Operating profits almost trebleFocus on margins paying offDouble-digit sales growth in viewElectrical retailer AO World (AO.) published a pleasing set of results for the full year to the end of March showing the benefit of its decision to shift its focus from market share gains towards profitable growth.The shares added 5p or 4.5% to 118p, taking them to a new 12-month high and bringing gains to 3

European equities opened higher on Wednesday, after US tech shares, including chipmaker and artificial intelligence titan Nvidia, returned to form overnight.In London, investors had a host of corporate updates to sink into, including bullish earnings from pandemic winners AO World and ProCook. A merger agreement between Witan Investment Trust and Alliance Trust also grabbed some of the spotlight.T

Stock prices in London closed lower on Tuesday, as UK political parties enter their final full week of campaigning before the general election.Looking ahead to the rest of the week, focus is on US data, with a gross domestic product reading Thursday and the latest personal consumption expenditures data on Friday.The FTSE 100 index closed down 33.76 points, 0.4%, at 8,247.79. The FTSE 250 ended dow

Stock prices in London closed in the red on Friday, after investors were left to mull over mixed local economic data which painted a conflicting picture of the economy.The FTSE 100 index closed down 34.74 points, 0.4%, at 8,237.72. The FTSE 250 ended down 56.37 points, 0.3%, at 20,442.35, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.19 of a point at 772.57.Over the last five days, the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 2

Stocks in London started off steady on Tuesday, with Vodafone leading the FTSE 100 on the back of better-than-expected annual results, as new data showed a slight increase in the UK unemployment rate.The FTSE 100 index opened up 9.70 points, 0.1%, at 8,425.78. The FTSE 250 was up 20.22 points, 0.1%, at 20,580.56, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.15 points, 0.2%, at 785.11.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.

Aurora Investment Trust (ARR) 243pMarket cap: £185.3 millionInvestors seeking a value-oriented fund focused on avoiding permanent capital losses first and foremost, while offering exposure to the improving consumer outlook among other themes, should buy Aurora Investment Trust (ARR). Managed by long-term value investment firm Phoenix, the dividend-paying trust?s 10.2% discount to NAV (net asset v

Stocks in London were higher at midday on Wednesday, boosted by retailers ahead of a US consumer price inflation reading.Amongst individual stocks, Tesco led the charge, after unveiling a £1 billion share buyback programme. Other retailers also got a boost on the back of the results.The FTSE 100 index was up 47.65 points, 0.6%, at 7,982.44. The FTSE 250 was up 171.65 points, 0.9%, at 19,935.00, a

Stocks in London headed into the long weekend on the front foot, outperforming their European peers.Markets in London will now shut for two public holidays, Good Friday and Easter Monday. They will reopen on Tuesday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 20.64 points, 0.3%, at 7,952.62. The FTSE 250 ended up 74.07 points, 0.4%, at 19,884.73, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.15 points, or 0.2%, at 743.26.Ov

Stocks in London were up on Thursday midday, with JD Sports shares in the FTSE 100 jumping as it outlined its financial 2025 profit forecast, while water utilities struggled.The FTSE 100 index was up 20.39 points, 0.3%, at 7,952.37. The FTSE 250 was up 52.23 points, 0.3%, at 19,862.89, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 743.40.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 794.61, the Cboe UK 250

Q4 sales return to growthFull year pre-tax profit to be at least top of rangeMedium-term margin guidance of 4%AO World (AO.) was one of the top FTSE 250 gainers rising as much as 13% after the online electricals retailer said it expects full year adjusted pre-tax profit to at least meet the top end of the guidance range.In November 2023, AO World upped pre-tax profit guidance from around £28 mill

New £80 million buybackJD Sports warning a recent overhangN Brown stake tops 20%Mike Ashley?s Frasers (FRAS) has launched a fresh £80 million share buyback to address a near-10% year-to-date share price pullback at the retail powerhouse behind sporting goods chain Sports Direct as well as House of Fraser and Flannels.Analysts at Liberum believe shares in the FTSE 100 conglomerate have suffered d

Stock prices in London returned from a Christmas break by posting solid gains on Wednesday, as the holiday-shortened final week of the year kicked off positively on US interest rate cut hope.Recent data, including Friday?s personal consumption expenditures print, has aided the ?soft-landing? narrative. There is an 87% chance that Fed cuts rates in March, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.The FTSE

While the present-day incarnation of Currys (CURY) is a technology products specialist selling everything from whizzy gadgets to white goods, the retailer's origins can be traced back to 1884 when one Henry Curry founded the Curry Cycle Co bicycle-building business.In 1984, Dixons Retail acquired Currys and thirty years later, 'Dixons Carphone' was formed through a complex merger between Dixons an

Biggest shareholder ups stake to 17.2%Ashley and Murray see a bargainShein files to go publicBoohoo?s (BOO:AIM) shares were bid up 4% to 35p on the revelation Mike Ashley-controlled conglomerate Frasers (FRAS) has raised its stake in the fast fashion retailer above 17% for the first time.Frasers? move comes at a crucial time for embattled Boohoo.Fierce competitor competitor Shein is growing ever m

Stocks in London retreated on Tuesday, with a stronger pound not helping the FTSE 100?s cause, with focus shifting to meeting minutes from the US Federal Reserve this evening.The FTSE 100 index was down 40.25 points, 0.5%, at 7,456.11. The FTSE 250 lost 90.31 points, 0.5%, at 18,508.74, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.18 points, 0.2%, at 720.77.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 743.94, the Cboe UK

Strategic pivot paying offAO World returned to profit in H1But annual sales now seen 10% lowerOnline electrical retailer AO World (AO.) has upgraded its year-to-March 2024 pre-tax profit guidance from ?around £28 million? to between £28 million and £33 million after stronger margins helped the white goods group deliver a first half return to profit with improved cash generation.This positive ne

Stock prices in London were mixed on Tuesday morning, as the FTSE 100 slid on a strong pound and investors remained cautious ahead of a statement from the UK chancellor of the exchequer on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index opened down 22.11 points, 0.3%, at 7,474.25. The FTSE 250 was up 12.01 points, 0.1%, at 18,611.06, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.11 of a point at 722.06.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3

Soft drinks business Britvic (BVIC) serves up full-year results on 22 November, when investors will be thirsty to learn how volumes are holding up at the Fruit Shoot, Robinsons and Tango maker which also produces and sells brands including Pepsi and 7UP in Great Britain and Ireland under exclusive agreements with PepsiCo (PEP:NASDAQ).Price hikes and volume growth helped Britvic's revenues to bubbl

Frasers ups stake above 15%Billionaire Ashley spies a bargainBoohoo shares down 90% in five yearsMike Ashley-controlled Frasers (FRAS) has raised its stake in bombed-out Boohoo (BOO:AIM) above 15% for the first time as the retail conglomerate continues to build on its 'strategic investment' in the embattled online fashion seller.Sports Direct, House of Fraser and Flannels-owner Frasers has upped i

Retail powerhouse raises Boohoo stake again'Natural crossover' between Sports Direct and Boohoo customer baseScope for collaborations between Boohoo and MissguidedMike Ashley-controlled retail conglomerate Frasers (FRAS) has quietly increased its stake in Boohoo (BOO:AIM) from 7.8% to 9.1%, picking up more stock after shares in the online fast-fashion seller fell to their lowest level in eight yea