Major indices in Europe were in the green around midday Friday, as investors await producer price inflation data coming from the US.The FTSE 100 index was up 19.98 points, 0.2%, at 8,243.32. The FTSE 250 was down 31.65 points, 0.2%, at 21,157.26, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.60 points, 0.3%, at 784.13.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 822.37, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.1% at 18,423.27, and the Cboe

Stock prices in Europe ended lower on Tuesday, with fears of a French political impasse keeping optimism at bay, while a lack of an obvious dovish tilt to remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell meant there was no bullish impetus added to late dealings.The central banker said he would like to see 'more' favourable data before the federal funds rate target range is cut. Whether that comes in

European stock prices were in the red on Tuesday afternoon, as the political deadlock in France continued following the election.Amongst individual stocks, BP took a hit on the FTSE 100 index after warning of a hit to refining margins.The FTSE 100 index was down 6.21 points, 0.1%, at 8,187.28. The FTSE 250 was down 15.55 points, 0.1%, at 20,782.77, and the AIM All-Share was down just 0.070 of a po

Up to $2 billion impairment expectedBP sees earnings hit from lower refining marginsHunting upgrades guidance, Wood wins Shell contractBP (BP.) shares slid 3.6% to 457.6p on Tuesday after the energy producer warned it would book impairments of up to $2 billion in the second quarter of 2024 arising from plans to scale back refining operations in Germany which have been hit by rising energy costs an

Stocks in London opened mixed on Tuesday ahead of the testimony by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, while BP and Shell fell as BP expects a $2 billion impairment charge.The FTSE 100 index opened up 18.23 points, 0.2%, at 8,211.72. The FTSE 250 was down 16.05 points, 0.1%, at 20,782.27, and the AIM All-Share was down just 0.20 of a point at 774.96.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 818.02, the C

Stock prices in London were mildly up after no block in France secured a majority, with the left-wing New Popular Front beating the far right.Amongst individual stocks, Britvic got a boost, after it backed a £3.3 billion takeover offer from Carlsberg.The FTSE 100 index opened up just 1.20 points at 8,205.13. The FTSE 250 was up 36.32 points, 0.2%, at 20,822.97, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.03 o

Stocks in London closed mostly higher on Thursday as investors awaited the outcome of the UK general election.Pollsters currently have Labour waking up to a majority, marking the first time that the party has been in power since 2010.The FTSE 100 index closed up 70.14 points, or 0.9%, at 8,241.26. The FTSE 250 ended up 80.92 points, or 0.4%, at 20,610.34, while the AIM All-Share closed fractionall

European stocks opened in the red on Tuesday, with eyes on eurozone inflation data, a US labour market report, and words from central bankers at a conference in Portugal.The FTSE 100 index traded 51.69 points lower, 0.6%, at 8,115.07. The FTSE 250 fell 75.96 points, 0.4%, at 20,146.12, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.67 points, 0.2%, at 763.51.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 807.43, the Cboe UK

Most investors won't have heard of BP Marsh (BPM:AIM), the specialist investor in early-stage financial services businesses.Formed over 30 years ago by current chairman Brian Marsh, the firm takes an 'eyes-on, hands-off approach' to investing, taking small stakes in new businesses where it knows the owners and allowing them to run their companies their way.'Investors should think of us as a mini-B

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 17,7

Stock prices in London closed lower on Tuesday, with New York tracking down, although the cooling US job market fed hopes of interest rate cuts.The FTSE 100 index closed down 30.71 points, 0.4%, at 8,232.04. The FTSE 250 ended down 182.50 points, 0.9%, at 20,717.99, and the AIM All-Share closed down 6.96 points, 0.8%, at 798.20.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 820.70, the Cboe UK 250 closed down

Stock prices in London were in the red at midday Tuesday, as BP and Shell declined, dragging down the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 down 45.69 points, 0.6%, at 8,217.06. The FTSE 250 was down 201.18 points, 1.0%, at 20,699.31, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.59 points, 0.6%, at 800.57.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 819.51, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.0% at 18,195.00, and the Cboe Small Companies was dow

Trust outperforms by 3% in first halfEuropean markets up nearly 15%Discount to NAV remains around 10%Co-managers of the Henderson European Focus Trust (HEFT), Tom O'Hara and John Bennett, conceded that it was more important to 'stay out of trouble' over the six months to the end of March as the FTSE World Europe (ex UK) index powered ahead by 14.9% on a total return basis.The trust delivered a 3%

Blue-chip stocks in Europe ended lower on Thursday, with a handful of ex-dividend shares hurting the FTSE 100, though there was bullishness in New York, as major benchmarks across the Atlantic hit record highs.The mood in New York was supported by retailer Walmart's first-quarter earnings beat and outlook raise.The FTSE 100 index edged down 7.15 points, 0.1%, at 8,438.65. The FTSE 250 added 47.21

Stocks prices in London were higher at midday on Tuesday, as local data added to the uplift provided by US markets on Monday.The FTSE 100 index was up 82.73 points, 1.0%, at 8,296.22. The FTSE 250 was up 225.42 points, 1.1%, at 20,389.96, and the AIM All-Share was 5.72 points, 0.7%, at 777.25.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.0% at 828.39, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0% at 17,662.42, and the Cboe Small Compan

Weaker oil and gas prices weigh$1.75 billion buyback maintained$2 billion-plus cost-saving targetShares in BP (BP.) fell 0.75% to 506.6p in a rising market after the energy producer?s first-quarter results missed expectations with weaker oil and gas prices and an unplanned US refinery outage curbing profits.However, the FTSE 100 energy titan?s shareholder-friendly focus helped limit the price dama

Stocks in London were in the green on Tuesday morning, tracking a rise in global equities following weaker US jobs data and a UK public holiday on Monday.The FTSE 100 index opened up 69.25 points, 0.8%, at 8,282.95. The FTSE 250 was up 187.86 points, 0.9%, at 20,352.21, and the AIM All-Share was up 4.81 points, 0.6%, at 776.37.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.9% at 826.93, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.9% at 1

Markets were sunny at the time of London?s closing bell on Friday, with investors across the pond enthused by renewed hopes for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.The FTSE 100 index closed up 41.34 points, 0.5%, at 8,213.49. The FTSE 250 ended up 112.21 points, 0.6%, at 20,164.54, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.42 points, 0.5%, at 771.53.Over the course of the week, they were up 0.9%, 1.7%, an

London?s blue-chips made steady progress on Thursday, whilst mid-caps struggled for direction, as investors took stock of the latest US interest rate call.The FTSE 100 index rose 28.57 points, 0.4%, at 8,149.81. The FTSE 250 edged down just 3.93 points to 19,922.66, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.50 of a point, 0.1%, at 765.48.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 813.60, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.2% to 17

Since BP (BP.) reported its full-year results on 6 February, events in the Middle East have helped drive Brent crude oil prices higher to bubble around the $90 per barrel mark.While this has already provided a boost to BP?s share price, it is only likely to have affected the last few weeks of the first-quarter trading period which BP will be reporting on when it updates the market on 7 May.Investo