London's blue chip index closed in the green on Friday as Smiths Group unveiled 'strategic actions' to unlock shareholder value, including divestment and an increased buyback programme.The FTSE 100 index closed up 27.08 points, 0.3%, at 8,673.96. The FTSE 250 ended up 145.41 points, 0.7%, at 20,950.48, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.10 points at 718.13.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 869.89,

European stocks edged higher at Friday midday ahead of US inflation figures which are expected to show pricing pressures remained stable in December.The latest strength means London's FTSE 100 is on track to post a gain of around 6.2% for January, its biggest monthly gain since November 2022.Russ Mould at AJ Bell said: 'Investors will be relieved that the markets have successfully negotiated a wee

Blue chip stocks in Europe were largely higher, with Smiths Group the star performer in London, but looming tariff worries could unnerve equities.Convera analyst Boris Kovacevic said the 'tariff clock is ticking'.'The February 1st tariff deadline clouds the outlook. Investors are confused by the unclear tariff rollouts from the Trump administration. Recently, the White House confirmed a 25% levy o

London stocks climbed on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 reaching a new high, driven by strong performances from gold miners and upbeat corporate earnings, while investors also assessed weak economic data from the US and eurozone.The FTSE 100 index ended up 89.07 points, 1.0%, at 8,646.88. It had earlier set a new intra-day high of 8,655.19.The FTSE 250 ended up 245.37 points, 1.2%, at 20,802.07, and

Stocks in Europe were higher before a eurozone rate decision on Thursday, while US equities are called to open in the green despite tech earnings that received mixed reviews.The FTSE 100 index added 37.09 points, 0.4%, at 8,594.90. The FTSE 250 was up 174.66 points, 0.9%, at 20,734.36, and the AIM All-Share added 5.22 points, 0.7%, at 717.41.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at 861.67, the Cboe UK 250 r

Stock prices in Europe opened higher on Thursday morning, before a European Central Bank decision which is expected to be a 25 basis point cut.The ECB decision follows what was deemed a hawkish hold by the Federal Reserve overnight.The FTSE 100 index added 11.86 points, 0.1%, at 8,569.67. The FTSE 250 was up 135.96 points, 0.7%, at 20,695.66, and the AIM All-Share added 3.13 of a point, 0.4%, at 7

1. China stimulus: Equity markets in 2025 are likely to be dealing with the after-effects of last year's election outcomes and subsequent political shifts. Of note for emerging markets in the year ahead are the risks of higher US tariffs and policy-driven volatility as the second Trump administration enters office. China is attempting to minimize the risks inherent within geopolitical tensions by

Beeks Financial Cloud (BKS:AIM) 260pMarket cap: £174 millionThere is a lot to like about Beeks Financial Cloud (BKS:AIM). Namely rapid and (largely) profitable growth and improving cash flow and margin profiles from an expanding market niche.Compound average revenue growth since 2019 runs at 31.5%, and while profit has been lumpy, due to expansion investment, the shares have returned 18.5% a year

London stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 gaining as utilities rebounded, while investors awaited the Federal Reserve's rate decision and key US tech earnings.The FTSE 100 index ended up 23.94 points, 0.3%, at 8,557.81. The FTSE 250 ended down 28.81 points, 0.1%, at 20,559.70, and the AIM All-Share eased 3.13 points, 0.4%, at 712.19.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 857.74 on Wednes

Stock prices in London were mostly higher midday Wednesday, with water utilities among those leading the charge, before investors look across the pond for the Federal Reserve interest rate decision later.The FTSE 100 index added 27.29 points, 0.3%, at 8,561.16. The FTSE 250 was up 114.30 points, 0.6%, at 20,702.81, and the AIM All-Share lost just 0.14 of a point at 715.18.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.

Q4 and full year sales beat expectationsFashion and leather see sales decline2025 started wellLuxury goods giant LVMH (MC:EPA) dropped 6% despite posting full year 2024 sales ahead of consensus forecasts after revealing weakness across its fashion and leather goods divisions.The Louis Vuitton, Moet and Chandon and Hennessy brand owner arguably had a high bar to clear following upbeat sales reports

Stock prices in London and Frankfurt opened higher on Wednesday, while Paris blue-chips fell amid weaker trade for luxury firms, as investors await a Federal Reserve interest rate decision.The FTSE 100 index added 4.45 points, 0.1%, at 8,538.32. The FTSE 250 was up 37.56 points, 0.2%, at 20,626.07, and the AIM All-Share added 0.38 of a point, 0.1%, at 715.70.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 855.93, the

London's blue-chips made modest gains Tuesday, supported by defensive sectors, while global sentiment remained cautious amid worries over potential US tariffs on imports.The FTSE 100 index ended up 30.16 points, 0.4%, at 8,533.87. The FTSE 250 jumped 219.01 points, 1.1%, at 20,588.51, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.93 points, 0.6%, at 715.32.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.4% at 855.97 on Tuesday, the Cb

European stocks were higher on Tuesday afternoon, with New York stocks set for a quieter start after a tumultuous Monday trade which saw tech stocks dive.The FTSE 100 index added 51.82 points, 0.6%, at 8,555.53. The FTSE 250 was up 190.59 points, 0.9%, at 20,560.09, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.37 points, 0.5%, at 714.76.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.6% higher at 857.38, the Cboe UK 250 rose 1.0% at 17,99

London's blue-chip index outperformed peers in Paris and Frankfurt on Tuesday morning, the day after US tech stocks took a dive on fears of competition in China.The likes of Nvidia, which slumped 17% overnight, were hurt by the emergence of DeepSeek in the artificial intelligence space. The Nasdaq Composite shed 3.1% on Monday. Nasdaq futures are currently 0.3% higher, the index looking set to rec

London's key index closed Monday in the green amid a broad US tech sell-off which saw Nvidia holders unsettled by the progress of Chinese technology firm Deepseek.The FTSE 100 index ended up just 1.36 points at 8,503.71. The FTSE 250 lost 148.55 points, 0.7%, at 20,369.50, and the AIM All-Share fell 3.66 points, 0.50%, at 711.39.The Cboe UK 100 ended up slightly at 852.40 on Monday, the Cboe UK 25

Blue chip indices in Europe were lower on Monday midday, while investor eyes are also stateside, as tech stocks tumble in response to China's DeepSeek AI chatbot gaining popularity.The FTSE 100 index traded down 27.06 points, 0.3%, at 8,475.29. The FTSE 250 was down 127.27 points, 0.6%, at 20,390.78, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.30 points, 0.6%, at 710.75.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.3% lower at 849.

Exploring options for High Street divisionTalks ongoing with prospective buyersFocus on faster-growing Travel armShares in WH Smith (SMWH) were marked up 5.5% to £12.11 on 27 January after the global travel retailer confirmed it is 'exploring potential strategic options' for its storied-yet-struggling High Street business, which opened its first shop in London back in 1792.These include a possibl

Blue-chips in Europe opened lower on Monday morning, in nervy trade before eyes turn to central bank meetings and earnings from Meta, Microsoft, Apple and Tesla this week.The FTSE 100 index opened down 35.39 points, 0.4%, at 8,467.81. The FTSE 250 was down 115.54 points, 0.6%, at 20,402.51, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.52 points, 0.5%, at 711.53.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.4% lower at 848.73, the Cb

London's FTSE 100 ended lower on Friday, as the pound surged to a more than two-week high and approached the $1.25 mark on the back of decent UK data and as hopes of a 'softer approach' to tariffs from the US administration hurt the dollar.The FTSE 100 index ended 62.85 points, 0.7%, at 8,502.35. The FTSE 250 lost just 2.34 points at 20,518.05, and the AIM All-Share fell 5.81 points, 0.8%, at 715.