Some years ago, a UK technology supplier listed in London was quietly acquired by defence contractor BAE Systems (BA.). The £538 million buyout price was small, yet Detica, as it was called, had developed a reputation for providing its services to international militaries and intelligence communities, including GCHQ, the UK's national intelligence centre.The nature of its hush-hush work often put

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

Stocks in London ended the week higher on Friday, while unambiguously dovish remarks from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell propelled the pound to a 29-month high against the dollar.'The time has come for policy to adjust. The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks,' Powell said in a speec

European stocks were higher going into Friday afternoon, as investors focused on potential clues about future monetary policy from both sides of the Atlantic.The Jackson Hole meeting will see both Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey speak on Friday.In other news, energy bills are set to increase by almost £150 after Ofgem raised its price cap, in bad

Stock markets across the globe have just emerged from a short, sharp shock, with the sell-off on 5 August one of the worst days in years as investors mull the frightening thought that the US economy is slowing and could be sent spinning into recession.Combined with the impact of the unwinding in the yen 'carry trade' discussed in this explainer and some stretched valuations and you had the recipe

Stock prices in London were in the green on Wednesday morning, after Office for National Statistics data showed that while the rise in consumer prices accelerated, it was softer than anticipated.The FTSE 100 index opened 50.47 points, or 0.6%, at 8,285.28. The FTSE 250 was up 129.38 points, 0.6%, at 20,874.28, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.62 points, or 0.2%, at 769.60.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8%

24.5% stake bought from Altice UKBT a minority shareholder in Bharti AirtelShares up 20% over past yearBT (BT.A) shares rose over 6% to 139p in morning trading as investors welcomed the news leading Indian business group Bharti Global has bought a 24.5% stake in the telecoms giant from Altice UK.Altice UK is part of French billionaire Patrick Drahi's telecommunications group Altice, which accordin

A disastrous start to the week for the US market, as some poor corporate results, weak US economic data and the unwinding of the yen carry trade conspired to drag stocks lower, was gradually wiped out as the week went on.<img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/keg6i/full.png" alt="" data-mce-fragment="1" data-mce-src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/keg6i/full.png">&amp

Stocks in London made a soggy start on Tuesday, with miners dragging the blue-chip FTSE 100 lower, although Compass bucked the weaker trend.The FTSE 100 index traded down 30.93 points, or 0.4%, at 8,167.85. The FTSE 250 was down 25.12 points, 0.1%, at 21,113.56, while the AIM All-Share was down 1.55 points, 0.2%, at 781.69.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 815.65, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.2% lower at

Stock prices in Europe were higher on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of a US retail sales reading, while stocks in the UK were up after data showed grocery price inflation eased in June.The FTSE 100 index was up 32.94 points, or 0.4%, at 8,175.52. The FTSE 250 was 132.88 points, or 0.7%, at 20,292.77, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.01 points, or 0.3%, at 776.94.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 814.27, the

Equities on both sides of the Atlantic registered record highs on Wednesday, as a slowdown in US inflation prompted stocks to move higher as Federal Reserve interest rate cut hopes strengthened.Aside from the US data, there was a slew of M&A developments threatening to steal some of the spotlight in London. The owner of the Royal Mail backed a possible bid, while Wood Group said no to a suitor aga

Sales and profit ahead of expectationsFull year outlook raisedWegovy demand outstripping supplyDanish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B:CPH), known for its leading weight-loss drug Wegovy, delivered better than expected first quarter sales and earnings and raised its full year profit outlook.After initially opening higher the shares fell back 2% on worries over lower pricing of Wegovy in t

If you had £10,000 to invest in a single fund, which would you choose ? one of the most popular with retail investors for more than a decade, or a relative new kid on the block with a similar asset allocation approach?In a manner of speaking, it is what billionaire City grandee Michael Spencer challenged formidable money man and Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7) founder Terry Smith at the end of 2023, t

London?s FTSE 100 rose on Thursday morning, despite doubts over the timing of US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts still lingering, while gold reached another record high.The FTSE 100 index opened up 18.52 points, 0.2%, at 7,955.96. The FTSE 250 was up 34.02 points, 0.2%, at 19,787.66, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.82 of a point, 0.1%, at 742.90.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 795.53, the Cboe UK

Stocks in London were mixed on Wednesday morning, as inflation came in cooler than anticipated, ahead of interest rate decisions in the US on Wednesday and in the UK on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index opened down 7.59 points, 0.1%, at 7,730.71. The FTSE 250 was up 10.67 points, 0.1%, at 19,443.48, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.44 of a point, 0.1%, at 736.00.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 773.96, th

Stocks in London trod a disparate path, ahead of UK inflation data, which could dictate events on Thursday when the Bank of England makes its latest decision on interest rates.The FTSE 100 index rose 15.75 points, 0.2%, at 7,738.30. But the FTSE 250 ended down 53.72 points, 0.3%, at 19,432.81, and the AIM All-Share fell 1.07 points, 0.2%, at 735.56.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.2% to 774.76, the Cboe UK

The introduction of a new British ISA was announced in the Budget, in a bid to revive the UK?s flagging stock market. The BRISA, as it has already been dubbed, will only allow money to be invested in UK stocks and bonds. The Government hopes to boost the performance of UK shares by restricting investment in this way and stop companies sloping off to the US stock exchange. It?s a laudable aim, but

Investors looked nervous ahead of a key UK unemployment reading this afternoon, as stocks in London began the afternoon mostly in the red on Friday.The FTSE 100 index was down 20.94 points, 0.3%, at 7,671.52. The FTSE 250 was down 68.68 points, 0.4%, at 19,515.30, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.71 points, 0.2%, at 739.61.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 768.51, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.5% at 16,

Stock prices in Europe ended higher on Thursday, with the most convincing gains coming from the blue-chip benchmark in Paris, which topped 8,000 points for the first time.The FTSE 100?s gains were more muted, though it did extend its winning streak to three days.Interest rate optimism helped equities on Thursday. The conviction that the European Central Bank will enact its first of the cycle in Ju

Stock prices in London were a mixed bag at the open on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 lower ahead of the next ECB interest rate decision, despite boosts from Rentokil and Virgin Money UK.The FTSE 100 index opened down 19.49 points, 0.3%, at 7,659.82. The FTSE 250 was up 36.80 points, 0.2%, at 19,510.02, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.14 of a points at 737.77.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 767.12, t