Promising UK data pushed the pound back above the $1.24 mark on Friday, putting pressure on the FTSE 100 and ensuring London's blue-chip index failed to replicate the more confident trade seen in mainland Europe.The FTSE 100 index was down 29.04 points, 0.3%, at 8,536.16. The FTSE 250 was up 56.83 points, 0.3%, at 20,577.22, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.45 points, 0.3%, at 718.41.The Cboe UK 1

As we predicted a fortnight ago, US banks enjoyed strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 helped by elevated levels of trading in stocks and bonds as well as higher investment banking fees as companies took advantage of low borrowing costs and buoyant stock markets to raise fresh capital.Given the sharp rise in the KBW Nasdaq Bank index over the last year, and gains of around 50% for b

Lululemon Athletica (LULU:NASDAQ)Price: $371Gain to date: 42.7%We recommended investors slip into Canadian athleisure-wear company Lululemon Athletica (LULU:NASDAQ) in August 2024 after the shares had almost halved in value due to concerns over US consumer spending.WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE SAID TO BUY?We might have missed the absolute low, but as it turned out our contrarian call was still fairy

First of seven vital votes on Saba proposalsRetail investor engagement key to outcomeInvestors should 'use votes wisely' says analystThis is potentially a historic day (22 January) for the UK investment trust sector, with Herald Investment Trust's (HRI) shareholders about to kick-start a string of crucial votes to either approve or reject a radical agenda pursued by US raider Saba Capital Manageme

Key UK indices closed in the green on Tuesday as Trump's stance on tariffs appeared to shift to a more moderate position and UK unemployment rose above expectations.The FTSE 100 index rose 27.75 points, 0.3%, at 8,548.29, just shy of a new intra-day high of 8,550.41.The FTSE 250 ended 108.99 points higher, 0.5%, at 20,595.73, and the AIM All-Share rose 0.82 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.11.The Cboe UK

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

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

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

Firm enjoyed strong volume growthInvesting in price for long termNo upgrade to current-year earningsThe UK's biggest supermarket chain Tesco (TSCO) reported strong trading and its highest market share since 2016 over the third quarter, including Christmas, as hinted at by the Kantar grocery sales data released a few days ago.However, the shares slumped in morning trade, at one point losing 15p or

Strong festive salesOnline and international drive growthTougher FY26 expectedFirst out of the blocks with its Christmas trading statement, fashion and homewares colossus Next (NXT) raised full-year profit guidance yet again following better-than-expected festive trading with online sales growth accelerating in the fourth quarter.Shares in the FTSE 100 retailer ticked up 3% to £98.40 on the news,

London stocks opened in the red on Tuesday morning, but FTSE 100-listed retailer Next achieved a gain as it upped its guidance following a healthy Christmas trading period.The FTSE 100 index opened down 23.47 points, 0.3%, at 8,226.19. The FTSE 250 was down 79.56 points, 0.4%, at 20,533.09, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.37 points, 0.2%, at 727.22.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 824.16, the Cbo

London's blue chip index was slightly in the red on Friday midday, while US markets are expected to open higher after a weak start on Wall Street on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index traded down 4.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,255.40. The FTSE 250 was down 48.37 points, 0.2%, at 20,591.86, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.19 of a point at 723.54.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 827.28, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.

Pubs group JD Wetherspoon's (JDW) value credentials continue to shine through. According to fund manager Anna Farmbrough at Ninety One the company has doubled its average price advantage over competitors to 40% since the pandemic.Farmbrough notes that a few years ago there were three pubs in her local area while today there is just a single Wetherspoons, demonstrating its ability to benefit as con

Let's not beat around the bush, January is an awful month. You've just spent a packet on Christmas, your favourite clothes are inexplicably tight, and your efforts to work off a little holiday weight in the gym are hampered by everyone else trying to do exactly the same thing.It's against this backdrop of seasonal wretchedness that HMRC stations its deadline for filling in a tax return, just in ca

The last 10 years have been pretty rough for UK stocks but there could be some signs of life emerging as we head towards 2025.Brexit, Covid and other political and economic shocks as well as a tilt towards 'old economy' stocks and a minimal footprint in technology have combined to undermine the relevance and appeal of the UK market.The resulting underperformance has led to people consistently poin

Key UK indices were broadly flat at Thursday's close as the ECB decided to 'play it safe' with interest rate cuts.Also, the UK prime minister has said providing homes for people must be the 'top priority' over nature and the environment as government reforms are set to allow more building on the green belt.A shake-up of planning rules means councils have been given mandatory targets to deliver a t

Second-quarter results (19 December) from Nike [NKE:NYSE) will give Wall Street analysts a first opportunity to hear from new CEO Elliott Hill, tasked with turning round the world's biggest sportswear company's fortunes.Shares in the struggling sneakers-to-soccer balls titan, which recently withdrew full year 2025 guidance amidst a major restructuring, have shed a third of their value in the past

Lots of parents and grandparents default to cash when saving for their children or grandchildren, but most have a very long time until they will give the money to the children, meaning investing can be a great option. If we look at someone saving £1,000 a year from birth of the child until the age of 18, they'd hand them almost £8,000 more if they invested the money and earned 5% return a year a

Ashley blasts Boohoo's 'egotistical' founderFrasers' criticisms labelled 'superficial'Boohoo highlights 'credible' turnaround planBoohoo's (BOO:AIM) shares were bid up 2% to 36p after the struggling online fashion group revealed that Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended shareholders reject Mike Ashley's bid to become CEO at the company's forthcoming general meeting (20 December