Half year pre-tax profit up 4.7%Tasty grocery performanceArgos sales disappointFirst half sales and profits rose at Sainsbury's (SBRY) as the UK's second biggest supermarket continued to secure market share gains in groceries, making up for a soft first quarter at Argos and in general merchandise.CEO Simon Roberts insisted Sainsbury's core food business is 'making the biggest market share gains in

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) sells £306 million sharesSainsbury's shares fall nearly 5%Year-to-date Sainsbury's shares are down 7%Sainsbury's (SBRY) shares fell nearly 5% to 275p after the supermarket group said its biggest shareholder, the QIA (Qatar Investment Authority), had sold £306 million worth of shares at 280p each, a discount of around 3% to the prior closing price.Prior to the sal

You might not think online grocery retailer Ocado (OCDO), luxury goods group Burberry (BRBY) and UK water utility giant Pennon (PNN) have much in common. However, they are all among the most shorted stocks according to data from the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) daily short position report which you can find on the published on the ShortTracker website.WHAT IS SHORT SELLING?Short selling also

Stocks in London ended in the red on Tuesday, as cautious sentiment prevailed following hot eurozone inflation figures.The FTSE 100 index ended down 45.56 points, 0.6%, at 8,121.20. The FTSE 250 fell 27.61 points, 0.1%, at 20,194.47, while the AIM All-Share slipped 0.81 of a point at 764.37.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.7% to 808.01, the Cboe UK 250 declined 0.5% to 17575.03, and the Cboe Small Companies

European stocks were under pressure on Tuesday, while US equities are set to open lower, after eurozone inflation data veered towards being unfavourable, as core price pressure remains robust.The data may have given European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde some food for thought. Lagarde, and her Federal Reserve counterpart Jerome Powell, speak at a conference in Sintra, Portugal later.The

Grocery sales in lineArgos sales disappointNo change to forecastsThe UK's second-largest supermarket chain Sainsbury's (SBRY) delivered a first-quarter trading statement which was pretty much in line with expectations in terms of grocery sales and maintained its full-year profit and cash-flow forecasts.However, a slowdown in total like-for-like sales growth and the resulting lack of an upgrade saw

European stocks opened in the red on Tuesday, with eyes on eurozone inflation data, a US labour market report, and words from central bankers at a conference in Portugal.The FTSE 100 index traded 51.69 points lower, 0.6%, at 8,115.07. The FTSE 250 fell 75.96 points, 0.4%, at 20,146.12, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.67 points, 0.2%, at 763.51.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 807.43, the Cboe UK

Stock prices in London opened largely in the green on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 registering a solid gain before an expected Bank of England rate hold in the early afternoon.There was a slew of M&A updates in early UK corporate news, adding some excitement before Threadneedle Street takes centre-stage.The FTSE 100 index traded 22.16 points higher, 0.3%, at 8,227.27. The FTSE 250 was up 65.85 poin

Chemicals companies produce the compounds used in a huge variety of different industrial and consumer products across sectors which include agriculture, healthcare, technology, aerospace, sports, leisure and beauty.The breadth of the industry?s focus means its fortunes are closely tied to the economy and movements in GDP as well as volatility in raw material prices and energy costs.In 2023 the sec

This feature explores spin-offs or de-mergers, looking at the rationale for them and how they have performed, and asks if they can be a promising hunting ground for investors.One of the UK?s largest recent spin-offs was GSK?s (GSK) demerger of its consumer healthcare division in 2022.GSK reportedly rebuffed a £50 billion offer from personal goods giant Unilever (ULVR) to buy the division, named H

Investors looking for continued sales momentumConsensus earnings estimates have been revised upLooking for signs of improving marginsInvestors will be interested to see if sales momentum has continued into the final quarter at global medical technology company Smith & Nephew (SN.) when it reports next week (27 Feb).Running into the Q4 and full-year numbers the shares have started to outperform the

Out of more than 3,500 regulated investment funds in the UK industry VT Argonaut Absolute Return (B7FT1K7) says to ?the best of its knowledge? it is the only one to have delivered double-digit returns for the last five years in a row.The fund?s performance over the past year is particularly eye-catching, returning more than 30% to investors. Since launch in 2009 the fund has achieved a return of 2

London?s FTSE 100 had another tricky day on Wednesday, as it continues to struggle to find its groove in 2024, though trade was more confident in New York.There was M&A activity in the housing sector on Wednesday, a strategic plan from grocer Sainsbury?s and a dividend hike from packaging company Smurfit Kappa.The FTSE 100 index lost 52.26 points, 0.7%, at 7,628.75. So far this year, the blue-chip

Most of us will be aware of the need to plan for our retirement, however far or otherwise we might have got with doing so. After all, when we stop working we all still want to enjoy a decent quality of life. In this article we will explore how much money you will need and the level of pension pot required to achieve it as well as providing some investment ideas for people at the start of the proce

Stocks in Europe endured another muted session on Wednesday, extending the FTSE 100?s recent poor run, amid some nerves ahead of Thursday?s US inflation reading.Investors also have one eye on the start of the US banking season, with the likes of JPMorgan getting things going forward.The FTSE 100 index ended down 32.20 points, 0.4%, at 7,651.76. The FTSE 250 closed down 13.94 points, 0.1%, at 19,28

Grocery market share gains a plusNon-food and clothing sales disappointFull-year earnings outlook unchangedInvestors responded negatively to the latest trading update from the UK?s second-largest supermarket group J Sainsbury (SBRY), despite the firm outperforming its peers over the key Christmas period.The shares fell more than 5% to 290p, sending them to the bottom of the FTSE 100 leader board a

Stock prices in London were mixed on Wednesday morning, as investors looked ahead to US inflation data and weighed continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.The FTSE 100 index opened down 25.03 points, 0.3%, at 7,658.88. The FTSE 250 was up 12.96 points, 0.1%, at 19,306.98, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.27 of a point at 752.93.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 765.32, the Cboe UK 250 was

Add a fast-growing company with a massive international market share opportunity to portfolios by buying SharkNinja (SN:NYSE). This household appliance innovator is the group behind two exciting global brands, Shark and Ninja. The clue is in the name.Shares in the Massachusetts-headquartered company have had a strong run since their New York Stock Exchange debut (31 July), yet they remain modestly

Third-quarter revenue up 7.7%Full-year growth forecast increasedNew finance chief appointedMedical products-maker Smith & Nephew (SN.) was one of the top gainers in the FTSE 100 on Thursday, up 5% after delivering strong third-quarter growth and raising its full-year outlook.Underlying revenue for the three months to 30 September grew 7.7% to $1.4 billion driven by broad-based growth across the fi

Stock prices in London finished lower on Monday, with the FTSE 100 index down amid fears that the Chinese property sector is weakening.The FTSE 100 index closed down 59.92 points, 0.8%, at 7,623.99. The FTSE 250 ended down 191.53 points, 1.0%, at 18,415.31, and the AIM All-Share closed down 4.91 points, or 0.7%, at 734.52.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.9% at 760.21, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1.5%