Stock prices in London opened softly in the green on Thursday as investors remained cautious ahead of upcoming US GDP data.The FTSE 100 index opened up just 4.00 points at 8,347.85. The FTSE 250 was down 11.24 points, or 0.1%, at 21,055.63, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.74 points, or 0.2%, at 772.04.The Cboe UK 100 was up slightly at 834.44, the Cboe UK 250 was down a little at 18,563.12, and the

We start this month's round-up with news of a bid at just shy of a 50% premium for oil and gas exploration company I3 Energy (I3E:AIM) from US-listed Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:NYSEAMERICAN).The US firm, which has a market cap of $260 million, is paying roughly $225 million or £174 million for the UK company through a combination of cash and shares.I3 Energy operates in the Western Canadian Sediment

At the end of last year the market was pricing in 1.7% worth of US rate cuts for 2024 but here we are in late August and the Federal Reserve is yet to pull the trigger, largely due to stickier-than-expected inflation.However, after a series of false dawns, we may finally be approaching the point where the Fed acts, with a rate cut widely expected on 18 September. The debate largely centres on whet

It's now three years since the cost of living crisis began to grip the nation. In August 2021, CPI inflation jumped to 3.2%, up from 2% in July of that year. It then climbed all the way up to a peak of 11.1% in October 2022 before gradually, and painfully, falling back to current levels.Consumers are undoubtedly still finding things hard after such a big price shock, but the worst now looks firmly

Stock prices were lower in London at midday Wednesday as UK retail sales continued to fall in August, and while investors awaited second quarter earnings from tech firm Nvidia.The FTSE 100 index was down 9.17 points, or 0.1%, at 8,336.29. The FTSE 250 was down 36.43 points, or 0.2%, at 21,125.64, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.92 points, or 0.8%, at 773.26.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 834.18

Improper revenue recognition among list of accusationsInvestors largely shrug off report after temporary sell offSuper Micro Computer stock has rallied more than 90% this yearShort seller Hindenburg Research has launched an attack on popular server computer maker Super Micro Computer (SMCI:NASDAQ), yet investors have largely shrugged off the report.Having initially slumped by around 8% in response

Adjusted operating profit up 9% to $1.54 billion22 million shares repurchased for £150 millionFirst interim dividend of 6.84 cents, up 9%Shares in Asian focused insurer Prudential (PRU) were up more than 2% in morning trading to 677p as the firm reported a 9% rise in adjusted operating profit to $1.54 billion for the six months ending 30 June.The shares are down 21% year to date compared with an

Stocks in Europe were mixed on Wednesday morning as investors await results from tech titan Nvidia, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer heads to Berlin for talks.The FTSE 100 index opened up 2.19 points, or 0.1%, at 8,347.65. The FTSE 250 was down 4.36 points at 21,157.71, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.67 points, or 0.3%, at 776.51.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 835.07, the Cboe UK 250 was dow

Stocks in London made a muted return from a long weekend on Tuesday, though the FTSE 100 found support from travel stocks, miners and Bunzl.The FTSE 100 index ended up 17.68 points, or 0.2%, at 8,345.46. The FTSE 250 closed down 27.41 points, or 0.1%, at 21,162.07, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.49 points, or 0.2%, at 779.18.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 835.07, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.1% at

Luca Maestri been in role for a decadeNew CFO Parekh to take role up in early 2025Investors hoping for more of the same, not step changeChange at the top always brings some sort of uncertainty, particularly when an incumbent has been in place for years. This is where Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ) finds itself after shuffling its C-suite and appointing a new chief finance officer.Long-standing CFO Luca Maest

Stocks in London ended the week higher on Friday, while unambiguously dovish remarks from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell propelled the pound to a 29-month high against the dollar.'The time has come for policy to adjust. The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks,' Powell said in a speec

Romanian gambling firm acquiredCombined business will be fourth largest operatorEarnings enhancing from 2025Online betting and gaming company Evoke (EVOK), formerly known as 888 Holdings, has announced the acquisition of Romanian firm NGS (Net Gaming Solutions), the seventh biggest betting and gaming operator in the country.Evoke will inject its own Romanian business plus €10 million in cash

It was a week of ups and downs for the US market as investors awaited Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's address to the Jackson Hole Symposium on 23 August.<img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O7wOm/full.png" alt="" data-mce-fragment="1" data-mce-src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O7wOm/full.png"><span id="mce_marker" data-mce-type="bookmark" data

Stock prices were higher in London, Paris and Frankfurt on Thursday, while the UK got a boost in a flash purchasing managers' index reading, ahead of weekly US jobless data.The FTSE 100 index was up 11.79 points, 0.1%, at 8,295.22. The FTSE 250 was down 18.70 points, 0.1%, at 21,168.49, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.54 points, 0.1%, at 776.27.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 829.44, the Cboe UK 2

Q2 like-for-likes up 2.4%Full year profit guide maintainedOutlook caution limits gainsShares in JD Sports Fashion (JD.) jumped 6% to 136p after the trainers-to-tracksuits purveyor reported improved second quarter sales and reiterated full year guidance for 6% to 9% organic growth and adjusted pre-tax profit in the £955 million to £1.035 billion range.This came as a relief to investors given the

Stock prices in Europe were mildly higher on Thursday morning, as investors await the start of the Jackson Hole conference on Thursday which could indicate clues on the trajectory of US interest rates.Amongst individual stocks, JD Sports Fashion saw its shares jump, after updating shareholders on its second quarter growth. Eckoh also took some of the spotlight, after receiving a takeover offer fro

Lululemon Athletica (LULU:NASDAQ) $260.3Market cap: $31.2 billionA 50% year-to-date drawdown at Canadian athleisure company Lululemon Athletica (LULU:NASDAQ) presents a buying opportunity for investors who love to snap up quality merchandise at a discount.Until recently, Lululemon, which sells clothing and footwear for yoga, running and training, was a stock market darling admired for its record

Bakkavor's (BAKK) shares have rebounded more than 80% to 153.5p year-to-date, investors regaining their appetite for the fresh prepared food provider amid evidence CEO Mike Edwards' reset is paying off, an improving outlook with margin-crimping inflation moderating and with debt on the way down.In March Bakkavor, which supplies UK and US grocers and food brands in China with everything from meals,

The active fund management industry has had a tough time of things of late. Trackers, largely exchange-traded funds, which look to match the returns from global stock markets, have attracted substantial inflows as investors prize their low costs and the diversification they offer.Compounding this, because the performance of major indices has been driven by a concentrated number of huge tech names,

On 1 August the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee made a 5-4 decision to kickstart its rate-cutting cycle. A 25 basis point reduction in the base rate to 5% marking The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street's first cut since March 2020.This means cash savings rates are heading in one direction, down. And the lower-than-expected jump in UK inflation reported on 14 August only boosted market exp