London's FTSE 100 traded ever-so-slightly lower early on Tuesday, while the pound rose further above the $1.26 mark, after data showed the UK jobless rate was lower than expected and wage growth was hotter than forecast.The FTSE 100 index fell just 3.18 points at 8,764.83. The FTSE 250 fell 41.07 points, 0.2%, at 20,897.61, and the AIM All-Share rose 1.10 points, 0.2%, at 726.32.The Cboe UK 100 fe

Stock prices in Europe opened in the green on Thursday, ahead of an expected interest rate cut by the Bank of England, with weekly US jobless claims figures also on the horizon.The FTSE 100 index added 67.85 points, 0.8%, at 8,691.14. The FTSE 250 rose 99.21 points, 0.5%, at 20,862.09. The AIM All-Share rose 1.51 points, 0.2%, at 717.17.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.9% at 870.14, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0

London's key index closed Monday in the green amid a broad US tech sell-off which saw Nvidia holders unsettled by the progress of Chinese technology firm Deepseek.The FTSE 100 index ended up just 1.36 points at 8,503.71. The FTSE 250 lost 148.55 points, 0.7%, at 20,369.50, and the AIM All-Share fell 3.66 points, 0.50%, at 711.39.The Cboe UK 100 ended up slightly at 852.40 on Monday, the Cboe UK 25

Blue chip indices in Europe were lower on Monday midday, while investor eyes are also stateside, as tech stocks tumble in response to China's DeepSeek AI chatbot gaining popularity.The FTSE 100 index traded down 27.06 points, 0.3%, at 8,475.29. The FTSE 250 was down 127.27 points, 0.6%, at 20,390.78, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.30 points, 0.6%, at 710.75.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.3% lower at 849.

Blue-chips in Europe opened lower on Monday morning, in nervy trade before eyes turn to central bank meetings and earnings from Meta, Microsoft, Apple and Tesla this week.The FTSE 100 index opened down 35.39 points, 0.4%, at 8,467.81. The FTSE 250 was down 115.54 points, 0.6%, at 20,402.51, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.52 points, 0.5%, at 711.53.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.4% lower at 848.73, the Cb

The market is alive with chatter about a mega-merger in the mining space after the revelation of a failed coupling between Rio Tinto (RIO) and Glencore (GLEN). That's understandable for several reasons, but recent history shows flirtations between corporate giants often go unconsummated.Having covered the oil and gas sector for nearly 20 years, I have seen the topic of a combination between

Blue chip stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the green at Wednesday midday, while British pub operator JD Wetherspoon was down a notch as it warned on higher costs amid an incoming increase in national insurance contributions for UK employers.The UK Chancellor is unlikely to be celebrating after public sector net borrowing rose to £17.81 billion in December, far outpacing FXStree

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

Key UK indices were broadly flat at Thursday's close as the ECB decided to 'play it safe' with interest rate cuts.Also, the UK prime minister has said providing homes for people must be the 'top priority' over nature and the environment as government reforms are set to allow more building on the green belt.A shake-up of planning rules means councils have been given mandatory targets to deliver a t

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%

Stock prices in Europe opened in the green on Monday as Donald Trump picked hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as the next US Treasury secretary, a 'clear nod' to New York equity markets.Bookending the FTSE 100, meanwhile, were two retail names. JD Sports added 3.5%, recovering after slumped 16% on Thursday and losing another 2.1% on Friday. B&Q owner Kingfisher plunged 11% after trimming the top en

I can't be the only person who walks down the aisle of a local convenience-style supermarket and finds their jaw dropping at some of the prices.For anyone without a car and/or uncomfortable with buying online, and therefore reliant on these outlets for their weekly grocery shop rather than just picking up bits and pieces, the extra cost is significant. Consumer group Which? reckons you're talking

Markets closed lower in London on Thursday as analysts warned the UK budget set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday may have 'materially changed the inflationary path,' making a Bank of England rate cut unlikely.The FTSE 100 index closed down 49.53 points, or 0.6%, at 8,110.10. The FTSE 250 ended down 305.16 points, or 1.5%, at 20,388.96, and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.0%, or 7.42 po

European stocks were down heading into Thursday afternoon, as post-budget trade in the UK was characterised by stretching bond yields and largely weaker equities.The prospect of higher for longer UK interest rates as a result supported lenders, but hit retail and housebuilding shares.US stocks are called to open lower, in the aftermath of earnings from Meta and Microsoft, and ahead of US data in t

Shares ended mixed in London on Wednesday as the UK government delivered its long-awaited tax plan, which though a 'difficult choice,' was largely in line with investor expectations.The FTSE 100 index closed down 59.98 points, or 0.7%, at 8,159.63. The FTSE 250 ended up 71.33 points, or 0.4%, at 20,694.12, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.0%, or 28.82 points, at 744.61.The Cboe UK 100 ended down

Stock prices in London were mixed just before the UK budget announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with the FTSE 100 lower and the FTSE 250 and AIM All-Share registering a minor gain.The FTSE 100 index traded down 42.68 points, 0.5%, at 8,176.93. The FTSE 250 was up just 3.96 points at 20,626.75, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.98 of a point, 0.1%, at 716.77.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.6% at 818.

Stock prices in Europe were higher at Thursday midday, after data showed that annual consumer price inflation in the eurozone decelerated more than expected in September, ahead of the European Central Bank announcing its next interest rate decision, with a cut expected.The FTSE 100 index was up 26.95 points, 0.3%, at 8,355.94. The FTSE 250 was up 106.07 points, or 0.5%, at 21,085.57, and the AIM A

Stock prices in Europe were lower on Thursday morning, ahead of an interest rate decision from the European Central Bank and weekly jobless data from the US.The FTSE 100 index was down 5.63 points, or 0.1%, at 8,323.44. The FTSE 250 was down 16.90 points, or 0.1%, at 20,962.60, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.56 points, or 0.2%, at 740.99.The Cboe UK 100 was slightly lower at 834.39, the Cboe UK 25

London's FTSE 100 jumped on Wednesday, massively outperforming European peers, as a deceleration in UK inflation pushed equities higher, but sent the pound hurtling below the $1.30 mark.The FTSE 100 index closed up 79.79 points, or 1.0%, at 8,329.07. The FTSE 250 ended up 185.06 points, or 0.9%, at 20,979.50, while the AIM All-Share closed up 5.57 points, 0.8%, at 739.43.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0

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