Just days after celebrating better-than-expected third-quarter net income and earnings, investors in Lloyds (LLOY) received a cold shower as the shares lost 10% of their value in response to a court ruling in a motor finance case.On 25 October, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of three claimants against FirstRand Bank and Close Brothers (CBG) over the duty of motor dealers acting as credit brok

As Martin Gamble discusses in this issue, some businesses are awaiting the upcoming Budget on 30 October with real trepidation. However, an announcement from the Labour Government was cause for celebration with one smaller company when this author had the opportunity to meet with them in early October.Flow battery technology firm Invinity Energy Systems (IES:AIM) has had a tough little spell due t

Stock prices in London were in the red on Monday midday, ahead of a slew of inflationary prints coming this week, including consumer prices from the UK on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index was down 7.70 points, or 0.1%, at 8,245.95. The FTSE 250 was down 55.44 points, or 0.3%, at 20,709.49, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.74 points, or 0.1%, at 733.11.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 825.83, the Cboe

Stock prices rose on Monday morning in London despite reports of new restrictions on the UK gambling sector and disappointing data from China, ahead of US consumer inflation expectations.The FTSE 100 index opened up 5.62 points, or 0.1%, at 8,259.69. The FTSE 250 was up 8.14 points at 20,772.98, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.78 points, or 0.1%, at 734.63.The Cboe UK 100 was down slightly at 826.7

Stock prices in Europe were in the green on Thursday as investors awaited several US data prints and remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.The People's Bank of China 'has 'thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at the economy', Pepperstone's Michael Brown said.'Fresh from big stimulus measures earlier in the week, all eyes remained focused on China amid talk that Beijing might inject up to ¥1 tril

The investment trust sector is in celebratory mood after the Labour government and the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) announced (19 September) they will exempt London-listed investment trusts from the EU's PRIIPs (Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products regulation) and Mifid directives that forced them to double-count their costs.Onerous and misleading disclosure requirements ha

First half profits plungeFirst interim dividend in five yearsFull year guidance unchangedFollowing a stunning run into the numbers, shares in Card Factory (CARD) cheapened 16% to 121p after the value-focused greeting cards-to-party supplies retailer delivered a drop in first half earnings and warned full year profits will be second half weighted.While some investors took profits on the unnerving n

Equities in London opened in the red on Monday morning, as AstraZeneca released disappointing trial results while REA upped the ante with a sweetened takeover bid for fellow property portal Rightmove.Monday's economic diary has several flash composite purchasing managers' index releases including from the US and UK.The FTSE 100 index traded down 6.78 points, 0.1%, at 8,223.21. The FTSE 250 was dow

London's FTSE 100 index fell on Tuesday, amid share price falls for some of its largest constituents, including AstraZeneca, BP and Shell.The FTSE 100 index fell 64.86 points, or 0.8%, at 8,205.98. The FTSE 250 ended flat at 20,656.14, and the AIM All-Share eased 2.87 points, or 0.4%, at 743.86.5.The Cboe UK 100 slid 0.6% to 821.91, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.1% at 18,185.65, and the Cboe Small Compan

Late-stage lung cancer trial disappointsTreatment was expected to be 'blockbuster'US regulatory approval now in doubtShares in pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN), fell more than 5% to a one month low after the UK's largest quoted company released disappointing data from a late-stage clinical trial of its precision lung cancer drug Dato-DxD.The shares have been on a tear over the last six month

Blue chips traded lower at midday on Tuesday, pegged back by falls in several index heavyweights, in a mixed day for stocks in London.The FTSE 100 index traded down 43.48 points, 0.5%, at 8,227.36. The FTSE 250 was up 32.47 points, 0.2%, at 20,683.35, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.69 of a point, 0.1%, at 746.04.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 823.76, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.4% at 18,228.80, and

London's FTSE 100 fell in early trading on Tuesday, underperforming European peers, pegged back by a sharp fall in AstraZeneca shares.The FTSE 100 index traded down 27.30 points, 0.3%, at 8,243.54. The FTSE 250 was up 57.16 points, 0.3%, at 20,708.04, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.87 of a point, 0.1%, at 747.60.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 824.77, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.4% at 18,235.85, and

Half- and full-year guidance confirmedCore brands hold up in soft marketsSecond tranche of buyback starts todayShareholders in beer and cider producer C&C Group (CCR) celebrated a small win after the company confirmed its half-year profit forecast and continued its share buyback with a small but symbolic programme to buy €15 million (£12.7 million) of stock starting today.The shares rose 2%

Stocks in London were in the red during midday trade on Friday, with investors fixed on this afternoon's US nonfarm payrolls data.The FTSE 100 index was down 30.44 points, or 0.4%, at 8,211.04. The FTSE 250 was down 136.32 points, or 0.7%, at 20,626.66, and the AIM All-Share was down 11.51 points, or 1.5%, at 747.61.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 821.21, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.8% at 18,167.1

Stock prices in Europe were in the red on Friday morning, as investors await jobs data from the US after an ADP report on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index opened down 46.25 points, or 0.6%, at 8,196.43. The FTSE 250 was down 36.18 points, or 0.2%, at 20,726.32, and the AIM All-Share was down 8.14 points, or 1.1%, at 750.98.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 819.72, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.4% at 18,252

Eight months in, 2024 is already a record year for M&A (mergers and acquisitions) in the investment trust sector.Trust boards are increasingly focused on value for money and shareholder returns amid persistently wide discounts to NAV (net asset value) and with activists nosing around. A major trend underway is mergers between sub-scale trusts with similar remits to create funds large and liquid en

CEO unexpectedly steps downPre-tax profits plunge in H1Strategic review ongoingShares in Chapel Down (CDGP:AIM) cheapened 16% to 58.5p after England's largest winemaker uncorked a first half profits plunge and said CEO Andrew Carter is leaving to take up a new role at Timothy Taylor & Co.Drinks industry veteran Carter's exit is a bitter blow to Chapel Down.During his three year stint as CEO, he ov

At the end of last year the market was pricing in 1.7% worth of US rate cuts for 2024 but here we are in late August and the Federal Reserve is yet to pull the trigger, largely due to stickier-than-expected inflation.However, after a series of false dawns, we may finally be approaching the point where the Fed acts, with a rate cut widely expected on 18 September. The debate largely centres on whet

Luca Maestri been in role for a decadeNew CFO Parekh to take role up in early 2025Investors hoping for more of the same, not step changeChange at the top always brings some sort of uncertainty, particularly when an incumbent has been in place for years. This is where Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ) finds itself after shuffling its C-suite and appointing a new chief finance officer.Long-standing CFO Luca Maest

The active fund management industry has had a tough time of things of late. Trackers, largely exchange-traded funds, which look to match the returns from global stock markets, have attracted substantial inflows as investors prize their low costs and the diversification they offer.Compounding this, because the performance of major indices has been driven by a concentrated number of huge tech names,