pubsPunch Taverns (PUB) has sold 158 non-core pubs to a rea

With share price having galloped a bracing 307% higher since the start of the year, investors might well be forgiven for wondering if they had not already missed the bus on fuel cell specialist AFC Energy (AFC:AIM). But it seems there is more to come from the Cranleigh-based firm as the £119 million cap closes in on commercialisation.Fuel cell technology is increasingly becoming recognised as a b

Victoria's magic rideCarpet maker Victoria's (VCP:AIM) latest trading statement (28 Apr) stoked profit upgrades, as the floorcoverings distributor flagged the positive impact of three recent acquisitions. The sector consolidator has earnings momentum and has also increased its banking facilities, giving it greater firepower for further earnings-enhancing M&A. (JC)Atlas' big contract pushEast Afric

Oil prices at record lows have so far failed to put the brakes on investment in the alternative energy sector. Going forward, the macro backdrop points to continued growth and investors have the option of taking a diversified approach using one of the many investment vehicles designed to gain varied exposure to Alternative Energy.This is a wide sector in terms of business segments and investors ca

Cash joy for QuindellShareholders in Quindell (QPP:AIM) could get at least 100p per share cash windfall if the insurance services group completes a £637 million asset sale to SGH. The shares shot up on the news (30 Mar) to 171p but had eased back to 153.4p as Shares went to press. (DC)888 goes live statesideGambler 888 (888) has launched the first interstate online poker network in the US to take

With oil prices on the way back south again after a recent rally, one might be forgiven for thinking that the timing was wrong for an alternative energy play but some compelling fundamentals at Alkane Energy (ALK:AIM) might prove that supposition wrong.Alkane is an independent energy company with three main businesses. The group divides its attentions between Coal Mine Methane (CMM) which involves

The stock market's smallest and riskiest companies have always held fascination for private investors. On the premise that 'elephants don't gallop, but fleas leap,' to borrow Jim Slater's often quoted phrase, it's easier for a tiny company to double its size, and investor's money, than for a big one. Let's face it, a blue chip company worth £1 billion will find it much harder to double or even tr