Stock prices in London were in the green at midday, as investors awaited the next interest rate call from the European Central Bank, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted leaders from across Europe at a summit.The FTSE 100 index was up 59.33 points, or 0.7%, at 8,246.78. The FTSE 250 was up 151.37 points, or 0.7%, at 21,244.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.77 points, or 0.4%, at 789.57.The

London stocks outperformed its European peers on Thursday morning, as investors await a key interest rate decision by the European Central Bank.The FTSE 100 index opened 78.02, or 1.0%, at 8,266.64. The FTSE 250 was up 54.31 points, or 0.3%, at 21,147.65, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.63 points, or 0.2%, at 788.43.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at 824.37, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 18,435.38, an

?Milestone? deal in luxury branded jewellery strategyRoberto Coin is sixth biggest jewellery brand in USEarnings and margin-enhancing acquisitionWatches of Switzerland (WOSG) has splashed out $130 million (£104 million) to buy Italian handcrafted jewellery business Roberto Coin Inc in a deal that skews the FTSE 250 firm?s sales mix a bit more towards the lucrative branded jewellery market.Shares

Share were mostly higher in London early Tuesday, as the market came to terms with the oil production cut by Opec+ and a major central bank made a first move towards pausing the global tightening cycle.The FTSE 100 index opened up 21.49 points, 0.3%, at 7,694.49. The FTSE 250 was up 68.46 points, 0.4%, at 18,947.87, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.07 points, 0.3%, at 811.32.The Cboe UK 100 was up

Monday 9 November saw things change for investors as the surge of enthusiasm associated with finding a vaccine for Covid-19 buoyed markets. For the first time in many months the vast majority of my 30 shares rose markedly.This did not trigger a notable increase in buying and selling on my behalf. I reduced my investment in two funds but little else. It was pleasing though to see that half my share

It has been a big morning for the hotel sector with takeovers, soaring share prices and fallout from the Hong Kong protests all featuring.Shares in luxury hotel operator Elegant Hotels (EHG:AIM) have soared 56.3% to 109.4p after it agreed an all cash 110p per share offer from Marriott International.Elegant Hotels operates upscale hotels in Barbados and St Lucia, and Marriott highlighted the 'stron

London's FTSE 100 traded down 23 points at 7,159.2 on the back of China reporting weaker than expected growth of 6% amid worries that the trade war with the US was hitting factory production. The blue chip CSI300 index fell by 1.4%.Meanwhile the domestically focused FTSE 250 index was up 65 points to 20,286.2 points, buoyed by the prospect of the breakthrough Brexit deal getting passed by parliame

Shares in Irn-Bru-to-Rubicon soft drinks maker A.G. Barr (BAG) have crashed on Tuesday after dealing investors a savage full year profit warning.The Glasgow-headquartered company saw its share price plunge 27% to 635p with the market seemingly caught on the hop by recent trading weakness. Yet the earnings alert is not so surprising, as Shares spelled out last month following a June weather washout

The UK soft drinks industry could be crying into its hands at the state of this summer's weather. A washout June is disaster territory for the sector, particularly as last year was boosted by an unprecedented amount of sunshine and high temperatures which lasted for most of the summer.Drinks companies should have been through volatile weather patterns plenty of times in the past and they've kept o

GOOD NEWSPlus500 (PLUS:AIM): Trading is yet again ahead of market expectations, prompting analysts to upgrade forecasts.Johnson Service (JSG:AIM): Expects full year results to be ahead of management expectations.H&T (HAT:AIM): Says full year pre-tax profit will be ahead of market expectations.Carr's (CARR): Positive trading update leads Investec to say Carr's is on track to grow profit this financ

Barbados hotels operator Elegant Hotels (EHG:AIM) could still be a takeover target imply analysts, despite a failed approach by Melia Hotels.Elegant has confirmed that Melia made a proposal to buy the business in an all-cash deal, yet says the talks have now been terminated and that Melia doesn't intend to make a alternative bid.Media reports speculate the Melia approach was priced at 110p per sha

London's FTSE 100 opens modestly lower on Thursday in contrast to Wall Street, which marked a new high overnight, and progression on Asian markets. Disagreement among rival factions within the Government over Brexit negotiations continues to weigh on investor sentiment.Online takeaway ordering platform Just Eat (JE.) jumps 6.2% higher to 746.5p as the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) provisio

Barbados hotels operator Elegant Hotels (EHG:AIM) is on the back foot as tourists chose to stay at more affordable accommodation instead of its upmarket rooms.The average daily price that people paid to stay at one of Elegant's hotels dropped sharply by 8% from $464 to $425 in the six months to 31 March 2017.According to recent data from Barbados Tourism Marketing, demand for luxury accommodation

Barbados hotels operator Elegant Hotels (EHG: AIM) failed to maximise increasing visitor numbers to the island. Revenue for the year to 30 September 2016 declined 5.2% to $57m.Shares in the firm slip 2.2% 79p despite much stronger pre-tax profit, which nearly tripled to $15.8m, although that was largely thanks to lower exceptional costs. Strip those out and underlying operating profits fell 14.5%.

Fancy getting 11% dividend yield from investing in a Caribbean hotel operator? Elegant Hotels (EHG:AIM) owns plush hotels in Barbados and is expanding into Antigua. Sadly there's a catch to the investment case which suggests dividends may need to be cut.Earnings forecasts have been downgraded several times this year and there is a material risk to demand near-term.Vacation versus staycationApproxi

A rebound from mining stocks combined with last night's abrupt end to Marmite-gate, the price spat between Unilever (ULVR) and Tesco (TSCO), helps the FTSE 100 move north of the 7,000 mark again on Friday. The blue chip benchmark ticks 41.3 points higher to 7,019 points with Tesco up 2.8% to 200.5p and Unilever 13.5p lower at £35.83.In corporate news, asset manager Man Group (EMG) is a notable mo

A profit warning by luxury Barbados hotel operator Elegant Hotels (EHG:AIM) sends shares in the £87 million cap plummeting 9.7% to 88.5p.The Zika virus has resulted in room cancellations and significant competitor discounting, while political uncertainty in the run-up to the EU Referendum is being blamed for a reduction in demand for luxury holidays.Like-for-like sales in the year to 30 September

A surge in support for 'Leave' ahead of Britain's referendum on EU membership along with falling commodity prices hits the stock market and sterling in early trading.FTSE 100 shares fall 0.5% to 6,012 and sterling, after a volatile session on Monday, dips around half a cent against the dollar and now buys $1.413.The corporate news story of the day comes at Premier Farnell (PFL), which is being bou

GVC winds Betfred dealOnline gambling group GVC (GVC) has signed a 10 year deal to licence its sportsbook and gaming platform to bookmaker Betfred. The business-to-business deal is its largest to date and will fully contribute to earnings in 2018. Stockbroker Cenkos says the agreement shows the strength and flexibility of GVC's proprietary technology. The £1.6 billion cap is also seeing early po

Lakehouse directors get stuck inDirectors at social housing regeneration specialist Lakehouse (LAKE) bought £100,000 of stock following a profit warning (1 Feb). Executive chairman Stuart Black and executives Sean Birrane, Jeremy Simpson and Michael McMahon each bought 71,430 shares at 35p. The stock now trades at 42p, 20% higher than when we said to buy on price weakness (4 Feb). (WC)Berkeley be