Soft UK economic figures did little to deter a market uplift on Friday, as Asian stocks are boosted on hopes of consumer spending stimulus.The FTSE 100 index traded up 59.66 points, 0.7%, at 8,600.72. The FTSE 250 was up 175.56 points, 0.9%, at 19,863.93, and the AIM All-Share was up 5.86 points, 0.9%, at 685.32.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% at 859.45, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0% at 17,326.55,...

London stocks opened in the green on Friday, though tariff woes have weighed on sentiment in recent days, and blue-chip shares in Europe remain set for a weekly decline.The FTSE 100 index traded up 31.11 points, 0.4%, at 8,573.67. The FTSE 250 was up 114.20 points, 0.6%, at 19,802.77, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.45 points, 0.5%, at 682.91.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 856.70, the Cboe UK...

Berkeley Group director buys stockHalma CFO designate buys sharesJudges Scientific director tops upMichael Dobson, non-executive director of housebuilder Berkeley Group (BKG), bought 15,000 shares at £35 for a total value of £525,000 on 15 January.Dobson's move comes after the company reported a 7.7% fall in pre-tax profit for the six months ending 31 October to £275.1 million. ...

Nationwide price index hits a two-year highHalifax survey seen confirming positive trendBuyers still boycotting housebuilding stocksShares in UK housebuilders received an early New Year's lift after the latest Nationwide price survey showed the market ended on a high note last month with particular strength in northern England.However, the rally didn't last long with Barratt Redrow (BTRW),...

The list of company directors selling more than £1 million worth of shares since Labour got into power three months ago is growing. It's as if they can see the writing on the wall with a potential hike to capital gains tax in the Budget on 30 October.By crystalising value from their investments now they can avoid handing over more of their wealth to the taxman should we see substantial...

Solid first four months90% of annual earnings in the bagBerkeley supports planning system changesHigh-end housebuilder Berkeley (BKG) welcomed planning reforms proposed by the new UK government as the FTSE 100 company assured investors it is 'on target' to meet recently upgraded earnings guidance for the year ending 30 April 2025.The London-focused property developer and housebuilder said...

Stocks closed in the green in Europe on Wednesday, following encouraging inflation data, and with housbuilders and gaming stocks leading the winners.The FTSE 100 index closed up 45.82 points, 0.6%, at 8,281.05. The FTSE 250 ended up 208.21 points, 1.0%, at 20,952.29, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.53 points, 0.5%, at 771.51.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 827.47, the Cboe UK 250 closed up...

Annual profit better than fearedFY25 profit guidance upped by 5%Berkeley branches out into Build to RentHigh-end housebuilder Berkeley (BKG) has upgraded its full-year 2025 pre-tax profit guidance after delivering a resilient performance last year despite the 'challenging and volatile' market backcloth.The FTSE 100 builder also flagged signs that the housing market outlook is improving with...

Stock prices in London closed higher on Tuesday, as markets wait for the latest Bank of England interest rate decision and UK inflation data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 49.14 points, 0.6%, at 8,191.29. The FTSE 250 ended up 250.21 points, 1.2%, at 20,409.93, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.39 points, 0.4%, at 778.32.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 815.73, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 1.1% at...

More and more UK companies are buying back their own shares. Data collected by Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, shows share buybacks at FTSE 100 companies are running at an aggregate value of £18.3 billion so far in 2024.Despite being only two months into the year, the value of buybacks already equates to 35% of the whole value of buybacks in 2023.This isn?t just a UK phenomenon...

No-one could accuse the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) of sitting on its hands, least of all this year.As well as investigating several high-profile mergers ? including this month alone Aviva (AV.)/AIG Life, SpreadEx/Sporting Image, RedBird IMI/Telegraph Media Group, Pharmacy2U/Lloyds Direct and Hitachi/Thales ? the regulator has been busy looking into pricing in the funeral market...

Stock prices in London sparkled at midday on Wednesday, as investors cheered UK inflation coming down faster than anticipated.The FTSE 100 index was up 44.63 points, 0.6%, at 7,682.66. The FTSE 250 was up 126.06 points, 0.7%, at 19,442.04, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.92 points, 0.4%, at 748.31.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at 766.92, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.7% at 16,922.53, and the Cboe...

Everyman director snaps up sharesNext directors bag half a millionBerkeley CFO sells £384,000 sharesNon-executive director of premium cinema group Everyman Media (EMAN) and director of Blue Coast Private Equity, Michael Rosehill has bought 500,000 shares at 53.5p for the total value of £267,500 on 3 October 2023.Following the purchase Blue Coast Private Equity's total holding has risen to...

As headlines go, last week's Nationwide house price report showing prices down at their fastest annual rate since 2009 takes some beating even if a decline was more or less expected by experts.The building society's August survey showed the average house price was 0.8% lower than the previous month and 5.3% lower than August 2022 at £259,153, marking an annual fall of around £14,600 on the...

New-build market has 'worsened' since JuneProfit forecast cut to due lower sales Rightmove survey adds to pessimismChertsey-based developer Crest Nicholson (CREST) released an unscheduled trading update warning that full year earnings would be up to a third lower than its previous forecasts due to the tough market for new-build housing.The shares fell as much as 14% to 167p before stabilizing...

June's larger-than-expected half percentage point interest rate rise has pushed the FTSE 100 index back into negative territory for the year and triggered fears of recession among investors and market observers.Moreover, there seems little doubt the UK central bank will raise rates again at its August meeting, the only question being by how much.'It now appears that interest rates may go...

Stock prices in London look set to end a tough three months with a gain on Friday, following a second quarter beset by interest rate worries, stubborn inflation and Chinese growth worries.The FTSE 100 is still on track to end the second quarter on worse footing than it started it, however. Peers in mainland Europe look set to achieve lukewarm gains.London's blue-chip benchmark was up 54.00...

Stocks in London closed down on Wednesday as a hotter-than-expected inflation read in the UK worsened investor fears of another rate hike from the Bank of England on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index closed down 10.13 points, or 0.1% at 7,559.18 on Wednesday. The FTSE 250 ended 174.71 points lower, or 0.9%, at 18,571.45. The AIM All-Share closed down 2.16 points, or 0.3%, at 783.02.The Cboe UK 100...

Equities in London underwhelmed heading into Wednesday afternoon, with the mood tempered by another robust UK consumer price index reading, which may force the Bank of England to dig deeper to contain inflation.A hike on Thursday by Threadneedle Street is a foregone conclusion. Wednesday data means a half-point rate lift may be on the table. The BoE had been expected to enact another 25 basis...

On target to meet guidance for 2024-5Commitment to return £283 million to shareholders up to 30 September 2025Underlying private sales reservations 15% lower than 2021/22Shares in housebuilder Berkeley Group (BKG) fell nearly 3% to £37.99 in morning trading despite reporting a 9.5% rise in pre-tax profits to £604 million for the year ending 30 April 2023 as it said its near-term market...