Stock prices in London declined as investors were cautious due to concerns that the Iran-Israel conflict could escalate, following reports by Iranian state media about explosions in the province of Isfahan.The FTSE 100 index was 47.06 points, 0.6%, at 7,829.99. The FTSE 250 was down 166.79 points, 0.9%, at 19,283.88, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.00 points, 0.5%, at 741.29.The Cboe UK 100 was d

There is no question the dominant theme in stock markets last year was AI (artificial intelligence), in particular generative AI.In an interview with Time magazine last June, Sam Altman ? the former chief executive of OpenAI, whose ChatGPT product has been at the forefront of the AI trend ? said he believes the technology will ?transform the way people work and the way people learn. It?s going to

Firmly out of favour with investors since the Brexit vote seven years ago, the FTSE 250 index rallied strongly on the release of the latest UK inflation data (19 July). This showed UK CPI rising by 7.9% year-on-year in June, lower than forecasts of an 8.2% rise, theoretically reducing expectations for the scale of future interest rate hikes from the Bank of England.Yet even after a big one-day jum

Another week, another takeover - this time it is alternative asset manager Gresham House (GHE:AIM), which is being bought by private equity firm Searchlight for £470 million.At £11.05 per share, 63% above the previous closing price and 10% above the all-time high a year ago, the purchase price represents an enterprise value of almost 16 times last year's earnings before interest, tax, depreciati

As 2022 draws to a close amid continuing market volatility Shares has canvassed leading fund managers to find out where they have been finding the best opportunities.Jamie Ross - Henderson Eurotrust (Hne)LOOKING OUT FOR BOMBED-OUT GROWTH STOCKSWe have spent the last 12 months trying to find opportunities within the growthier area of the market - our favoured part of the market and the part of the

Online retailer and logistics provider THG (THG) presents investors with a major conundrum at the moment.The shares currently trade at 114p compared with their post-IPO highs of 800p, while valuations vary from 110p to 700p depending on which analyst's research you read.Most brokers have a 'buy' or 'hold' recommendation, yet over the last six months they have all slashed their earnings forecasts f

London's FTSE 100 finished Wednesday's session down 0.04% at 7,337.35 points, so broadly flat on the day, the blue chip benchmark giving up earlier gains with the UK on the cusp of fresh restrictions designed to slow the growth in Omicron cases.The pound weakened and travel and leisure stocks were under pressure as investors weighed the likely impact of new rules being imposed in the UK, such as h

UK stocks rose on Wednesday as concerns about the Omicron coronavirus variant continued to cool amid early signs that it could cause milder symptoms.By lunchtime, the FTSE 100 was up 0.38% at 7367.82 and the mid-cap FTSE 250 traded 0.35% higher at 23,319.28.The blue chip benchmark built on its gains of recent days as fears about the new variant waxed and waned amid mixed news on vaccines and the p

UK equity markets continued to trade in positive territory on Wednesday, as market fears regarding the potential economic impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant continued to abate.In addition, a distinctly positive showing from all of the American equity markets provided further positive momentum.Markets eagerly awaited the Department of Labour's publication of the JOLTS labour market survey. T

UK equity markets managed to push ahead on Wednesday as new figures showed economic expansion.Both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 finished the session in positive territory by 0.27% and 1% respectively.The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed that GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.4% in August.The rebound was predominately driven by the services industry, particularly travel

The FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 encountered divergent fortunes during early afternoon trading on Wednesday. At lunchtime the former was trading 0.09% lower at 7,124.13, whilst the latter edged 0.95% higher to 22,661.63.The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), revealed that gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown by 0.4% in August.The rebound was predominately driv

Shares in asset management firm Man Group (EMG) jumped 7% higher to 217p after the group reported strong net inflows of $5.3 billion, the highest figure for any quarter in a decade and exceeding analysts' forecasts.Today's third quarter update reinforces the positive momentum highlighted at the group's interim results announced on July 28th that surpassed consensus expectations. It also validates

Inflation, supply chain issues and soaring fuel prices have dominated UK market chatter for months but on Wednesday investors were obsessed by THG (THG).The online beauty and health products seller, also known as The Hut Group, continued to fall on after a torrid Tuesday during which it saw its share price lose more than a third of its value. A presentation to analysts and key investors designed t

Having struggled for direction all morning, the FTSE 100 index surged from its lunchtime lows to tack on 32 points or 0.45% to 7,164 by the close, led by cyclical stocks including media companies ITV (ITV) and WPP (WPP).Gambling company Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) was the top FTSE performer, rallying 8% to £139.78 after it reported a better-than-expected trebling of first-half profit amid a boun

The FTSE 100 was struggling for direction by midday, down a smidge at 7,128.53, amid the usual summer lull in trading volumes and with few big catalysts to shift sentiment in either direction.Accommodation giant Intercontinental Hotels (IHG) fell 1.7% to £46.54, having swung to a modest first-half profit, citing an improvement in demand, most evident in China.Intercontinental Hotels, however, sti

UK stocks had their best week in a month, closing in on their previous highs after official figures showed the economy expanded at 2.3% in April, its fastest rate since last July, as lockdown measures eased.The service sector registered record growth of 27.6% compared with last year as non-essential retail and hospitality businesses re-opened.At the the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was up 46 p

UK stocks traded higher on Friday after official figures showed the economy expanded at 2.3% in April, its fastest rate since last July, as lockdown measures eased.The service sector registered record growth of 27.6% compared with last year as non-essential retail and hospitality businesses re-opened.At 1pm the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was 35 points or 0.5% higher at 7,124 led by gains in

UK stocks opened on the front foot on Friday as official figures showed the economy expanding at 2.3% in March, its fastest rate since July 2020.At 9am the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was 0.6% higher at 7,129 points.Overnight trading in Asia was subdued with China's Composite SE index off 0.6% and Japan's Nikkei 225 down 0.1%.COPORATE NEWSThe UK's largest listed residential landlord Grainger

Since the Covid bottom in March 2020, London's FTSE 100 has rebounded by 36% to 7,061.78 points, but the FTSE 250 has rallied an even more impressive 67.8% to 22,813.47 and this index of 'second liners' is testing new highs.Mid cap companies are attractive to investors for a variety of reasons; more established than smaller firms, they are regarded as less risky, yet they also tend to be faster gr

The FTSE closed higher on Friday reaching its highest level since October 2019 as a raft of positive economic data was released in the US and China.US new homes increased 19.4% in March, the biggest monthly gain since 2006 during the housing bubble. The University of Michigan consumer confidence was higher showing increasing consumer confidence, although the reading of 86.5 was below economists' f