Both sterling and London's blue chip index were up at Monday's close amid reports indicating a potential delay in Donald Trump's tariff policy.The FTSE 100 index rose 15.32 points, 0.2%, at 8,520.54. It had earlier reached a new intra-day high of 8,548.59.The FTSE 250 ended 110.68 points lower, 0.5%, at 20,486.74, and the AIM All-Share shed 0.78 of a point, 0.1%, at 718.29.The Cboe UK 100 ended up

Stock prices in London were mostly in the red at midday on Monday, as Pod Point shares dived as it lamented an ongoing weakness in the private new car segment of the electric vehicle market.'Markets are beating to the drum of Donald Trump on the day of his return to the White House,' commented AJ Bell's Russ Mould. 'Markets are eagerly awaiting Trump's first batch of executive orders as this will

The FTSE 100 reached a new all-time high on Friday, with stocks comfortably in the green at midday, after sound fourth quarter growth data from China, which beat the consensus.The FTSE 100 index was up 99.25 points, 1.2%, at 8,491.24. It had earlier reached a new intra-day high of 8,496.42.The FTSE 250 was 36.40 points higher, 0.2%, at 20,564.10, and the AIM All-Share advanced 1.87 points, 0.3%, a

Net revenue of circa £243 million, up 3.5%Shares up 15% over the past yearStrong net cash of circa £16 millionShares in M&C Saatchi (SAA) were up 6% to 189p in early trading as the advertising agency said it expects full year 2024 like-for-like net revenue growth of circa 3.5% with reported net revenue of £243 million.The company said trading in the second half of the year 'maintained first hal

Double-digit Q4 revenue growthFull year profit to be top end of rangeEarnings upgrades expectedGambling firm Evoke (EVOK), formerly known as 888 Holdings, reported double-digit fourth-quarter revenue growth and raised its full-year profit guidance to the top end of consensus forecasts.Investors responded positively, sending shares in the William Hill and Mr. Green owner up by a tenth to 75.5p. The

Americas hit by weak seasonal salesSome big customers in difficultyOther customers delaying ordersIt was a dark day for shareholders in celebration products maker IG Design (IGR:AIM) after the firm warned full-year earnings would be 'significantly below' current market forecasts due to problems in its Americas division.The shares lost 86p or more than 60% to 56p, wiping out £80 million of market

European equities ended higher on Thursday, supported by strong corporate updates, while the pound struggled on soft UK economic data.US interest rate optimism continued to lift the mood after Wednesday's inflation reading, and one Federal Reserve official said rate cuts can come if the data continues to play ball.The FTSE 100 index shot up 90.77 points, 1.1%, at 8,391.90. The large-cap benchmark

Strong festive tradingLike-for-like sales up 11.6%Confident outlook statementPremium pubs and rooms operator Young & Co (YNGA:AIM) said it traded 'exceptionally well' over the Christmas and New Year period with like-for-like sales for the five weeks to 13 January up 11.6%.Total managed sales ticked up 30.4% reflecting a contribution from City Pubs, which was acquired in March 2024.Investors were s

The number of companies on London's AIM market worth more than £1 billion has hit a nine-year low. A mere six stocks were worth more than £1 billion at the end of November 2024 compared with 30 at the end of 2021.From those 30 companies and excluding those still worth more than £1 billion, seven have disappeared through takeovers, three have moved to the Main Market, and the rest have fallen be

Out of nowhere the market for weight loss drugs has become one of the most exciting investment themes in the last two years, rivalling investor enthusiasm for AI.There is good reason for the excitement. Rod Wong, managing partner at RTW Biotech Opportunities (RTW) fund describes the development of obesity drugs as the biggest ever financial opportunity in healthcare.That is because obesity is the

Interest rates are back in focus. The UK is seeing its borrowing costs surge, as Martin Gamble explains in this week's news section, and this has its own domestic causes, even if it also reflects similar moves in other sovereign debt.The latest US jobs figures strongly hint that the Federal Reserve may hit pause on rate cuts for the time being.The influential non-farm payrolls reading was notably

Oil prices have hit a six-month high amid cold weather and new US sanctions on Russian sales of crude.This is not entirely bad news for the FTSE 100 given the heavy weighting of oil giants BP (BP.) and Shell (SHEL) in the index, but not for nothing is oil known as a tax on economic growth.Higher prices are likely to feed into higher inflation, which will only reinforce assumptions about interest r

Positive peak salesUK and Nordics in growthDividend reinstatement demonstrates turnaround successCurrys' (CURY) shares sparked up 10.5% to 91p after the electricals retailer delivered yet another full-year profit guidance upgrade following a strong festive period, with the TVs-to-laptops purveyor delivering like-for-like sales growth in both the UK and Nordics.Benefiting from a technology replacem

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the green on Tuesday morning, as housebuilders in the UK enjoyed a boost after giving trading updates.'Markets' sensitivity to major economic data will likely rise as policy uncertainties mount and appetite weakens,' commented Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'Due today, the US will release its latest PPI numbers, and the headline PPI may have ris

The FTSE 100 closed lower on Monday, but above early lows, as bond yields continued to creep up and analysts predicted the end of the US rate cutting cycle.The FTSE 100 index closed down 24.30 points, 0.3%, at 8,224.19. The blue-chip index had fallen as low as 8,192.31.The FTSE 250 ended 15.57 points lower, 0.1%, at 19,718.37, and the AIM All-Share shed 3.99 points, 0.6%, at 709.39.The Cboe UK 100

2024 profit upgraded to top of rangeFirm dodges US client friendly resultsMGM trading update on 4 FebruaryLadbrokes and Coral owner Entain (ENT) topped the FTSE 100 gainers on Monday (13 January), advancing nearly 5% after the sports betting and gaming company nudged up group full-year profit expectations to the top of end of the guided range.The share price reaction also reflected a sense of reli

Stocks in London, Paris and Frankfurt were down at midday Monday, as producer price inflation data from the US, to be out Tuesday, was nearing.In disappointing news for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, a survey of UK chief financial officers by consultancy Deloitte found a net 26% felt more pessimistic about their businesses than they did three months ago. However, sentiment is still well above the lows

Trip.com and Tencent Music key picks, wary of BaiduAI, innovation and monetisation crucial for returns in 2025Shanghai Composite drifted since September rallyChina's stock market has struggled to gain meaningful momentum so far in 2025 but analysts at Bernstein have identified key themes that they believe will shape the year ahead for some of its most exciting internet stocks.A consumer shift towa

Key UK indices closed in the red on Friday as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves remains under pressure following increased government borrowing costs.The FTSE 100 index closed down 71.20 points, 0.9%, at 8,248.49. The FTSE 250 ended down 271.20 points, 1.4%, at 19,733.94, and the AIM All-Share closed down 6.48 points, 0.9%, at 713.48.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.7% at 826.80, the Cboe UK 250 closed down

Like-for-like food sales up 8.9%Market share gains in clothingCautious outlook prompts profit-takingRetail bellwether Marks & Spencer (MKS) delivered 'another good Christmas' with sales records broken across the business as it gained market share in both food and clothing.However, shares in the high street stalwart fell 5% to 358p as third quarter clothing, home and beauty came in light of expecta