Stocks closed higher in London on Monday, with the FTSE 100 snapping out of a four-day losing streak following a boost from UK high street banks.The FTSE 100 index rose 52.80 points, 0.7%, at 8,125.19. The FTSE 250 closed up 203.57 points, 1.0%, at 20,721.49. The AIM All-Share gained 3.57 points, 0.5%, at 737.93.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.7% at 815.50, the Cboe UK 250 advanced 1.1% at 18,160.09 but th

Motor insurance remains toughOn track to make £100 million cost savingsAround 550 job cutsInsurer Direct Line (DLG) said it plans to cut around 550 jobs as part of a series of initiatives aimed at simplifying the business and delivering at least £100 million of cost savings by the end of 2025.While third quarter gross written premiums fell amid 'challenging' conditions in motor insurance, CEO Ad

Stocks in London were in the green at midday on Monday, with NatWest on the up after buying back government shares.'The FTSE 100 broke its losing streak to trade higher on Monday with healthcare and financial stocks doing much of the heavy lifting. There was wider optimism across Europe as stocks recovered from a rocky week,' said AJ Bell's Russ Mould.The FTSE 100 index was up 64.00 points, 0.8%,

Stock prices in Europe were in the green on Monday morning after data on Saturday showed that annual consumer price inflation in China slowed in October.Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya said that 'the picture remains bullish for the US equities' following Trump's re-election but 'Elsewhere, worries mount: FTSE 100 and the European Stoxx 600 index both closed last week below the 200-DMA on worries ab

Junior exchange founded in 2012Revenue has grown around 500%Offer at 727p vs 330p close FridayIn the latest example of UK small-cap companies being taken over, junior stockmarket operator Aquis Exchange (AQX:AIM) announced it had agreed an offer for the company from Swiss bourse operator SIX Exchange Group at more than double the current share price.Acquis shares jumped 112% to 700p giving the fir

Equities in London ended lower on Friday, with miners and other China-exposed stocks hurting the FTSE 100, though a reassuring update from the British Airways parent lifted travel shares.Broker cuts hurt Greggs and Mitchells & Butler, while investors fretted for Vistry again after the housebuilder warned on profit.The FTSE 100 index fell 68.35 points, 0.8%, at 8,072.39, fading 1.3% this week. The

Year-to-date IAG shares up 48%New €350 million share buyback15.4% increase in operating profit to €2.01 billionShares in International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) took off this morning after the British Airways owner booked a 7.9% increase in total revenue to €24.05 billion for the nine months to 30 September.The airline group which also owns Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling said its

Firm slices outlook for 2024 to 2026Total costs now seen at £165 millionShares down over 45% since SeptemberFor investors in housebuilder Vistry (VTY), October and November have been months to forget as the firm has now cut its full-year 2024, 2025 and 2026 outlook twice in the space of a few weeks.The shares dropped 165p or 19% to 705p, taking them to the bottom of the pile in the FTSE 250 and b

Stock prices in Europe were generally lower on Friday morning, after optimism from rate cuts in the US and UK wore off, as China unveiled a huge support package under which it will raise the local government debt ceiling.China's top lawmakers have approved a proposal to increase the debt ceiling for local governments by $840 billion, state media said as a key meeting wrapped up in Beijing.Meanwhil

US indices hit more new highs this week after Donald Trump was declared the winner of the race to become the next US president.As well as tech stocks, which rallied on the belief a Trump administration would be less likely to impose strict regulations on the sector, energy companies and financial stocks registered strong gains.Trump's mantra of 'drill baby, drill' implies he favours increasing US

Stocks ended a mixed bag in London on Thursday, amid a number of central bank decisions, and following the US presidential election.In the UK, the Bank of England said it would not cut interest rates 'too quickly or too much' after lowering rates by 25 basis points. The US Federal Reserve is expected to follow suit later in the day.The FTSE 100 index closed down 25.94 points, or 0.3%, at 8,140.74.

Group revenue down 8% to £2.7 billionTotal ITV Studios revenue down 20% to £1.21 billionAdditional £20 million net cost savings in 2024Shares in ITV (ITV) fell more than 8% to 66p in morning trading as the free-to-air broadcaster said group revenue fell 8% at £2.7 billion in the nine months to 30 September.Total ITV Studios revenue was down 20% to £1.21 billion impacted by the expected phasin

The FTSE 100 was flat on Thursday afternoon, treading water after the Bank of England reduced rates, and suggested a more gradual cutting path than some expected.The pound moved higher immediately following the decision, which was accompanied by the BoE's latest economic projections. The central bank suggested last week's UK budget was inflationary.The budget is expected to boost the level of gros

Outlook revised downNew car market remains toughFears over ruling on car financing commissionsThe UK's largest automotive platform Auto Trader (AUTO) revised down its dealership listing volumes outlook and now expects full year average revenue per retailer to fall, sending the shares down 7% to the bottom of the FTSE 100 index.The shares have reversed nearly 12% since the beginning of October on c

Stock prices in Europe were mixed on Thursday morning ahead of interest rate decisions by the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve, as investors digest Donald Trump's incoming second presidential term.'The BoE is expected to cut rates by 25bp today,' noted Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'The markets price in two more rate cuts by the end of next year and gives a 35% chance for a third one... [

The polls had forecast a knife-edge election but as it turned out Donald Trump won a convincing victory in the US presidential election and has completed a stunning political comeback to return to the White House.The clarity in itself was welcomed by financial markets who had feared a protracted affair with both parties potentially taking some time to concede defeat.Trump's vocal support for crypt

The economic landscape is set to become quieter in the run-up to Thanksgiving in the US and Christmas. At the time of going to press, the odds of the Federal Reserve making a quarter of a percentage point cut to interest rates is nailed on according to the CME's Fedwatch tool.Likewise, the Bank of England is expected to make a quarter of a percentage point cut to 4.75% when it meets on 7 November.

Gold has had a great year. Spot prices hit another all-time high (30 October) of $2,781 per ounce, based on Bloomberg data, chalking up 35% gains so far in 2024, having broken through the $2,600 level in September for the very first time.That trumps global equities, based on the FTSE World Index's 18% returns, and even high-flying tech firms have struggled to keep pace, based on the 27% year-to-da

It is generally thought that owning shares in conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B:NYSE) is equivalent to holding a microcosm of the US economy, given the broad reach of its investments, from insurance to utilities and railroads.That notion is becoming more nuanced following the revelation by chair Warren Buffett on 2 November that the Omaha Nebraska-based company sold $36 billion of its share p

Publisher Pearson (PSON) has gone through many incarnations during its 180-year history from starting out as a civil engineering business to the owner of The Financial Times to its current focus on education.The company is going through change once again with the appointment of new CEO Omar Abbosh in January this year and the early signs are good with the company recently announcing a positive set