First-half pre-tax profit downBut EBIT beats forecasts'Strong start' to Christmas quarterShares in Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) rallied 8% to 540p after the luxury timepiece retailer clocked up better-than-feared first-half earnings and left full-year 2025 guidance unchanged, drawing confidence from recently-improved sales momentum and some large showroom openings to come.There was relief among i

Stock prices in London softened from earlier highs but market sentiment was still positive heading into Monday afternoon after Donald Trump picked hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as his US Treasury pick.The FTSE 100 index added 15.72 points, 0.2%, at 8,277.80. The FTSE 250 rose 15.80 points, 0.1%, at 20,597.49, and the AIM All-Share rose just 0.31 of a point to 732.51.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2%

Two important developments among junior uranium miners are worth closer inspection as they put the companies in a stronger position to bring their respective mines into production. However, a weak uranium price may weigh on market sentiment towards their share prices near-term.Berkeley Energia (BKY:AIM) has secured the necessary funding to build its Salamanca mine in Spain. Aura Energy (AURA:AIM)

Aura Energy (AURA:AIM) should soon publish an internal study that remodels its Tiris uranium project at 3 million pounds production a year, triple the old plan. It wants to see by how much costs could fall from $30 per pound estimate in the original scoping study by increasing output. Aura hopes to start production by early2019. (DC)

No slowdown for PersimmonHousebuilder Persimmon (PSN) defies expectations of a slowdown in the property market with a 17% increase in private sale reservations since 1 July versus the same period a year ago. Chief executive Jeff Fairburn says he expects a 'good autumn sales season'. (DC)Bid chatter lifts EasyJetTakeover rumours have helped to drive up shares in EasyJet (EZJ) to £10.99 following a

Uranium miner Aura Energy is hoping to raise a new slug of cash and join the AIM market in September. The company hasn't publicly disclosed its fundraising target but we understand it is between £2 million and £3 million.The money will help fund a feasibility study on its Tiris project in Mauritania which is expected to be completed in 2017, as well as top up working capital and cover the AIM ad

You do not need me to tell you just how popular the foreign exchange market has become among retail traders and investors over the past decade. Once the preserve of financial institutions, this gigantic global market is now available to all of us though spread betting, contracts for difference and a host of other methods.But for some there is still an aura of mystery surrounding forex and, in my v

The junior mining space is experiencing mixed fortunes with takeover activity. Condor Gold (CNR:AIM) says it is no longer up for sale after seeing its share price fall by 65% since putting itself on the market. In contrast, Aurasian Minerals (AUM:AIM) has decided to press ahead with efforts to buy private exploration group Moroccan Minerals, having completed due diligence.Condor has blamed negativ

Top of the leader board, troubled regional airline Flybe (FLYB) ascended 12.9% to 50.5p after agreeing to take on some of Ryanair's (RYA) routes. This is to help the Irish low-cost carrier win the European Commission's approval for its Aer Lingus (AERL) takeover bid. Ryanair will pump ?100 million into a new business, Flybe Ireland, which will contain 43 routes, airport slots and staff. The UK-lis