European banking and mining stocks bore the brunt of the selloff in morning trading on Friday (4 April) as China announced 34% retaliatory tariffs on US imports, sparking fears of a global trade war.UK banks Barclays (BARC), NatWest (NWG), Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) were some of the biggest fallers ? down 9.12%, 8.99% and 7.32% respectively on the day and global mining companies Glencore...

One of the key attractions of investments is the potential to earn a regular income. As in common in the world of personal finance, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach for income investing.There are diverse ways to obtain a regular stream of cash rewards from your investment ISA, so make sure you pick the right one for your needs. Here are five methods. 1. High YieldFor decades, investors...

London's FTSE 100 traded lower around midday on Thursday, as poorly received earnings weighed, missing out on a Ukraine peace hope-led rally elsewhere in Europe.The FTSE 100 index traded down 58.01 points, 0.7%, at 8,749.43. The FTSE 250 was down 16.97 points, 0.1%, at 20,863.53, and the AIM All-Share fell 0.71 of a point, 0.1%, at 722.68.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.6% at 876.73, the Cboe UK 250...

Shares fall 8% to £31 in early morning trading£900 million share buyback planned in 2025Full year revenue down 5.2% but in line with expectationsShares in British American Tobacco (BATS) took a turn for the worse in early morning trading as the FTSE 100 tobacco giant reported a 5.2% fall in revenue to £25.8 billion for the year ending 31 December.The stock fell 8% to £31, although it is...

You often hear the word 'defensive' applied to certain stocks and sectors, but what does it mean and can buying 'defensive' stocks really help your performance as an investor?In a word, yes, because they dial down some of the risk which is inherent in markets because they tend not to be very volatile unlike most 'cyclical' or 'growth' stocks, but it's how you use them which matters.Defensive...

Vaping and e-cigs lift second halfShares gain 28% year-to-dateShrugs off pressure around regulationShares in British American Tobacco (BATS) gained ground, adding 19p or 0.6% to £29.88 as the global tobacco firm said it was on track to deliver for full year 2024 in line with its previous guidance. STEADY PROGRESS, SUSTAINABLE RETURNSThe company behind brands like Dunhill, Kent, and...

Anyone lucky enough to have enjoyed a long summer holiday and focused on the beach rather than their portfolio might not have noticed the recent jolt in global stock markets.While the second half of July was a miserable time markets amid fears of a US recession, the scale of the subsequent rebound has been remarkable.Glance at your portfolio now and you might only see a small dent. There is...

Total revenue for six months £13.4 billionPre-tax profit for six months £5.3 billionShares up 3% year-to-dateBritish American Tobacco (BATS) said it was on track to deliver full year 2024 guidance of low-single digit revenue and profit growth with a second half weighting, which disappointed investors.The company highlighted a challenging macro environment in the US and 'stretched' consumers...

Stock prices in London were in the red on Tuesday morning, as non-food sales in the UK remained in decline, while retail sales edged up only mildly in May.The FTSE 100 index opened down 31.15 points, or 0.4%, at 8,229.30. The FTSE 250 was down 105.98 points, or 0.5%, at 20,794.74, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.27 points, or 0.2%, at 803.84.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 821.19, the Cboe...

Oil prices recently hit a four-month high with Brent crude topping $86 per barrel after US inventories came in lower than expected and amid reports of attacks on Russian facilities.Yet the FTSE 350 Oil & Gas Producers sector is pretty much flat, like the wider UK market. In the US, energy stocks are underperforming the S&P 500 with a 7.4% gain against 9.4% for the wider market.Writing in...

£27.3 billion non-cash impairment chargeGlobal settlement with rival Philip Morris Strong performance from new categories Investors in British American Tobacco (BATS) ?rewarded? the global tobacco giant this morning despite it reporting a loss from operations of £15.75 billion for the year ending 31 December after incurring a £27.3 billion non-cash impairment charge mainly related to its US...

Vaping supplier shares down over 6%UK ban on disposable vapes announcedVape sales have grown in recent yearsShares in vaping supplier Supreme (SUP) were down over 6% to 98.50p and Chill Brands (CHLL) fell more than 20% to 3p in morning trading as the UK government announced its intention to ban disposable vapes.Last year prime minister Rishi Sunak said at the Conservative Party conference that...

As we approach the end of the year it is an opportune moment to shine a light on some of this year's least-loved stocks.Rather than look at the stocks which have lost the most, we have collected together those trading at or near their lows for the year along with those with the fewest friends in the analyst community and those which the hedge fund community thinks are outright shorts.If we...

For the second part of our annual survey, we asked fund managers if they had changed their view on any stocks this year, for better or for worse, and what lay behind their decisions.As with the winners and losers survey last week, the answers were often frank and once again we would like to thank everyone who took part.Thomas Moore - Aberdeen Equity Income Trust (AEI)THE STOCK THAT I CHANGED...

Shares in British American Tobacco (BATS) took a proper pounding after the firm lowered its full year 2023 sales outlook and said it would incur an impairment charge of around £25 billion.Newly-appointed chief executive Tadeu Marroco explained the charge was due to 'the current macro-economic headwinds impacting the US combustibles industry' and a reassessment of some of its US cigarette...

Recent dovish discourse from the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve boosted investor sentiment across Europe on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 25.54 points, 0.3%, at 7,515.38. The FTSE 250 ended up 179.20 points, 1.0%, at 18,666.73, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.44 points, 0.2%, at 718.12.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 751.85, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 1.1% at...

Stocks in London climbed on Wednesday afternoon, buoyed by softer US employment data which strengthened the case for the Federal Reserve to move interest rates lower soon enough.Investors are increasingly pricing in a similarly dovish outlook for the European Central Bank, hurting the pound but lifting stocks in mainland Europe.?The rate cut narrative continues to gather pace, leading to a...

Group revenue at lower end of rangeShares down 31% year-to-dateRemains committed to 'building a smokeless world'Shares in British American Tobacco (BATS) fell over 8% to £22.66 as the global tobacco firm made no change to full year 2023 guidance and earnings per share delivery in its latest trading update.Group organic revenue growth is now expected to be at the low end of the 3%-5% range as...

NatWest share offer mulledAlcohol duty freezePlans to simplify ISAsShares in NatWest (NWG) were down slightly at 205p as the chancellor Jeremy Hunt floated the idea of a share offer.The Government still owns a 39% stake in the UK high street bank. The concern may be that shares will be offering to investors at a discount, acting as an overhang on the share price.PUBS AND BOOZE STOCKS TOAST...

If you started your investing journey at any point in the dozen or so years prior to the global pandemic, today's challenges will look very strange to you. The decade or more market environment of low inflation and ultra-low borrowing costs was a fertile framework for growth investing, yet the reopening of the world post-Covid has cooked up a toxic stew of wealth-sapping inflation and rising...