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

Trio of agreements signed with BPBased on decades-long partnershipPotential for four year extensionGlobal oil and gas engineering firm Wood Group (WG.) jumped 10% to 70.2p after signing a trio of global engineering and project delivery agreements with BP (BP.).The positive news gave some respite to the embattled company, which has seen its shares drop by 58% year-to-date.Shares in the FTSE 250 fir

FTSE 100 mining stocks were boosted on Tuesday amid reports of Chinese economic strategy talks while a host of FTSE 250 constituents saw double-digit share price rises after well-received earnings.The FTSE 100 index rose 46.52 points, 0.6%, at 8,359.41. The FTSE 250 ended 123.69 points higher, 0.6%, at 20,892.74, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.05 points, 0.3%, at 735.09.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.8%

London's FTSE 100 held modest gains around midday on Monday but there were mixed fortunes elsewhere in Europe, as the DAX 40 hit a new high while the CAC 40 faltered.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.07 points, 0.2%, to 8,300.37. The FTSE 250 slipped just 6.30 points at 20,765.27, and the AIM All-Share added only 0.18 of a point at 732.67.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 833.95, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.1% a

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Stock prices in London beat their counterparts in Paris and Frankfurt on Wednesday morning, edging slightly higher, despite a weaker oil price hitting Shell and BP.Shell lost 0.4% and BP 0.2% on Middle East ceasefire hope.The FTSE 100 index added 11.44 points, 0.1%, at 8,270.05. The FTSE 250 rose 36.35 points, 0.2%, at 20,605.00, and the AIM All-Share added 2.55 points, 0.4%, at 733.14.The Cboe UK

Indices in London closed higher on Monday as the market reacted favourably to President-elect Trump's choice of Scott Bessent to head the US Treasury, although oil majors suffered amid falling brent prices.AJ Bell's Russ Mould said Bessent is perceived as being a relatively 'conventional and safe pair of hands candidate'.'Importantly, Bessent is seen as being less aggressive on tariffs than some o

London's stocks were mostly higher at Friday midday amid gloomy economic data which could boost expectations for interest rate cuts.The FTSE 100 index rose 52.48 points, 0.6%, at 8,201.52. The FTSE 250 climbed 170.72 points, 0.8%, at 20,520.41, and the AIM All-Share gained 4.33 points, 0.6%, at 730.07.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6% at 824.79, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.1% at 17,998.02, and the Cboe Sma

Equities in Europe ended higher on Thursday, overcoming some earlier uncertain trade, as comments from a US official calmed some geopolitical worries which kept a lid on investor enthusiasm.Nonetheless, Brent remained above the $73 mark, supporting oil majors.Moscow's ambassador in London said Thursday Britain was 'now directly involved' in Russia's war with Ukraine, following reports Kyiv had fir

Blue-chips in London traded in the green around midday on Thursday, as the escalating conflict in Ukraine pushed oil and gold prices higher.The FTSE 100 index added 25.97 points, 0.3%, at 8,111.04. The FTSE 250 lost 45.77 points, 0.2%, at 20,198.99, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.00 points, 0.3%, at 724.34.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 815.30, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.2% at 17,701.10, and the Cbo

European equities were mostly in the red on Thursday morning amid a threat of higher for longer interest rates, following a lofty UK inflation reading and a caution against turbocharged US easing from a Federal Reserve official.The FTSE 100 index added just 0.40 of a point at 8,085.47. The FTSE 250 lost just 7.21 points at 20,237.55, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.18 points, 0.4%, at 725.52.The Cboe

Equities in London ended lower on Friday, with miners and other China-exposed stocks hurting the FTSE 100, though a reassuring update from the British Airways parent lifted travel shares.Broker cuts hurt Greggs and Mitchells & Butler, while investors fretted for Vistry again after the housebuilder warned on profit.The FTSE 100 index fell 68.35 points, 0.8%, at 8,072.39, fading 1.3% this week. The

The FTSE 100 made a tepid start to the week on Monday, ending just about in the green and falling below earlier highs, as caution prevailed ahead of the US presidential election.The FTSE 100 index closed up 7.09 points, or 0.1%, at 8,184.24. The FTSE 250 ended down 18.45 points, or 0.1%, at 20,461.29, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.63 points, 0.5%, at 735.37.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 8

Stock prices in London were in the green at midday on Monday, as budget fears were shaken off ahead of the US presidential election on Tuesday and the Bank of England interest rate decision on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index was up 52.82 points, 0.7%, at 8,229.97. The FTSE 250 was up 78.24 points, 0.4%, at 20,557.98, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.01 points, flat, at 739.01.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6%

Results exceed gloomy estimatesSignificant drop in net debtFresh $3.5 billion buybackShares in Shell (SHEL) ticked up 1% to £25.15 after the energy giant delivered better-than-expected third-quarter results as headwinds from lower oil prices and weaker refining margins were partially offset by higher gas sales.There was also relief as the oil major reported a quarter-on-quarter decrease in net de

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Stocks in London ended Tuesday in the red, weighed down by some pre-budget uncertainty, while indices on Wall Street were mixed following US economic data, ahead of earnings from Alphabet.The FTSE 100 index closed down 66.01 points, or 0.8%, at 8,219.61. The FTSE 250 ended down 212.31 points, or 1.0%, at 20,622.79, and the AIM All-Share closed down 5.31 points, or 0.7%, at 715.79.The Cboe UK 100 e

London's FTSE 100 held modest gains around lunchtime on Tuesday but mid-caps wavered as nerves set in ahead of the budget.The UK budget, the first under this Labour government, is announced on Wednesday. The latest ADP US jobs report is also tomorrow afternoon, about 48 hours before Friday's official nonfarm payrolls. Election day in the US is next week Tuesday, with decisions from the Federal Res