Key UK indices closed in the red on Friday as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves remains under pressure following increased government borrowing costs.The FTSE 100 index closed down 71.20 points, 0.9%, at 8,248.49. The FTSE 250 ended down 271.20 points, 1.4%, at 19,733.94, and the AIM All-Share closed down 6.48 points, 0.9%, at 713.48.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.7% at 826.80, the Cboe UK 250 closed down

The FTSE 100 in London underperformed against its peers in Paris and Frankfurt, but Centrica on the FTSE 100 edged up after warning of 'concerningly low' UK gas storage levels during the ongoing cold snap.The FTSE 100 index was down 32.62 points, 0.4%, at 8,287.82. The FTSE 250 was down 135.35 points, 0.7%, at 19,869.79, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.64 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.32.The Cboe UK 100 w

Group winning more customersGrocery strength offsets ArgosNo change to full-year guidanceHot on heels of rival Tesco (TSCO), second-placed UK supermarket group Sainsburys (SBRY) posted an upbeat third-quarter trading statement saying it had had 'the biggest-ever Christmas'.Inevitably, just as Tesco shares were sold off yesterday, Sainsburys shares were also down on the day losing 5p or 2% to 258p.

Firm enjoyed strong volume growthInvesting in price for long termNo upgrade to current-year earningsThe UK's biggest supermarket chain Tesco (TSCO) reported strong trading and its highest market share since 2016 over the third quarter, including Christmas, as hinted at by the Kantar grocery sales data released a few days ago.However, the shares slumped in morning trade, at one point losing 15p or

Stock prices in London were mixed on Thursday morning, with the FTSE 100 edging higher, despite retailers Tesco and M&S falling after festive trading updates.The FTSE 100 index opened up 11.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,262.72. The FTSE 250 was down 118.85 points, 0.6%, at 19,833.39, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.63 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.48.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 827.88, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.6

The FTSE 100 made a tepid-at-best start to trading on Wednesday, with Shell declining after it forecast a weaker fourth-quarter output performance for its Integrated Gas unit.The FTSE 100 index opened down just 0.69 of a point at 8,244.59. The FTSE 250 was down 24.85 points, 0.1%, at 20,325.52, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.18 of a point at 725.46.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 825.45, the

London's blue chip index was up milder than its peers in Paris and Frankfurt at Monday midday, as UK service sector growth for December was softer than anticipated.As well as Monday's composite and services PMI readings, the first full trading week of 2025 has various jobs data releases from the US culminating in Friday's nonfarm payrolls.More than half of UK companies plan to raise prices by earl

The FTSE 100 underperformed against its peers in Paris and Frankfurt on Monday morning, just as PMI data from France, Germany and the eurozone are coming in, with UK data set to follow.The FTSE 100 index opened down 17.45 points, 0.2%, at 8,206.53. The FTSE 250 was up 36.75 points, 0.2%, at 20,628.15, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.42 points, 0.2%, at 726.82.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 822.51

London's FTSE 100 ended lower on Friday, as a sharp sell-off in alcohol makers, spurred by US calls for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages, weighed on the index alongside weak housebuilders, despite gains in oil majors Shell and BP and a bright start on Wall Street.The FTSE 100 index ended down 36.11 points, 0.4%, at 8,223.98. The FTSE 250 fell 48.83 points, 0.2%, at 20,591.40. But the A

Confidential settlement reachedChrysalis gets 'non-material sum'FCA investigation still ongoingShares in Revolution Beauty (REVB:AIM) soared 16% to 16p after the unloved cosmetics company agreed a settlement with disgruntled former shareholder Chrysalis Investments (CHRY).Investment trust Chrysalis had previously threatened legal action against Revolution Beauty, alleging the makeup-to-skincare pr

Stocks in London were subdued on Monday morning, with only a few of the FTSE 100 opening in the green on the last full day of trading in 2024.The FTSE 100 index opened down 29.94 points, 0.4%, at 8,119.84. The FTSE 250 was down 54.73 points, 0.3%, at 20,433.92, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.90 of a point, 0.1%, at 716.09.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 814.35, the Cboe UK 250 down 0.2% at 17,888

UK stocks were down at midday in London on Friday as concerns about the state of the economy persisted off the back of sluggish retail sales figures.In Europe, pharmaceuticals heavyweight Novo Nordisk plummeted 18% in Copenhagen after disappointing data for its weight loss drug CagriSema.The product is seen as a rival to Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound obesity treatments. In premarket trading in

17% premium to undisturbed share priceIntelligent Ultrasound has struggled to growSimulation Business is 'particularly attractive'Yet another unloved UK company has agreed to a takeover by an overseas buyer, further deleting the ranks of firms listed on the London stock market.The latest name to throw in the towel is Intelligent Ultrasound (IUG:AIM), an ultrasound AI software and simulation minnow

Pubs group JD Wetherspoon's (JDW) value credentials continue to shine through. According to fund manager Anna Farmbrough at Ninety One the company has doubled its average price advantage over competitors to 40% since the pandemic.Farmbrough notes that a few years ago there were three pubs in her local area while today there is just a single Wetherspoons, demonstrating its ability to benefit as con

Airline and package holidays provider Jet2 (JET2:AIM) is an example of why treating your customers well is not just a good ethical position to adopt but also makes excellent business sense.The company recently won European Airline of the Year and scores highly on review platforms TripAdvisor and Trustpilot and its excellence in this area, including during Covid when it stood out compared with seve

Strange as it may sound, the pandemic turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the auction industry as it forced firms to join the 21st century and offer an online service.Whereas previously many small auction houses were limited to the number of buyers they could accommodate due to lack of physical space, today they can not only tap into their local market but a whole army of online punters at

Specialist business services firm FRP Advisory (FRP:AIM) is one of those businesses which many investors may have heard of but few are sure exactly what it does.Put simply, FRP helps companies through each stage of their development, giving advice on raising capital, managing debt, acquisitions, corporate finance and forensic accounting. It is probably best-known for 'crisis management' where it h

I am 67 and currently have a SIPP worth approximately £500,000. Because the favourable IHT regime is now ending I am now considering whether to reduce the amount in my SIPP and look at alternatives.My understanding is that I can take 25% tax free from my SIPP at any point and then the remaining pot is taxed on withdrawal at marginal rates. We do not need the cash immediately as we have other reso

UK takeovers moved up a gear in 2024 as predators targeted bigger companies. The average value of deals was £1.07 billion, nearly three times higher than the £390 million average in 2023. In total, there were £49 billion worth of recommended bids versus £17.2 billion last year.A bounty of unloved or underappreciated companies were swept off their feet, signalling the UK market as being 'on sal

In terms of an early Christmas present, the UK market received its very own 'secret Santa' gift last month with the first net inflow into funds invested in UK stocks since April 2021.According to data from consultants Calastone, fund flows turned positive in November after record outflows in October and a negative run lasting 41 consecutive months.Admittedly, the £317 million of net buying was a