The FTSE 100 managed to recover some ground on Friday afternoon as it emerged the R number, showing how quickly Covid-19 is being transmitted, fell to between 0.8 and 1 across the UK.This encouraging news on the course of the pandemic helped the index off its lows to trade down 0.3% at 6,695.07. Over in the US the S&P 500 was also down 0.3% to 3,841.23 by 4.30pm UK time.Airlines and travel...

The FTSE 100 fell sharply by lunchtime Friday as investors weighed a string of negative economic updates and amid fears of a lengthy lockdown in the UK.Airlines and travel operators were also under pressure International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) down 3.9% to 150.9p on comments from Spain suggesting holidays to one of Britons' favourite holiday destinations might be delayed until late...

The FTSE joins in with a wider decline across European markets as the Eurogroup meets to discuss the Eurozone's other pressing issue aside from Brexit, Greece. That sparks a modest 16 points, or rough 0.25%, decline in the FTSE 100 blue-chips to 6,840. 'Its losses largely seem to come from the commodity sector despite the fact that Brent Crude briefly touched $50 per barrel during yesterday...

London shares make steady gains in early trade on Friday, matching gains made on Wall Street and in Asia overnight. , with midcaps making similar advances, the FTSE 250 up 104 points at 17,108.In corporate news, the decision by Glencore (GLEN) to scale back its zinc production has triggered a 6% rise in the metal price and given a spur to the mining sector. Supply cuts are needed in most...

London shares shrug-off expectations of a lower start to make steady gains in early trade on Wednesday, with miners making strong gains on commodity price speculation. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rallies 50-points, or 0.8%, to 6,376 dragging midcaps and smaller company indexes along for the ride. The FTSE 250 is up 0.13% at 17,155, while the FTSE Small Cap index rises 0.3% to 4,610.Mining...

UK stocks decline in early trade on Friday as investors continue to digest the Bank of England's policy meeting minutes and looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates next week. The BoE on Thursday voted 8-1 to keep interest rates and the asset purchase programme unchanged, pointing to weak inflation. The consumer price index rose 0.1% in July, well below the BoE's target...

Diamonds are the gem of the mining sector in more ways than one, illustrated by many related equities experiencing a strong rally in their share price. The market fundamentals look positive so we believe there's still further upside in the sub-sector. The challenge for investors is whether to buy producers, whose share prices have already performed well, or the laggard small explorers who are...

ll the bad news looks priced into the Diamonds & Gemstones subsector and now is a good time to buy ahead of a rebound in diamond prices. The cost of gems fell as wholesalers and cutters/polishers reduced purchases of rough stones well ahead of the profits warnings subsequently spewed out by the luxury goods firms. Many of the UK-quoted miners are trading at 12-month lows but the drop in...