Defence and banks stocks top tableM&A wave creates big winnersConsumer stocks on the skidsIt hasn't been a vintage year for the UK stock market, but there are signs investors are coming back attracted by the cheap valuations on offer compared with the US as well as decent earnings prospects for UK companies.The FTSE 350 index is up 5.5% year-to-date, with the FTSE 100 large-cap benchmark up 5.6% j

Covid-19 stock market darling Moderna (MRNA) appears to be getting its mojo back with investors following a punishing 85% drop in the shares from their September 2021 highs.Over the last six months Moderna's shares have more than doubled and despite the fall over the past couple of years, they remain one of the best performers in the benchmark S&P 500, notching up gains of 880% over the last five

Shares in IT services and consulting firm Accenture (ACN:NYSE) have been on the slide for the last three months, losing 26% of their value and cutting the market value of the company by almost $70 billion.In its second-quarter earnings report in March, the group disappointed analysts by posting flat revenue and a 2% decrease in bookings compared with a 14% increase in the first quarter.Worse, the

Stocks in London reacted positively on Thursday, after news of the European Central Bank's first interest rate cut in five years.The FTSE 100 index closed up 38.39 points, 0.5%, at 8,285.34. The FTSE 250 ended up 42.47 points, 0.2%, at 20,715.88, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.43 points, 0.3%, at 796.54.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.4% at 825.85, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.1% at 18,135.48, an

Stocks in London were called slightly higher on Thursday at midday, as investors eye the European Central Bank's upcoming rate decision and following surprisingly positive data for the UK construction industry.The FTSE 100 index was up 25.37 points, 0.3%, at 8,272.32. The FTSE 250 was up 66.00 points, 0.3%, at 20,739.41, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.54 points, 0.3%, at 796.43.The Cboe UK 100 w

Firm has received four bidsFinal bid pitched at 230pDeadline for talks extendedThe board of oil services and consulting firm Wood Group (WG.) last night published a statement saying while they were confident in the company's strategic direction and its prospects they had decided to engage with bidder Sidara.Wood Group shares jumped 19p or 10% to 205p, which is still some way short of Sidara's cash

For readers who may not be aware, being market-cap weighted both the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250 index are reviewed and rebalanced every three months to take account of share price movements.In the previous review, which took place at the end of February, budget airline group EasyJet (EZJ) won promotion to the FTSE 100 while precious metals group Endeavour Mining (EDV) was relegated to the FTSE 250

On The Beach (OTB) 142pMarket cap: £237 millionPositive first-half results and an analyst upgrade are reigniting investors' interest in the online package holiday provider On The Beach (OTB) and we think there is a big value opportunity here for investors to take advantage of.Based on consensus forecasts the company trades on just 8.6 times September 2025 forecast earnings and after a hiatus impo

Cloud security business beats quarterly billings estimatesStock surges in after-hours tradingAnalyst remain largely optimistic on stockThe mood around cloud security firm Zscaler (ZS:NASDAQ) has darkened considerably this year as investors fretted over the potential impact of an economic downswing and rising competitive threats might exert on growth.Yet those fears now look overcooked after the Si

Equity prices in London fell on Wednesday, as stocks struggled to find their feet amid rising US Treasury yields.There was also a flurry of M&A news threatening to hog the spotlight. The prospect of a mega mining merger between BHP and Anglo American was ruled out, though Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services has agreed to a takeover.The FTSE 100 index ended down 71.11 points, 0.9%

Stock prices in Europe were lower at midday on Wednesday, with major firms Ocado and St James's Place set to lose their spots in the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index was down 19.58 points, 0.2%, at 8,234.60. The FTSE 250 was down 112.26 points, 0.5%, at 20,593.01, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.43 points, 0.4%, at 804.93.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 821.69, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.7% at 18041.

Stock prices in London were in the red on a rather calm Wednesday morning, with Royal Mail owner IDS, and Foresight Sustainable Forestry boosted by takeovers.In the FTSE 250, Royal Mail owner IDS agreed to a takeover by a Daniel Kretinsky-led group. Meanwhile, Foresight Sustainable Forestry shares shot up, after Averon Park said it will buy the firm for £167 million.The FTSE 100 index opened down

Stock prices in London ended lower on Friday, ending a downbeat week in decline, with poor UK data and US interest rate worries doing little to stoke enthusiasm.The FTSE 100 index closed down 21.64 points, or 0.3%, at 8,317.59. The FTSE 250 ended up 139.63 points, or 0.7%, at 20,770.93, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.6%, or 5.00 points, at 810.02.It was a similar underperformance by the FTSE 10

Blue-chips in London fell on Friday as weak retail sales and further heavy falls in National Grid dented the mood.The FTSE 100 index was down 34.66 points, 0.4%, at 8,304.57. The FTSE 250 was down 9.28 points at 20,622.02, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.73 of a point, 0.1%, at 805.75.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 828.67, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.2% at 18,055.60, and the Cboe Small Companies w

Blue-chip stocks in Europe ended lower on Thursday, with a handful of ex-dividend shares hurting the FTSE 100, though there was bullishness in New York, as major benchmarks across the Atlantic hit record highs.The mood in New York was supported by retailer Walmart's first-quarter earnings beat and outlook raise.The FTSE 100 index edged down 7.15 points, 0.1%, at 8,438.65. The FTSE 250 added 47.21

One of the factors undoubtedly helping lift the UK stock market to new highs this year is an upturn in M&A (merger and acquisition) activity.According to Dealogic, the value of UK takeovers so far in 2024 is more than $78 billion, the highest level since 2018, as overseas buyers in particular home in on the undervaluation of the market.'The UK has become structurally very attractive for M&A. There

Discounts and premiums to NAV (net asset value), which is the value of all the investments an investment trust holds minus any debt or loans, are among the trust universe's unique quirks and can confuse novice investors. At the moment the vast majority of trusts trade at a discount.Annabel Brodie-Smith, the AIC's (Association of Investment Companies) communications director, says: 'Only around 20

London stocks were mixed at midday on Monday, ahead of Wednesday?s US consumer price reading, though analysts believe potential London floats by Shein and Raspberry Pi could be a game-changer for UK-listed equities.The FTSE 100 index was up 7.05 points, 0.1%, at 8,440.61. The FTSE 250 was down 33.65 points, 0.2%, at 20,611.59, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.45 points, 0.1%, at 789.42.The Cboe UK

Q1 revenue and profit ahead of expectationsBut Q2 outlook falls shortGrowth to pick up ahead of busy summerGlobal vacation booking platform Airbnb (ABNB:NASDAQ) saw its shares drop 8% in the pre-market despite revealing its most profitable quarter ever with net income more than doubling to $264 million, comfortably ahead of analysts? estimates of $152 million.Good news was tempered by a weak outlo

London?s FTSE 100 extended its winning streak to four days on Wednesday, while the pound fell below the $1.25 mark before Thursday?s Bank of England decision.The FTSE 100 index closed up 40.38 points, 0.5%, at 8,354.05, once again a record close. The FTSE 250 ended up 78.91 points, 0.4%, at 20,491.99, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.41 points, 0.4%, at 779.83.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.4% at 833.82,