European markets were solidly higher heading into Monday afternoon, with the blue-chip benchmark in Paris leading the way after more favourable than expected French election results.The FTSE 100 index was up 24.91 points, or 0.3%, at 8,189.06. The FTSE 250 was up 74.56 points, or 0.4%, at 20,360.19, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.46 points, or 0.2%, at 765.84.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 815.04,

Stock prices in London opened higher on Monday, ahead of the UK general election on Thursday and amid news that UK house prices grew in June.The CAC 40 in Paris was outperforming other major indices in Europe, amid news that the far right secured a lead in the first round of polling in France.The FTSE 100 index opened up 30.00 points, 0.4%, at 8,194.12. The FTSE 250 was up 120.42 points, 0.6%, at

Look at the investment trust space if you want to outperform the market when it comes to investing in UK smaller companies.Using data from FE Fundinfo, Shares compared the sector performance to the FTSE All-Share and the Numis Smaller Companies indices.Only seven out of 17 open-ended funds in the UK Smaller Companies sector have beaten the market over the past five years, according to analysis by

Mobile billing technology supplier Boku (BOKU:AIM) has experienced a trading boom in lockdown after reporting strong performance in both its Payments and Identity divisions through the five months to 31 May 2020.The £222m market cap company says demand has soared for home entertainment - such as streamed movies, music, gaming - during lockdown, leading to 'record' new users making their first pay

UK stocks rallied on Wednesday after two days of losses with domestically focused banks and insurers the main drivers amid thin corporate news.Leading the gains were Lloyds Bank (LLOY) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) up 3% apiece to 36.3p and 135p respectively, supported by insurers RSA (RSA) and Phoenix (PHNX) up 2% to 423p and 675p respectively.At 9am the FTSE 100 index was up 0.4% to 6,360 poi

After a strong recovery overnight in US markets, with the S&P500 gaining 4.6% and the Dow Jones index gaining 5%, European markets posted increases of 2% or more in early trading on Tuesday.The FTSE 100 rallied 1% to 6,728 with every sector registering gains although notably defensive areas such as Tobacco and Utilities were still among the best performers suggesting investors are hedging their be

UK stocks opened slightly lower today with the FTSE 100 off 0.17% at 7,600.4 while the FTSE 250 index was flat at 21,720.Gambling stocks were on the back foot following the banning of credit cards which comes into effect on April 14. GVC (GVC) was trading off 0.24%, William Hill (WHM) was 2% lower while Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) shares were 0.8% softer.Online fashion retailer Boohoo (BOO) bucke

London's FTSE 100 was broadly flat early on Wednesday as raised tensions between the US and China over Hong Kong helped renew trade war fears and led to subdued investor sentiment. Sterling slipped back amid concern over the fate of a possible Brexit deal, providing a boost to the blue chip benchmark's overseas earners.Fallen online fast fashion retailer ASOS (ASC:AIM), which has issued two profit

Financial technology company R8 is preparing a London stock market share listing as it looks to raise extra growth funding, possibly as soon as July 2019.The company is believed to be sounding out new investors that could see it raise something like £20m of fresh funding, with speculation suggesting a £50m market valuation if it gets the IPO (initial public offering) away.R8 recently raised arou

Despite all the uncertainty created by Brexit the latest reading from the Quoted Companies Alliance/YouGov Small & Mid-Cap Sentiment index suggests most small and medium-sized companies in the UK are optimistic about 2019.Nearly three quarters of the companies surveyed expect to increase the number of employees in the coming 12 months and 47% are looking to raise capital over the same time period

Payments firm Boku (BOKU:AIM) is an incredibly attractive investment proposition, delivering growth on multiple metrics. It is enjoying rapid earnings growth in a market which itself is growing, plus Boku's own market share is increasing. Furthermore, its share price is also in a firm rising trend.The £364m business is capitalising on a growing trend for consumers willing to pay for digital exper

App store and digital content company Boku (BOKU:AIM) may soon be a profitable business. Stockbroker Peel Hunt forecasts $0.7m of pre-tax profit (approximately £0.49m, the company reports in dollars) for the year to 31 December 2018. That could soar to $8.5m in 2019 if the broker has got its assumptions right.Analysts believe the company's value proposition and supplier relationships with key dig

Direct carrier billing specialists Bango (BGO:AIM) and peer Boku (BOKU:AIM) have seen their commission from app store purchases shrink to just 1.4% each.Direct carrier billing is where consumers can elect to charge app store purchases to their monthly phone bill rather use a credit card.But as digital purchases continue to soar, large app store operators - Amazon, Google and Apple, for example - a

Mobile payments specialist Boku (BOKU:AIM) hopes AIM can provide the support needed to help the business advance towards a maiden profit. It has raised £45m with £30m of this sum going to selling shareholders.The US-based business provides direct carrier billing to content providers and major mobile networks.For the six months to 30 June 2017 the company made a $2.8m loss before interest, tax, d