European stocks traded lower at midday on Friday as weak US data sparked concerns that growth in the world's largest economy could be slowing.The FTSE 100 index was down 34.90 points, 0.4%, at 8,248.46. The FTSE 250 was 358.17 points, 1.7%, at 21,101.06, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.27 points, 0.7%, at 777.81.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4%, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.2% at 18,461.00, and the Cb

Dividend resumedTotal revenue €14.72 billionIAG shares up 8% year-to-dateShares in International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) rose over 6% in morning trading to 169p as the British Airways owner said strong demand for travel helped lift its results in the six months to 30 June 2024.Total revenue increased 8% to €14.72 billion compared to €13.58 billion in the same year ago period.

European stocks were in the red on Friday morning as investors eagerly await non-farm payrolls from the US, after tech earnings and economic data disappointed on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index slipped 27.81 points, or 0.3%, to 8,255.55 on Friday morning. The FTSE 250 fell 257.34 points, 1.2%, at 21,201.89, while the AIM All-Share traded down 3.42 points, 0.4%, at 779.66.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2%

European markets and the pound had a strong day on Thursday, with the afternoon's US inflation reading boosting risk appetite.Markets in New York got off the line slowly, however, amid an apparent rotation out of tech following a bullish run in recent days.The FTSE 100 index closed up 29.83 points, 0.4%, at 8,223.34. The FTSE 250 was surged 261.15 points, 1.3%, at 21,188.91, and the AIM All-Share

Now the ballots have been cast at the general election, the UK could become the 'reassuringly boring' market, both politically and fiscally, when compared to the more extreme politics on the other side of the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean.So suggests Jean Roche, manager of the Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP), who notes capital allocators know more or less what to expect, which could explain th

AstraZeneca's cancer drug combo gets green lightApplications being reviewed in several countriesCovid-19 prevention drug gets fast-trackedA combination of AstraZeneca's (AZN) cancer treatments Imfinzi and Lynparza has been recommended for approval in the EU by the CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use) for patients with certain advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.In addition, I

Stock prices in London continued to trend down this week, as new US non farms payroll data signalled that a Fed interest rate cut won't be happening anytime soon.The FTSE 100 index closed down 39.97 points, 0.5%, at 8,245.37. The FTSE 250 ended down 160.51 points, 0.8%, at 20,555.37, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.01 points, 0.4%, at 793.53.Over the course of the week, they are down 0.4%, 0.8

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Bruce Stout, Co-Manager, Murray International TrustIt's almost 50 years since my generation left school in the summer of '75'. Armed with aspirations that could only be fulfilled by becoming the next Denis Law or Carlos Santana, scant attention was given to prevailing economic and political circumstances. Blissfully oblivious to stagnating UK growth and inflation r

Stocks in London were higher on Friday at midday, with the FTSE 100 leading the pack, after inflation in the eurozone came in hotter-than-expected.The FTSE 100 index was up 28.37 points, 0.3%, at 8,259.42. The FTSE 250 was up 6.68 points at 20,677.55, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.59 points, 0.2%, at 804.28.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 823.92, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.4% at 18,148.14, and the

We kick off this month with two more takeovers, or attempted takeovers, of UK small-cap firms.On 21 May Singapore-based but UK-listed specialist engineer XP Power (XPP) rejected a bid from Denver, Colorado-based rival Advanced Energy Industries (AEIS:NASDAQ).The firm said it had received a series of 'highly conditional, opportunistic, indicative proposals' from the US company, the latest at £19.5

This column has no axe to grind with Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ) and ? like everyone else ? it continues to be both surprised and impressed by the growth that the semiconductor specialist is generating, thanks to the competitive position it is crafting itself in providing silicon chips that power the data centres that, in turn, drive the large language models that are so important to the development of A

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE By Melissa Gallagher, Head of Investment Trusts, BlackRock ?During tough economic conditions, the pie gets smaller. If customers don?t have a compelling reason to buy a product, they won?t.?While the outlook for this year?s ISA season is less grim than it was 12 months ago, there are still headwinds for markets in the year ahead. The UK slipped into recession at the

London stocks were up at midday on Friday, on the back of an interest rate hold from the Bank of England and a better-than-expected gross domestic product reading from the Office for National Statistics.The FTSE 100 index was up 66.70 points, 0.8%, at 8,448.05, after hitting a record high 8,455.77 earlier. The FTSE 250 was up 163.86 points, 0.8%, at 20,695.16, and the AIM All-Share was up 5.05 poi

1Q operating profit ?68 millionFuel unit costs down 4.9%IAG shares up 18% this yearShares in International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) were up 1.5p or 0.8% at 184p in morning trading as the British Airways owner said strong travel demand helped lift its results in the three months to 31 March 2024. EARNINGS TOP FORECASTSTotal revenue for the three months to 31 March was ?6.43 billion compar

Stocks in London started strong on Friday following the Bank of England?s dovish hold on interest rates on Thursday, as new data showed UK gross domestic product reached a stronger-than-expected level in March.The FTSE 100 index opened up 43.05 points, 0.5%, at 8,424.40. The FTSE 250 was up 68.41 points, 0.3%, at 20,599.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.06 points, 0.3%, at 785.76.The Cboe UK 100

Galaxy smartphone maker reports 10-fold jump in profitAI driving demand for memory chipsSouth Korean firm targeted by activists earlier in the yearThe world?s biggest memory chips and smartphone maker Samsung Electronics (005930:KS) is getting a much-needed lift from the AI (artificial intelligence) demand boom.The South Korean technology giant clocked a 10-fold surge in its first quarter profit,

Postive cancer trial resultsPotentially increases patient poolNew standard of careShares in AstraZeneca (AZN) got a further boost today, rising 2% after posting positive late-stage trial results for breast cancer treatment Enhertu which demonstrated clinically-meaningful progression-free survival improvements.This follows strong market-beating first-quarter results last week (25 April) which sent

They say you can lead a horse to water but you can?t make it drink, however that?s exactly what we are trying to do with this week?s cover story on the compelling value being offered in UK stocks right now.We may be sowing our seed on stony ground ? indeed according to figures from one newspaper there has been a £2.5 billion outflow of money from UK funds and trusts in the last four months compar

The FTSE 100 achieved a solid gain and almost hit its best-ever level on Friday, with its mining and oil producing contingent sparing it from declines seen in equities elsewhere.Shares in Frankfurt and New York failed to find their feet as investors fretted over rising tensions and US interest rate worries.The FTSE 100 index ended up 71.78 points, 0.9%, at 7,995.58, closing below the 8,000 point m

US-listed large-caps shone last year with shares in mega-caps, and the ?Magnificent Seven? in particular, surging higher. However, this outperformance only widened the valuation gap between US large and small-caps and left shares in the latter cohort languishing at the low end of historical valuations.Over one and five years, the Russell 2000 index of US small-cap stocks is up 14.6% and 30.5% at t