Fourth-quarter sales rise 17.6%Group continues to outperform peersShares test new all-time highsHaving risen more than 300% over the past five years, Hermes' (RMS:EPA) shares were marked up another 3.5% to an all-time high of €2,912 in Paris after the high-end handbag-maker defied the depressed luxury goods market by delivering forecast-beating fourth-quarter sales.Revenue rose across the boa

London stocks were mixed on Thursday, but European equities closed in the green on news of progress towards a possible peace deal in Ukraine.The FTSE 100 index closed down 42.72 points, 0.5%, at 8,764.72. The FTSE 250 ended up 35.64 points, 0.2%, at 20,916.14, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.19 of a point at 723.20.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 877.79, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.3% at 18

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

Amsterdam the primary Ice Cream listing destinationOrganic growth deceleratesMarket growth to remain 'soft'Packaged consumer goods powerhouse Unilever (ULVR) delivered encouraging full-year 2024 results with volume growth across every division and margins on the rise.The cash-generative Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker also announced a new €1.5 billion share buyback.Which begs the que

2024 revenue and earnings beat2025 outlook in line with forecasts£1 billion also meets estimatesAs the first bank to report earnings, there was a great deal of focus on what Barclays (BARC) would say about 2024 and the outlook for 2025, and although it more or less met market forecasts for last year, the lack of upgrades to current-year forecasts left investors feeling flat.The shares, which had

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

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

There may be a sense of poignancy when Europe's biggest bank HSBC (HSBA) reports full-year earnings next week as for several hundred staff it will be the last call.At the end of January, the company informed managers in its UK, European and US corporate advisory and equity underwriting teams it was closing down operations as it finally gave up chasing a place at investment banking's top table.Whil

Professional short sellers are currently circling a small group of UK consuming-facing stocks with the goal of profiting from falls in their share prices, potentially caused by Rachel Reeves' Budget decisions.The UK outlook is getting worse by the day, with business and consumer sentiment weakening amid concerns the new government doesn't have an effective plan to accelerate economic growth.The ou

Imagine going for a night out in a busy pub, and when the time comes to use the loo, you leave your phone and wallet on the table unguarded. You wouldn't. Yet your online data is, in theory, just as exposed.Don't panic, fortunately, most of your information is secured by the clever digital locks and latches of cybersecurity, be that your personal banking details, your Facebook identity, or your Am

London's blue chip index performed weaker than its peers in Paris and Frankfurt on Wednesday morning, while Asian stocks climbed after Japan asked the US for an exemption on tariffs on steel and aluminium.A bright light on the London market was Barratt Redrow. The housebuilder surged on lofty profit guidance.The FTSE 100 index traded up just 1.87 points at 8,779.26. The FTSE 250 was 82.05 points,

London stocks were mixed on Tuesday prior to the FTSE 100 closing near a record-high, after Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that the US central bank is in 'no hurry' to lower interest rates.The FTSE 100 index closed up 9.59 points, 0.1%, at 8,777.39. It had earlier hit a new all-time high of 8,789.58.The FTSE 250 ended down 66.56 points, 0.3%, at 20,919.72, and the AIM All-Share closed down jus

London's blue chip index edged to a new record high early Tuesday, despite tariff worries emanating from the US, as investors await speeches from Jerome Powell and Andrew Bailey.Also hitting another record high, gold spiked above $2,942 an ounce but returned some progress.BP barely moved after reporting weaker fourth-quarter results, as eyes turn to a strategy update later this month.The FTSE 100

New contract valued at £16.8 millionShares up 186% over the past year1H25 group revenue up over 200%Shares in Filtronic (FTC:AIM) hit an all-time-high of 107p in early morning trading as the communications kit designer announced a further contract win with Elon Musk's SpaceX.The contract, valued at £16.8 million, is to be fulfilled over full year 2025 and full year 2026. WHAT DID THE CEO

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 growt

Q4 sales and earnings top expectationsKFC and Taco Bell shineLaunch of proprietary AI technologyRestaurants group Yum! Brands (YUM:NYSE) bested Wall Street's revenue and earnings estimates for the fourth quarter on 6 February, sending the shares up by a tenth to a new six month high of $144.Over the last 12-months shares in the KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell operator have increased by 11%, underperf

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

Stock prices in London opened mixed on a relatively calm Friday, but FTSE 100 constituent Legal & General rose as it announced it will return an extra £1 billion to shareholders.Trade war tensions initially kept a lid on stocks at the start of the week, but the equity market then grew in confidence and the FTSE 100 hit its best-ever level.The blue-chip index traded down just 2.16 points at 8,725.

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