The FTSE 100 lagged European peers on Thursday, after a perceived 'hawkish' rate cut by the European Central Bank drove the euro higher.Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell said there wasn't any bad news to cause a minor sell-off.'It's just one of those days where investors reassessed their portfolios given the uncertain economic and geopolitical backdrop,' he noted.The FTSE 100 index end

Blue chip stocks in London and Paris were lower at midday Thursday, but up a notch in Frankfurt amid hopes of big investments from the incoming German government.The European Central Bank 'is expected to cut rates having been given a freer hand as inflationary pressures have eased,' AJ Bell's Russ Mould noted.The FTSE 100 index was down 82.84 points, 1.0%, at 8,673.00. The FTSE 250 was down 33.31

2024 sales and earnings up 11%Shares were flat year-to-dateWarning on costs and marginsOn the surface, today's full-year results from FTSE 250 private hospital operator Spire Healthcare (SPI) looked fine, but investors spied one or two things they clearly didn't like and sent the shares sharply lower from the open.By mid-morning the stock was trading 36p or 16% lower at 188p, having earlier hit th

Mixed annual resultsQ4 like-for-likes disappointEssential Home sale on trackReckitt Benckiser's (RKT) shares rallied 2.6% to £53.22 after the consumer and household goods giant reported better-than-expected full-year margins and reiterated its bold plans to restructure and simplify the business.This more than compensated for worse-than-expected fourth quarter sales from the Durex-to-Mucinex maker

Stock prices in London opened mix on Thursday, ahead of a UK construction reading that is expected to show a decelerated fall in activity for February, while investors await US trade data.The FTSE 100 index opened down 19.42 points, 0.2%, at 8,736.42. The FTSE 250 was up 65.74 points, 0.3%, at 20,193.47, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.26 points, 0.5%, at 693.74.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 875

Nike (NKE:NYSE) $79.43Market cap: $117.5 billionPatient investors seeking a high-quality, progressive dividend-paying company with one of the globe's most iconic brands should buy Nike (NKE:NYSE), the lately-unloved sportswear giant trading at a discount to its own history with the shares down 20% over one year and 10% over five.Despite its recent struggles, Shares believes this is an opportune m

Just over five years ago the stock market began to react in earnest to news of the Covid pandemic.The sell-off was short and sharp, with a modest recovery from the lows in the spring followed by sharper gains in November 2020 after AstraZeneca (AZN) made a vaccine breakthrough.However, a large number of UK stocks are still trading below the levels they were at by the close of trading on 21 Februar

ME International (MEGP) 197.8Gain to date: 23.8% We highlighted instant-service equipment maker ME International (MEGP) as a compelling investment opportunity a year ago.The company, formerly known as Photo-Me International, operates a unique business which generates strong cash flow and high returns on capital.The firm primarily installs and operates photo booths and laundry machines in high foot

Shares in Rolls-Royce (RR.) surged to a new 52-week high of 792p (3 March) as the aero-engine maker continued to impress investors with its post-pandemic turnaround.Under the helm of chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic, who was appointed in January 2023, the company has made a steady recovery and recently report stronger-than-forecast full year results.On 27 February, the Derby-headquartered company

Stock prices in Europe were mostly higher on Wednesday midday, with higher-risk and economically sensitive sectors benefiting from a risk-on sentiment among investors.'European and Asian markets were on the front foot on Wednesday amid hopes that Donald Trump might partially wind back tariffs if deals could be struck with Canada and Mexico,' commented AJ Bell's Russ Mould. 'Investors are looking f

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt opened mostly in the green on Wednesday, amid a slew of purchasing managers indices data, as investors await the US ADP report.'Today, investors will watch the US ADP report, and PMI, ISM numbers from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean,' said Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'While the European investors could brush off bad news on expectation that the US t

European indexes sank on Tuesday as fears of a full-blown trade war grew after increased tariffs were imposed against Canada, Mexico and China by the US.The FTSE 100 index ended down 112.31 points, 1.3%, at 8,759.00. The FTSE 250 slumped 431.79 points, 2.1%, at 19,950.50, and the AIM All-Share fell 14.93 points, 2.1%, at 686.87.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.6% at 875.00, the Cboe UK 250 declined 2.

Stock prices in Europe were in the red at Tuesday midday, with airline stocks hit badly in particular, as European countries intend to boost their militaries amid a US freeze on aid for Ukraine.'Investors were desperately hoping that Trump would delay tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China at the eleventh hour, yet the US president has stuck to his guns and brought them into power,' commented AJ Bell

Revenue and profit up 6.6% and 13%Medium-term margin target of 18.5%New £350 million share buybackBusiness assurance, testing, inspection and certification services group Intertek (ITRK) topped the FTSE gainers, rising as much as 7% to a new three-year high of £55.35, after raising its medium-term operating margin target and announcing a £350 million share buyback.The share price gain takes the

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red on Tuesday morning, amid news that UK grocery sales growth slowed in February, amid worries about US tariffs.'Today marks a turning point in Donald Trump's tariff policy,' commented Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'It is the day the tariff threat will materialise ? unless there is a surprise U-turn ? and hammer hopes that the aggressive t

London stocks opened slightly higher on Monday as investors assessed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's return from high-stakes diplomatic meetings and awaited the UK manufacturing PMI, following similar releases from other regions.The FTSE 100 index opened up 34.18 points, 0.4%, at 8,843.92. The FTSE 250 was up 56.11 points, 0.3%, at 20,382.49, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.54 points, 0.2%, at 705.37

London's FTSE 100 outperformed peers on the continent on Friday, ending the week positively and rounding off a 1.6% rise over the course of this month.The FTSE 100 index ended up 53.53 points, 0.6%, at 8,809.74. For the week, it added 1.7%. The FTSE 250 lost 88.35 points, 0.4%, at 20,326.38, and the AIM All-Share fell 3.89 points, 0.6%, at 703.83.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 882.15, the Cboe U

London's FTSE 100 was outperforming its European peers around midday on Friday, sent higher by a series of positive earnings reports helping to temper nerves on potential US tariffs.The FTSE 100 index was up 26.71 points, 0.3%, at 8,782.92. The FTSE 250 was down 77.39 points, 0.4%, at 20,337.34, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.49 points, 0.5%, at 704.23.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 880.09, the

AI server growth projections strongRising costs will impact gross marginsStock drifts pre-market, down 10% year-to-dateAs one of the world's biggest players in servers, the powerful computers that sit inside datacentres, Dell (DELL:NYSE) should be sitting pretty as corporates bulk up computing capacity to power AI tools, yet that doesn't seem to be playing out as many investors might have hoped.Hi

Announces £350 million share buybackFull year dividend per share up 6% to 24pAccelerated artificial intelligence roll outShares in Pearson (PSON) gained over 4% to £13.93 in early morning trading as the education media group gave a positive full year 2025 outlook in line with market expectations.Investors were also cheered by news of a £350 share buyback, highlighting the company's strong cash