Stocks in Europe continued to fare higher on Friday midday as investors await a personal consumption expenditures data print from the US, which is the key inflationary gauge for the Federal Reserve. In UK news, the number of UK home sales picked up by a quarter month on month in May following a plunge in April as a stamp duty holiday ended, according to HM Revenue & Customs figures. Across the...

Customer confidence increasing Outlook for volume and prices raised Shares rise to six-month high Shares in homebuilders were up after Bellway (BWY) posted a positive trading update for the four months to the beginning of June. Bellway shares themselves gained 136p or 5% to a new six-month high of £28.10, while shares in Persimmon (PSN) rose 4%, Barratt Redrow (BTRW) rose 3% and Taylor Wimpey...

Nexus Infrastructure (NEXS:AIM) 134pMarket cap: £12.9 millionMicro-caps rarely feature as Great Ideas in Shares, but we have made an exception for civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Nexus Infrastructure (NEXS:AIM) which looks to be on the cusp of a change in fortunes.It is only fair to point out that micro-caps tend to be more volatile, are less liquid to trade and have a wider...

Full-year profit forecast raisedEarnings to be higher than FY24Shares top FTSE 100 gainersHousebuilder Barratt Redrow (BTRW) pleased the market with its first-half trading update and its outlook for the full year, with profits seen 'towards the upper end of expectations'.The shares jumped as much as 41p or 9% to 478p taking them to the top of the FTSE 100 leader board. 'SOLID DEMAND'For...

The FTSE 100 index fell on Friday, while short sellers are reportedly eyeing consumer-facing UK companies facing reduced customer spending and higher employment costs.'The UK outlook is getting worse by the day,' commented AJ Bell's Dan Coatsworth. 'Business and consumer sentiment is already weakening amid concerns that the new government doesn't have an effective plan to accelerate economic...

Stocks in London were in the red around Friday noon, as investors await US nonfarm payrolls data.The FTSE 100 index fell 22.26 points, 0.3%, at 8,705.52. The FTSE 250 dipped 80.59 points, 0.4%, at 20,892.77. The AIM All-Share was down 0.34 of a point at 720.50.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 872.49, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.5% to 18,223.64, and the Cboe Small Companies was down 0.3% at...

£250 million target reiteratedDowngrade cycle looks overShares rally sharply on updateThe relief following today's scheduled trading update from Vistry (VTY), the UK's largest housebuilder in volume terms, was palpable as the group confirmed its full-year 2024 profit forecast and talked up the 2025 outlook for its partnership business.The shares rallied as much as 50p or just shy of 10% to...

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...

Volumes and margins under pressureBuild-cost inflation outstrips price risesCompletions to fall around 20% this yearThe UK's largest housebuilder Barratt Developments (BDEV) posted a respectable set of full-year results and set out its stall for the coming 12 months while acknowledging that 'the backdrop will continue to be difficult'.The shares, which had gained 7% this year despite weak...

- First-half sales up on prices and order backlog- Net weekly reservations improve in January- New dividend policy suggests earnings may fallLeading UK housebuilder Barratt Developments (BDEV) posted an upbeat first-half trading update but hinted full-year earnings could be lower than last year due to the 'challenging trading conditions' it faces going forward.The shares gained 1.8% to 468p as...

- Reservations slow but completions and prices rise- Share buyback programme to resume- Stock price barely changed after early dipShareholders in Barratt Developments (BDEV) breathed a sigh of relief after the firm published a half-year trading statement which was less negative than feared and included a commitment to continue its share buyback.After initially sliding 4%, the shares recovered...

- Private reservations disappoint as buyer confidence wanes- Company slows its investment programme- Shares now offer an 11.6% dividend yieldNews of a sharp slowdown in private new home reservations over the summer sent shares in developer Barratt Developments (BDEV) to the bottom of the FTSE 250 index as investors headed for the exit.Shares in the house builder slumped 7% to a new...

After a rough time for the housebuilding sector, driven by fears over the bill for cladding repairs, Barratt Developments (BDEV) initially helped lift the mood on Wednesday morning with a strong set of first half results.However the shares, up more than 3% early on, drifted back to near parity at 627.8p despite an uptick in first-half profit as rising home prices offset the impact of a fall in...

Investors in housebuilders, estate agents and other property-related companies are not panicking about signs of a slowdown in the UK housing market despite new data showing more cracks.This would suggest investors are taking a longer-term view rather than worrying about short-term blips which is a healthy approach.The broader property sector faces a big test at the end of March when the stamp...

In a trading update for the period 1 July to 11 October house builder Barratt Developments (BDEV) said reservations were 20.8% ahead of last year while home completions were up 24%. The shares which have risen 27% over the last six weeks added 1.5% to 552p.Barratt has launched 33 new developments including joint ventures, up from 26 last year which is expected to underpin the expected recovery...

Despite Barratt Developments (BDEV) issuing guidance for annual profit to be higher than expected and to hit record levels, investors are seemingly unimpressed with the housebuilder.The shares surrendering earlier gains to trade a smidge lower at 576.2p.AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould says: 'The muted market reaction to today's news suggests some scepticism over the company's ability to...

Wednesday, 10 MayThe UK's largest housebuilder Barratt Developments (BDEV) will offer a useful barometer for the sector as a whole when it updates on trading on 10 May. Investors will focus on margin performance, the state of the London market, signs of any jitters post the triggering of Article 50 and guidance for the remainder of 2017.

A team of economics students from Isle of Man's Castle Rushen High School have won this year's national Shares4Schools competition making an impressive 16.6% profit. The school entered five teams into the competition, with the winning group naming themselves after the famous road race their isle is home of, the TT.Castle Rushen has taken part in the real money investing competition since its...