So far, China's Year of the Dragon hasn't brought investors a great deal of prosperity with the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index of Chinese shares up by less than 3% against a 15% gain for the FTSE World Index.Recent data also suggests the economy is slowing with second-quarter GDP (gross domestic product) only rising by 4.7%, its slowest pace for five quarters and well below economists' forecasts

Progress made with growth strategyFull year pre-tax profit up 43%Over the past year shares have gained 16%Shares in Jet2 (JET2:AIM) were up over 1% in morning trading at £13.08 as the airline and package holidays provider reported a 43% jump in pre-tax profit to £529.5 million for the year ending 31 March 2024.Total revenue was up 24% to £6.25 billion compared to £5.03 billion last year.The ai

Second-quarter fees down 12%June exit rate even worse, reversing 18%Firm cuts full-year profit goalFTSE 250 firm PageGroup (PAGE) sent the European staffing sector lower across the board after warning soft trading in the second quarter meant full-year profits would be below expectations.PageGroup shares fell as much as 60p, or 15%, to a 12-month low of 360p before recovering to trade down around 6

Now the ballots have been cast at the general election, the UK could become the 'reassuringly boring' market, both politically and fiscally, when compared to the more extreme politics on the other side of the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean.So suggests Jean Roche, manager of the Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP), who notes capital allocators know more or less what to expect, which could explain th

Blue chips were in demand at midday on Friday, ahead of a US inflation print later in the session, which is expected to show a softening of the core personal consumption expenditures inflation gauge.The FTSE 100 index traded 46.01 points higher, 0.6%, at 8,225.69. The FTSE 250 rose 50.55 points, 0.3%, at 20,382.352, while the AIM All-Share climbed 1.52 points, 0.2%, at 765.99.The Cboe UK 100 rose

Sales down 5% last yearNet debt halved, gross margins upOptimistic of profitable growthShares in Gear4music (G4M:AIM) rallied 10% to 147.5p after the online musical instrument seller said it was 'optimistic' about its prospects for further profitable growth during full year 2025 having implemented a refreshed growth strategy.While the electric guitar, drum kit and piano purveyor's results for the

Stock prices in London were in the green on Friday morning, making tentative gains despite blue-chip equities in mainland Europe starting the day slowly.The FTSE 100 index traded 8.57 points higher, 0.1%, at 8,281.03. The FTSE 250 was up 22.01 points, 0.1%, at 20,520.73, though the AIM All-Share added 1.85 points, 0.2%, at 774.23.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.1% to 823.76, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.2% at 1

Motorpoint (MOTR) 139pMarket cap: £123.4 millionRisk-tolerant investors seeking a recovery stock with an exciting market share opportunity ahead of it should hop behind the wheel of Motorpoint (MOTR).Admittedly the used car dealer has just had its toughest year in a quarter of a century, but with market conditions improving the business has returned to profitability and has a brighter road ahead

Stock up 14.3% in unconditional dealingsAffordable computer developer already profitableIPO will boost brand awarenessToday marked the first day of unconditional dealing on the stock market for Raspberry Pi (RPI), which meant investors could buy and sell shares in the affordable computer designer as they wished without restrictions.This trading freedom saw the stock enjoy another pop, jumping a fu

Pre-tax profits soared 90% last yearHeavyweight backers include Arm and Sony$21.2 billion market opportunityAffordable computer developer Raspberry Pi (RPI) made a stunning debut on the London Stock Exchange with its IPO (initial public offering) priced at 280p, the top end of the range, and the shares surging 30% higher to 360p in early dealings.UK tech stories are few and far between in London,

Stocks in London fell on Friday at midday despite a positive outlook from the CBI for the UK economy, ahead of a US jobs report reading.The FTSE 100 index was down 47.62 points, 0.6%, at 8,237.71. The FTSE 250 was down 105.46 points, 0.5%, at 20,610.42, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.27 points, 0.3%, at 794.27.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.6% at 821.06, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.6% at 18,031.68, a

Stock prices in London in London fell on Friday morning, with C&C Group in the FTSE 250 diving as its CEO Patrick McMahon stepped down immediately over accounting issues.The FTSE 100 index was down 8.13 points, or 0.1%, at 8,276.96. The FTSE 250 was down 51.50 points, or 0.3%, at 20,664.47, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.69 points, or 0.2%, at 794.99.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 824.99, the

Markets ended last Friday in the green after the US April CPE (core personal expenditure) deflator rose by 2.7%, in line with expectations and lending support to the argument inflation is heading towards the Federal Reserve's official 2% target even if there are a few bumps in the road.This week started on a bright note with the UK Manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers' index) showing a return to

Stock prices were mostly higher at midday on Wednesday as markets prepared for possible rate cuts in Europe and Canada, with a boost for Smith & Nephew but a slump for B&M European despite strong earnings.The FTSE 100 was up 24.43 points, 0.3%, at 8,256.47. The FTSE 250 was down 13.88 points, 0.1%, at 20,704.11, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.53 points, 0.4%, at 801.73.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3%

Q1 sales and earnings beat expectationsFull year outlook raisedApparel and footwear a bright spot for US consumersShares in Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS:NYSE) jumped 16% to an all-time high on Wednesday (29 May) after the omni-channel retailer reported better than expected first quarter sales and profit growth and raised its full year outlook.Executive chairman Ed Stack noted the product pipeline fr

1H trading above expectationsUS infrastructure a big driverShares top their decade-old highSpecialist geotechnical contractor Keller Group (KLR) sparked a stampede to buy its shares after it published an upbeat trading statement ahead of today?s AGM (annual general meeting).The stock price leapt 178p or 15.7% to a new all-time high of £13.14, surpassing the previous high struck more than a decade

The UK stock market has enjoyed quite the ride this year, with the FTSE 100 keeping pace with the S&P 500 in the US and hitting new record highs. It is certainly helping to raise the profile of what has been an unloved part of the investment universe ? however, investors often overlook one of the UK?s key attributes.You might think having a rich pool of takeover targets on cheap valuations is why

Group revenue year-on-year down 6.7%Print revenue down 6%Circulation revenue down 3.4%Shares in Reach (RCH) were up over 9% to 81p in morning trading as one of the UK?s biggest newspaper groups said it was ?on track? to deliver full year expectations.Investors seemed to ignore the 6.7% fall in group revenue with print revenue falling 6% and circulation revenue falling 3.4% in the first quarter.The

London?s FTSE 100 made a bright start to trading on Thursday, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell played down fears of an interest rate increase, although cuts remain on the back-burner.The FTSE 100 index rose 18.12 points, 0.2%, at 8,139.36. The FTSE 250 edged up just 4.56 points to 19,931.15, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.19 points, 0.2%, at 766.17.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 812.66, t

Chemicals companies produce the compounds used in a huge variety of different industrial and consumer products across sectors which include agriculture, healthcare, technology, aerospace, sports, leisure and beauty.The breadth of the industry?s focus means its fortunes are closely tied to the economy and movements in GDP as well as volatility in raw material prices and energy costs.In 2023 the sec