Detection and Interconnect for saleFocus on John Crane and Flex-TekBuyback increased to £500 millionFTSE 100 engineering firm Smiths Group (SMIN) surprised the market in a good way this morning with the news it was planning 'a number of strategic actions to unlock significant value and enhance returns to shareholders'.The shares jumped as much as 323p or 17% to a new life-high of £21.88 before s

Q4 and full year sales beat expectationsFashion and leather see sales decline2025 started wellLuxury goods giant LVMH (MC:EPA) dropped 6% despite posting full year 2024 sales ahead of consensus forecasts after revealing weakness across its fashion and leather goods divisions.The Louis Vuitton, Moet and Chandon and Hennessy brand owner arguably had a high bar to clear following upbeat sales reports

First quarter revenue up 14%On track to meet full year targetsIndian IPO expected in the SpringSSP Group (SSPG) was one of the best mid-cap performers, gaining over 4% after the operator of restaurants and bars in travel locations said positive trading momentum has continued into the remainder of its first quarter to 31 December.The shares have struggled over the last year, underperforming the FTS

Full-year guidance confirmedAmericas back in growthInvestors remain scepticalIconic footwear brand Dr Martens (DOCS) confirmed its 2025 outlook and said third quarter trading was in line with expectations, with US DTC (direct to consumer) revenue returning back to growth.Early signs of a turnaround at the US business were not enough to impress investors as the shares fell around 3% to 70.3p, after

Blue-chips in Europe opened lower on Monday morning, in nervy trade before eyes turn to central bank meetings and earnings from Meta, Microsoft, Apple and Tesla this week.The FTSE 100 index opened down 35.39 points, 0.4%, at 8,467.81. The FTSE 250 was down 115.54 points, 0.6%, at 20,402.51, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.52 points, 0.5%, at 711.53.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.4% lower at 848.73, the Cb

Promising UK data pushed the pound back above the $1.24 mark on Friday, putting pressure on the FTSE 100 and ensuring London's blue-chip index failed to replicate the more confident trade seen in mainland Europe.The FTSE 100 index was down 29.04 points, 0.3%, at 8,536.16. The FTSE 250 was up 56.83 points, 0.3%, at 20,577.22, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.45 points, 0.3%, at 718.41.The Cboe UK 1

Q3 sales better-than-fearedTurnaround strategy showing promiseFull-year 2025 guidance upgradedBritish luxury fashion house Burberry (BRBY) topped the FTSE 250 on 24 January, its shares rallying 16% to £12.41 after the footwear-to-leather accessories designer delivered a far better-than-feared drop in third quarter sales.This performance stoked optimism that new chief executive Joshua Schulman's '

The FTSE 100 was up a notch, while the FTSE 250 index was healthily in the green on Friday morning, ahead of flash UK purchasing managers' index data.UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she would be tabling an amendment to the plans for taxing non-domiciled residents after 'listening to the concerns' they raised. The changes will increase the temporary repatriation facility, which allows non-doms to

Stocks in London opened mixed on Thursday, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt and the CAC 40 in Paris opened a notch higher, as investors await eurozone consumer confidence data.The FTSE 100 index opened down 0.15 points at 8,544.98. The FTSE 250 was down 23.09 points, 0.1%, at 20,557.21, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.72 points, 0.2%, at 722.72.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 856.61, the Cboe UK 250 was d

Stock prices in London were in the green on Wednesday morning, with FTSE 100 firm Intermediate Capital enjoying a boost after hailing 'strong fundraising.'PSNB totalled £17.81 billion in December, up from £11.8 billion in November. The November figure was revised up from £11.25 billion, and the December one far outpaced FXStreet-cited market consensus of £13.4 billion.For the year that ended D

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher on Tuesday morning, while the newest ONS data showed that UK earnings growth outpaced inflation.Meanwhile, UK unemployment rate rose above analysts' forecast to 4.4% for November, according to the Office for National Statistics.Average earnings rose by 5.6% including and excluding bonuses, outpacing inflation. Wage growth excluding bonuses sp

Stocks in London opened mixed but the blue chip FTSE 100 was in the green early Monday, with Pershing Square up as it announced it will pay dividends for every quarter of 2025.Financial markets are closed in the US on Monday to mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and as president-elect Donald Trump prepares to officially take office.The FTSE 100 index opened up 16.47 points, 0.2%, at 8,521.69. The F

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher on Friday morning despite underperforming UK retail sales, with miners boosting the FTSE 100 on the back of economic growth data from China.UK retail sales volumes decreased 0.3% month-on-month in December, worsening from 0.1% growth in November and falling far short of the FXStreet-cited market consensus of 0.4% growth.On an annual basis, re

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were up on Thursday morning, with the FTSE 100 up comfortably despite UK economic growth undershooting expectations.Gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in November, driven by growth in services, after a fall of 0.1% in October. This undershot the FXStreet-cited market consensus of 0.2% growth.Separately, the Office for National Statistics said the UK tr

Shares in Anpario (ANP:AIM) are up a portfolio-nourishing 67% over one year, the latest upward spike triggered by a fifth upgrade in a row (10 January) to full-year 2024 guidance from the natural sustainable feed additives supplier.Following a stronger-than-expected second half, Anpario now expects revenue for the year to December 2024 to be £37.5 million implying 21% year-on-year growth.Combined

MIGO Opportunities (MIGO) 352pMarket cap: £71.25 millionDiscount to NAV: 4%With many investment trusts trading at deep discounts to NAV (net asset value), a great way to exploit the potential for discounts to narrow is by investing in specialist closed-end fund investor MIGO Opportunities Trust (MIGO).The company has a unique mandate within the sector aimed at exploiting pricing inefficiencies at

Better than expected second-half tradingFull-year profit at top end of rangeShares jump 20%Global animal genetics company Genus (GNS) said first half performance has been stronger than expected and the board now expects group adjusted pre-tax profit to be at least £35 million.The shares were catapulted almost 20% higher to £16.96 which suggests investor sentiment had become too negative, with th

The FTSE 100 opened comfortably higher on Wednesday morning, easily beating its peers in Paris and Frankfurt, as UK consumer price inflation decelerated in December, defying expectations.The consumer price index rose 2.5% in December from a year before, slowing from 2.6% in November while FXStreet-cited market consensus had expected inflation to pick up to 2.7%.Separately, the Office for National

Another quarter of like-for-like declinePre-tax profit guidance cut againNike's problems a headwindRecent downward momentum in JD Sports Fashion (JD.) continues, with shares in the self-styled 'King of Trainers' tanking on another year-to-January 2025 profit guidance downgrade.This follows slower sales over the Christmas period for the FTSE 100 tracksuits-to-football shirts seller. With weak tradi

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the green on Tuesday morning, as housebuilders in the UK enjoyed a boost after giving trading updates.'Markets' sensitivity to major economic data will likely rise as policy uncertainties mount and appetite weakens,' commented Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'Due today, the US will release its latest PPI numbers, and the headline PPI may have ris