London stocks closed higher on Monday, with the FTSE 100 supported by rising oil and gold prices, while European stocks outperformed it ahead of a confidence vote which looks set to oust France's prime minister. The FTSE 100 index closed up 13.23 points, 0.1%, at 9,221.14. The FTSE 250 ended 108.91 points higher, 0.5%, at 21,684.45 and the AIM All-Share finished up 4.10 points, 0.5%, at...

London's blue-chip index closed higher on Monday, with markets focused on diplomatic talks as European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepare to meet with US President Donald Trump. The gathering is a follow-up summit to Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, which failed to produce a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. Michael Brown, senior...

Blue chip indices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were lower at Monday midday, with London's fall the softest, as Eurostat unexpectedly posted a fall in the eurozone's goods trade surplus for June, while economists globally warned on persistently high inflation. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, as are several other...

Stock prices opened higher in Europe on Monday, with all eyes on the Jackson Hole symposium, while US President Donald Trump is set to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders in the US capital. Pepperstone's Michael Brown said that on Friday, 'we seemed to spend all day waiting for news from the Trump-Putin meeting, which turned out to be rather a damp...

London's blue chip index closed out Tuesday in positive territory as Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey indicated rates will continue on their downward trajectory, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell left his options open. The FTSE 100 index closed up 24.37 points, 0.3%, at 8,785.33. The FTSE 250 was 116.90 points higher, 0.5%, at 21,743.16, while the AIM All-Share added 2.29 points, 0.3%, at...

Stocks in London ended lower on Monday, with housebuilders among the worst performers despite stronger mortgage approval data, as investors turned cautious ahead of a week packed with US economic data. The FTSE 100 index closed down 37.95 points, 0.4%, at 8,760.96. The FTSE 250 was 89.70 points lower, 0.4%, at 21,626.26, while the AIM All-Share added 1.32 points, 0.2%, at 770.65. The Cboe UK...

Stocks in London closed lower on Wednesday, giving up earlier gains, though defence shares rose after NATO members pledged to boost military spending. The FTSE 100 index closed down 40.24 points, 0.5%, at 8,718.75. It had earlier traded as high as 8,792.43. The FTSE 250 ended 28.16 points lower, 0.1%, at 21,298.04, and the AIM All-Share fell 2.09 points, 0.3%, at 760.45. The Cboe UK 100 closed...

Revenues up 11% to £4.8 billion Shares jump 12%, and are up 131% in 2025 First £200 million share buyback programme Shares in Babcock International (BAB) surged 12% to £11.53 in morning trading as the aerospace and defence contractor reported a 11% rise in revenue to £4.8 billion for the year ending 31 March 2025 driven by strong growth in its nuclear and marine divisions. The FTSE 100...

Stocks in Europe were in the red at Wednesday midday, with risk sentiment turning somewhat cautious despite the Israel-Iran ceasefire, before Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell takes centre-stage with his testimony in front of US lawmakers later. The impetus from an Israel-Iran ceasefire faded, with stocks that had climbed after the geopolitical optimism, returning progress. Defence stocks...

Equity investors have used defence stocks to go on the offensive in recent months as geopolitical tensions flare and governments around the world reappraise their national and international security spending. This year, four of the 10 best performing FTSE 350 stocks come from the defence industry, while a similar story is playing out across US and European stock markets, a response to...

Positive set-up for UK mid caps Valuations attractive versus history Bellway, Babcock, Premier Foods among names to watch By definition, mid caps have the potential to become the UK's next large cap leaders. But in recent years, many of the UK's most promising 'second liners' have been acquired, either by private equity buyers or overseas companies looking to take advantage of the UK's cheap...

Continuing reverberations from President Tump's redrawing of the global world order saw the UK government announce its SDR (Strategic Defence Review), aimed at moving the UK to a position of 'war fighting readiness.' Having already committed to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP (gross domestic product) by 2028, on 1 June Prime Minister Starmer revealed plans to increase spending to 3%...

Defensives hold up in sell-offNew appetite for growth stocksBanks unable to shake off lossesAs the dust settles from the three-day 'Liberation Day'-inspired sell-off, the list of winners and losers makes for interesting reading.Not everything which held up during the market meltdown is being sold off, and not everything which racked up big losses is rebounding, unlike in previous recoveries,...

FTSE 100 down more than 3% at 7,763.65 Defensive and utilities stocks hold steady Entain and Taylor Wimpey 'winners' UK housebuilder Taylor Wimpey (TW.) and gambling firm Entain (ENT) bucked the trend by falling less than the blue-chip FTSE 100 index. Taylor Wimpey and other housebuilders were perhaps anticipating the possibility of the Bank of England cutting interest rates this year as a...

BAE Systems shares climb 15%European stocks sharply higherUK and France discuss Ukraine dealThe European defence sector enjoyed its biggest one-day rally since 2020 after the Trump administration refused to offer any security guarantees, leading investors to bet on European governments ramping up their defence spending.Shares in BAE Systems (BA.) jumped 210p or 15% to £16.15, pulling with...

London's FTSE 100 closed in the green on Tuesday, though more subdued in the afternoon against its morning highs, as US stocks were shaken by weak consumer confidence data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 9.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,668.67. The FTSE 250 ended down 36.11 points, 0.2%, at 20,448.28, while the AIM All-Share closed down 2.82 points, 0.4%, at 708.06.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 867.14,...

London stocks ended Tuesday little changed, as investors digested strong UK wage growth data while looking ahead to key inflation figures that could shape the Bank of England's next policy move.The FTSE 100 index closed down just 1.28 points at 8,776.73. The FTSE 250 ended down 57.12 points, 0.3%, at 20,881.56, while the AIM All-Share closed down 0.70 of a point, 0.1%, at 724.52.The Cboe UK...

Sales and earnings to top forecastsNuclear business better than hopedMarine contracts also impressCivil and defence contractor Babcock International (BAB) cheered investors with the revelation revenues and underlying operating profit for the year to the end of March would 'exceed the top end of the range of analyst expectations'.The shares jumped 54p, or 10%, to a new five-year high of 596p,...

Revenue and profit top estimatesGlobal instability driving demandShares spike to four-year highDefence contractor Babcock International (BAB) posted a stronger-than-expected set of interim results with 'continued momentum across the group' and confirmed it would hit its full-year targets.The shares initially marched 95p or 19% higher to 594p, their best level in four years, before settling...

Defence and banks stocks top tableM&A wave creates big winnersConsumer stocks on the skidsIt hasn't been a vintage year for the UK stock market, but there are signs investors are coming back attracted by the cheap valuations on offer compared with the US as well as decent earnings prospects for UK companies.The FTSE 350 index is up 5.5% year-to-date, with the FTSE 100 large-cap benchmark up...