Stock prices in London and Frankfurt opened in the red on Friday, as investors prepare for eurozone economic data and digest another tariff plan from the US president.In London, NatWest faced some selling pressure despite better-than-expected results. Hermes boosted Paris, keeping the CAC 40 in the green.The FTSE 100 index fell 30.67 points, 0.4%, at 8,734.05. The FTSE 250 added just 2.35 points a

London's FTSE 100 traded lower around midday on Thursday, as poorly received earnings weighed, missing out on a Ukraine peace hope-led rally elsewhere in Europe.The FTSE 100 index traded down 58.01 points, 0.7%, at 8,749.43. The FTSE 250 was down 16.97 points, 0.1%, at 20,863.53, and the AIM All-Share fell 0.71 of a point, 0.1%, at 722.68.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.6% at 876.73, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0

Shares fall 8% to £31 in early morning trading£900 million share buyback planned in 2025Full year revenue down 5.2% but in line with expectationsShares in British American Tobacco (BATS) took a turn for the worse in early morning trading as the FTSE 100 tobacco giant reported a 5.2% fall in revenue to £25.8 billion for the year ending 31 December.The stock fell 8% to £31, although it is still

London's FTSE 100 was lower early Thursday, hurt by the likes of BAT, Barclays, Unilever and oil majors, but European peers confidently moved higher on hopes of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.Barclays fell despite reporting improved earnings. Unilever announced listing plans for its ice cream unit, meanwhile.The FTSE 100 index traded down 45.80 points, 0.5%, at 8,761.64. The FTSE 250 was up 42.78 poi

Is there going to be a tech market crash? If so, you definitely didn't hear it here first. Bearish commentators have been forecasting a correction in technology stock prices for almost as long as the current bull run has galloped onwards, and upwards. The bears certainly have reasons to be wary. The valuations of the Magnificent Seven are high, and so missing elevated growth expectations can see t

Consolidation across the investment trust sector continues, against a backdrop of wide NAV (net asset value) discounts, pressure on sub-scale funds and shareholder activism.2024 proved a record year for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across the sector, with 11 mergers and eight trusts being acquired, and this trend has continued into 2025.On 7 February, JPMorgan Global Growth & Income (JGGI) and s

BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust (BRFI) 158.5pMarket cap: £300 millionInvesting in frontier markets might seem too risky for some, yet the world's youngest economies present exciting growth opportunities for adventurous portfolio builders. When high quality, lowly valued companies with their own growth drivers and significant re-rating scope are held in a portfolio diversified by stock, geogr

You often hear the word 'defensive' applied to certain stocks and sectors, but what does it mean and can buying 'defensive' stocks really help your performance as an investor?In a word, yes, because they dial down some of the risk which is inherent in markets because they tend not to be very volatile unlike most 'cyclical' or 'growth' stocks, but it's how you use them which matters.Defensive stock

It already felt like a day of destiny, postponed so chief executive Murray Auchincloss could undergo an undisclosed medical procedure, but the stakes have been raised ahead of BP's (BP.) strategy day on 26 February.News US activist investor Elliott has joined the share register has got the share price moving in the right direction for the first time in a while, but has also ratcheted up the pressu

I have been interested to read recent commentary on the proposals to extend IHT (inheritance tax) to pensions. One point caught my attention which was the reference to a 90% effective tax rate. I'm pretty certain my estate would fall in that category, but could you explain the 90% calculation, please?My situation is I have no direct descendants, only a nephew, niece and great-nephew and I am singl

In the fourth and final part of our series on small caps we look at smaller company funds with global horizons.These can be a good way of investing in small caps in markets where buying individual stocks might be a challenge, either because you are restricted from investing or because it is difficult to get sufficient information to make an informed decision.Some of these funds focus on smaller fi

HgCapital Trust(HGT) 520pGain to date: 13.2%Private equity investment trust HgCapital (HGT) has continued to put in a robust performance since we said last March that it can add growth and value to your portfolio.The businesses it invests in provide software and services ranging from tax, accounting and payrolls to factory automation, fintech, insurance, healthcare and crisis and incident manageme

London's FTSE 100 was slightly higher on Wednesday afternoon, but trade lacked a spark as investors await a US inflation report and more words from Fed chief Jerome Powell.It was a similar story in Paris, but Frankfurt's blue-chip index hit another record high.The FTSE 100 index traded up 8.88 points, 0.1%, at 8,786.27. The FTSE 250 was 105.22 points higher, 0.5%, at 21,024.94, and the AIM All-Sha

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

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 15,638.63.In

Deal creates £3.4 billion income giantBrings increased scale and liquiditySector's fourth-lowest ongoing chargeConsolidation is a growing theme across the investment trust sector against a backdrop of stubbornly-wide NAV (net asset value) discounts, increasing pressure on sub-scale funds and shareholder activism, and yet another intriguing combination has just been announced.JPMorgan Global Growt

London's FTSE 100 powered higher on Thursday afternoon, setting a new record high, after the Bank of England announced an interest rate cut.The BoE announced a 25 basis point reduction to bank rate to 4.50% from 4.75%. The move was expected.The FTSE 100 index added 129.37 points, 1.5%, at 8,752.66. The index set a record high shortly after the decision. The FTSE 250 surged 354.87 points, 1.2%, at

Stock prices in Europe opened in the green on Thursday, ahead of an expected interest rate cut by the Bank of England, with weekly US jobless claims figures also on the horizon.The FTSE 100 index added 67.85 points, 0.8%, at 8,691.14. The FTSE 250 rose 99.21 points, 0.5%, at 20,862.09. The AIM All-Share rose 1.51 points, 0.2%, at 717.17.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.9% at 870.14, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0

China's New Year Holiday festival is over, and the Year of the Snake is now under way. People with a much keener interest in, and better understanding of, the Chinese zodiac tell this column the snake signifies intelligence, mystery and renewal.Make of that what you will, but president Xi Jinping and the Communist Party authorities are going to need plenty of the first trait if they are to resolve

I have built up five different pension schemes under different employments over the past 20 years. Three are worth less than £8,000 each. However, my main SIPP is worth considerably more, around £300,000.My question is would I be better keeping these pensions separate and only taking them when I want to? Perhaps I should take them when my overall income is lower and I'm paying less tax? Or woul