Copper is already one of the most important materials underpinning human civilisation, and the energy transition is only likely to see demand for the industrial metal build in the years to come.Limits and pressures on supply and this growing demand profile are already seeing copper prices mount a charge and recent M&A activity ? with BHP's (BHP) unsuccessful (for now) attempt to take over Anglo Am

Australian miner launches deal worth proposed $38.8 billionAnglo has huge copper assets crucial to buyoutCopper prices at two-year highs as renewable energy demand risesFTSE 100 mining group Anglo American (AAL) has huge iron ore, platinum, coal and, through its? controlling stake in dealer De Beers, diamonds, but make no mistake, BHP?s (BHP) interest in the business is a big bet on copper.Copper

London?s FTSE 100 ended in the green on Thursday, though its gains fell short of the loftier progress delivered by European peers, as equity markets recovered from Wednesday?s sell-off.Central to the drab mood in markets has been the dialling back of Federal Reserve rate cut expectations. Though a Fed cut in March is still the most likely scenario, the odds of one have dwindled in recent days, and

Stock prices were more stable at midday Thursday after Wednesday?s decline and ahead of the weekly US jobless data.The FTSE 100 index was up 10.95 points, 0.2%, at 7,457.24. The FTSE 250 was up 146.84 points, 0.8%, at 19,011.21, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.96 points, 0.3%, at 740.76.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 745.29, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.7% at 16,429.45, and the Cboe Small Companies was

UK stocks erased earlier losses and tipped into positive territory on Friday afternoon despite US non-farm payrolls data showing the weakest gain since the recovery in jobs began in May with 0.66 million new jobs created last month compared with 1.5 million in August.The FTSE 100 closed 0.4% higher at 5,902.CORPORATE NEWSLogistics company Wincanton (WIN) rallied 5% to 223p as it stuck by its recen

UK stocks traded lower at midday on Friday following weaker European markets as risk aversion was the order of the day amid rising volatility after news that Donald Trump tested positive for Covid-19, adding an extra element of political uncertainty in the US just a month before the presidential election.At 12:00, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 0.8%, at 5,835 points.Trump, 74, and first lad

UK stock markets rallied on Monday morning as retailers began reopening stores following a an extended coronavirus lockdown, with Primark planning to fling open the doors to stores in England on 15 June.That saw shares in Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) jump 6.5% to £19.385, near the top of the FTSE 100 leader board, sharing space with various airline related stocks, such as engine m

UK markets staged a firm rally in early trading on Monday, following Asian markets higher and clawing back some of the heavy losses chalked-up last week.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up close on 2.7% at 6,756.35, while the mid cap FTSE 250 is also around 2.5% higher at 19,803.06.However, by midday those gains had been entirely wiped out with the FTSE 100 dipping 0.5% to 6,546.61. The FT

Several analysts suggest the 850p per share takeover offer for pubs group Greene King (GNK) is too low. Investors already holding the stock should sit tight and await a higher offer, either from the current suitor or a counterbid.Hong Kong-based property developer and investor CK Asset is offering £4.6bn for the business including its large debt pile. The offer is pitched at a 25% premium to net

China-based internet titan Tencent has taken a 9% stake in video games creator and publisher Frontier Developments (FDEV:AIM). This is a potentially transformational tie-up and the share price has responded accordingly, soaring almost 19% to 623.2p.The strategic investment in Cambridge-based Frontier will 'accelerate and improve' the £181.4m cap's access to the growing and already very significan

Independent video games creator Frontier Developments (FDEV:AIM) is an eye-catching mover on Thursday. The share price surged 7.4% higher to 450p in early trading on news of a significant step-up in performance last year.Armed with an increasingly plump cash pile which supports marketing and development spend, the £143m cap also teases investors over a third game franchise waiting in the wings.Fo

The FTSE 100 is struggling for direction, down a handful of points at 7,345.88 as the fall-out from last week's US strikes in Syria continues.Banking group Barclays (BARC) dips 0.6% to 214p as its chief executive Jes Staley is issued with a formal written reprimand by his employers for his attempts to identify a secret whistleblower within the company. Staley is to have his bonus cut and details a

There is only thin data to provide direction for London trading on Friday with the FTSE 100 index opening around 10 points lower at 6,785 in early trade. There are no significant UK data releases scheduled for today, although a speech by the Bank of England's Ben Broadbent will be studied for any hints regarding of Philip Hammond's forthcoming Autumn Statement.The corporate news that there is, FTS

Former metals recycling business ZincOx Resources (ZOX:AIM) has set itself on the path to recovery after raising £300,000 at a significant premium.Shares in the company soar 28% to 0.8p as a result of placing of 30 million new shares at 60% higher than yesterday's closing price.ZincOx used to recover metals from steel waste dust but got into financial difficulty amid a shock drop in the zinc pric

London equity markets rally for the third day straight in early trade on Wednesday with sentiment bolstered by European stock markets and a strong showing in Asia and on Wall Street overnight. The thrust of this renewed confidence comes from hopes that China is about to pull the trigger on a new round of economic stimulus actions in an effort to address the nation's slowdown,In London, miners are

London shares tread water in early trade on Thursday as fading optimism about a Greek debt deal and an upcoming US jobs report gave investors reasons to be cautious. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index is a nudge higher, about 5 points, at at 6,614 early on, although midcaps perform less well, the FTSE 250 index drifting about 20 point to 17,694.Electricals-to-telecommunications retail titan Dixons Carph

Africa and Middle East focused oil firm Afren (AFR) gains 4.6% to 151.5p after flaggingpotential for record revenues of £1.65 billion for 2013 as output comes in at the top end of expectations at 47,112 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). This total represents a 13% year-on-year increase and is largely thanks to building output from its Nigerian fields - though production is expected to dr

We are often asked which strategy is better: momentum or value investing? Both have their merits. The former enables you to spot shares in a rising trend. The latter focuses on stocks which are being shunned by the market but could reap significant benefits for investors patient enough to wait for value to be realised. With this in mind, it may be worth considering a portfolio that encompasses bot

Industrial Metals & Mining has been the worst performing FTSE All-Share sector for two consecutive years after a slowdown in global economic activity and a sharp drop in the price of industrial commodities. We now rate the sector as a 'speculative buy' in the belief depressed share prices are bottoming out and there are small signs of economic strength in many parts of the world.December's HSBC Fl