The FTSE 100 reached a new all-time high on Friday, with stocks comfortably in the green at midday, after sound fourth quarter growth data from China, which beat the consensus.The FTSE 100 index was up 99.25 points, 1.2%, at 8,491.24. It had earlier reached a new intra-day high of 8,496.42.The FTSE 250 was 36.40 points higher, 0.2%, at 20,564.10, and the AIM All-Share advanced 1.87 points, 0.3%, a

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher at midday Thursday, as investors await US weekly jobless claims data.UK gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in November, underperforming against the FXStreet-cited market consensus of 0.2% growth.Prime Minister Keir Starmer told broadcasters during a visit to Ukraine that the government would be 'unrelenting' in its pursuit of economic growt

Oil prices have hit a six-month high amid cold weather and new US sanctions on Russian sales of crude.This is not entirely bad news for the FTSE 100 given the heavy weighting of oil giants BP (BP.) and Shell (SHEL) in the index, but not for nothing is oil known as a tax on economic growth.Higher prices are likely to feed into higher inflation, which will only reinforce assumptions about interest r

London stocks ended mixed on Tuesday, the FTSE 250 outperforming its large-cap counterpart, enjoying its best day of the year so far as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves looked to soothe bond market nerves.The FTSE 100 index ended down 22.65 points, 0.3%, at 8,201.54. The FTSE 250 added 47.90 points, 0.2%, at 19,766.27, but the AIM All-Share lost 1.58 points, 0.2%, at 707.81.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher at midday Tuesday, with London's FTSE 100 up slightly despite oil major BP losing ground as it eyes lower production figures.Meanwhile in the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will move to reassure turbulent markets amid high government borrowing costs as she faces a grilling from MPs later today.The UK chancellor will answer questions in the Hous

The FTSE 100 closed lower on Monday, but above early lows, as bond yields continued to creep up and analysts predicted the end of the US rate cutting cycle.The FTSE 100 index closed down 24.30 points, 0.3%, at 8,224.19. The blue-chip index had fallen as low as 8,192.31.The FTSE 250 ended 15.57 points lower, 0.1%, at 19,718.37, and the AIM All-Share shed 3.99 points, 0.6%, at 709.39.The Cboe UK 100

London's blue-chips were higher around midday on Thursday, but fresh falls in the pound and bond market angst kept domestically-focused stocks on the back foot.The FTSE 100 index was up 46.80 points, 0.6%, at 8,297.83. The FTSE 250 was down 95.22 points, 0.5%, at 19,857.02, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.68 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.43.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6% at 830.81, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.5%

London's FTSE 100 ended lower on Friday, as a sharp sell-off in alcohol makers, spurred by US calls for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages, weighed on the index alongside weak housebuilders, despite gains in oil majors Shell and BP and a bright start on Wall Street.The FTSE 100 index ended down 36.11 points, 0.4%, at 8,223.98. The FTSE 250 fell 48.83 points, 0.2%, at 20,591.40. But the A

London's blue chip index was slightly in the red on Friday midday, while US markets are expected to open higher after a weak start on Wall Street on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index traded down 4.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,255.40. The FTSE 250 was down 48.37 points, 0.2%, at 20,591.86, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.19 of a point at 723.54.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 827.28, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.

London's blue chip index opened in the red on Friday morning, following a healthy start to the new year, after stocks in New York declined on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index opened down 5.86 points, 0.1%, at 8,254.23. The FTSE 250 was down 51.56 points, 0.3%, at 20,588.67, and the AIM All-Share was down just 0.01 of a point at 723.69.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 827.68, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.1% lower a

London's FTSE 100 started 2025 strong, boosted by retailers on Christmas cheer and gains in miners, despite weak manufacturing data and a falling pound.The FTSE 100 index ended up 87.07 points, 1.1%, at 8,260.09. The FTSE 250 rose 17.62 points, 0.1%, at 20,640.23. The AIM All-Share jumped 4.07 points, 0.6%, at 723.70.The Cboe UK 100 closed up 1.1% at 827.66, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.2% at 18,028.35,

London's FTSE 100 was in the green at midday on Thursday, as climbing oil and gold prices offset declines for banking and airline firms on the first day of trading in 2025.The FTSE 100 index traded up 9.94 points, 0.1%, at 8,182.96. The FTSE 250 was down 78.07 points, 0.4%, at 20,544.54, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.45 points, 0.3%, at 722.08.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 820.39, the Cboe UK 25

London's FTSE 100 made a solid start to 2025, shaking off underwhelming trade in Asia.The FTSE 100 index opened up 17.71 points, 0.2%, at 8,190.73. The FTSE 250 was up just 9.30 points, at 20,631.91, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.11 points, 0.3%, at 721.74.The FTSE 100 added 5.7% over the course of last year.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 821.34, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.1% higher at 18,078.53, and

Equities in Europe declined on Monday, in holiday-thinned trade, while declines in New York were more dramatic, with tech stocks bearing the brunt.The FTSE 100 index ended down 28.77 points, 0.4%, at 8,121.01. The FTSE 250 shed 84.10 points, 0.4%, at 20,404.55, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.89 of a point, 0.1%, at 714.23.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% at 814.55, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.4% at 17,858

Stocks in London remained in the red at midday on Monday, trimming a year-to-date gain which already fell short of loftier progress in US stocks.The FTSE 100 index traded down 15.85 points, 0.2%, at 8,133.93. The FTSE 250 was down 62.74 points, 0.3%, at 20,425.91, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.34 of a point at 715.53.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 815.90, the Cboe UK 250 down 0.2% at 17,88

London's FTSE 100 ended higher in quiet trade on Friday, though gains were more convincing in mainland Europe, shaking off declines in New York.The FTSE 100 index added 12.79 points, 0.2%, at 8,149.78. The FTSE 250 fell 82.86 points, 0.4%, at 20,488.65, and the AIM All-Share ended down 2.21 points, 0.3%, at 715.19.The Cboe UK 100 ended higher at 816.42, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.5% at 17,930.53, and

Investment trusts have experienced challenges this year, with discounts remaining wide across various sectors and some consolidation occurring. However, certain trusts have performed well compared to both the wider market and their peer group. This article highlights the top performers across four of the Association of Investment Companies' most widely followed equity-facing sectors.GLOBALAn inves

European blue-chips traded higher heading to Wednesday afternoon, but trade lacked conviction, typifying a recently uninspiring run for the FTSE 100.'After a good start to the year, the UK index has stubbornly remained in a small trading range since June,' AJ Bell analyst Dan Coatsworth commented.The FTSE 100 index traded up 9.07 points, 0.1%, at 8,289.43. The FTSE 250 was down just 10.15 points a

The FTSE 100 closed up on Monday, boosted by blue-chip oil firms responding positively to the ousting of long-standing Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.The FTSE 100 index closed up 43.47 points, 0.5%, at 8,352.08. The FTSE 250 ended down 9.73 points at 21,049.27, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.63 points, 0.4%, at 740.85.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 838.25, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.1% at 18,5

The FTSE-100 index was down on midday Thursday as fragile consumer confidence hurt Frasers Group and UK housebuilding activity declined at its sharpest pace since the summer.The FTSE 100 index fell 3.86 points at 8,331.95. The FTSE 250 eased 13.28 points, 0.1%, at 20,991.87, and the AIM All-Share dropped 1.67 points, 0.2%, at 736.54.The Cboe UK 100 was slightly higher at 837.15, the Cboe UK 250 wa