The FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 encountered divergent fortunes during early afternoon trading on Wednesday. At lunchtime the former was trading 0.09% lower at 7,124.13, whilst the latter edged 0.95% higher to 22,661.63.The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), revealed that gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown by 0.4% in August.The rebound was predominately...

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREBy Orsen Karnburisudthi, Investment Manager, Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust-The Thai economy has suffered from its dependence on tourism and exports-However, the economy should benefit from renewed global economic activity as tourism resumes and borders reopen-The Aberdeen New Thai Investment Trust is keeping a balance between cyclicals and long-term growthThe...

Blue chip UK stocks edged higher by lunchtime on Friday despite the UK economy shrinking by the highest amount on record with a 9.9% slump in 2020, as gross domestic product (GDP) numbers beat expectations.According to analysts at Saxo Bank, GDP quarter-on-quarter beat expectations at 1% vs 0.5% surveyed, whilst GDP year-on-year highlighted that the UK economy contracted less than expected at...

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREBy Pruksa Iamthongthong, Investment Manager, Asia Dragon Trust plcAs we begin a new year, those of us looking for a clean break from last year's uncertainty may be disappointed: last year's challenges have not disappeared overnight and look likely to linger for some time.For example, Covid-19 will be around for many months to come; its dark clouds will continue to...

UK shares were volatile on Wednesday, moving significantly higher initially before falling back into the red after the release of better than expected, but still bad, second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) figures.Before trading began, the blue-chip FTSE 100 index was expected to fall as investors struggled to digest last night's messy US presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe...

UK shares have been volatile in early trading on Wednesday, moving significantly higher initially before falling back into the red after the release of better than expected, but still bad, second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) figures.Before trading began, the blue-chip FTSE 100 index was expected to fall as investors struggled to digest last night's messy US presidential debate between...

UK stocks pushed higher at the open on Wednesday, despite the sobering news UK gross domestic product (GDP) fell by a record 20.4% in the three months to June, confirmation the UK has lurched into its deepest-ever recession, as the bulls focused on a better than anticipated economic bounce-back in June.At 8.30, the FTSE 100 was up 36.7 points, or 0.6%, at 6,191.04.Admiral (ADM) added 5.3% to...

The manager of popular investment trust Personal Assets Trust (PNL) has issued a warning to investors thinking about a wholesale switch into 'value' stocks.Troy Asset Management's Sebastian Lyon, who has managed the trust for more than a decade, warned that some dividends cut or reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, may never return to previous levels, making the value end of the stock...

UK stocks opened substantially higher on Friday after Donald Trump laid out reopening plans for the US economy, with the FTSE 100 up 158 points or 2.8% at 5,786.1 early on. Markets were also buoyed by reports that a coronavirus treatment from Gilead Sciences had delivered positive results.The rally came despite China announcing its first every quarterly economic contraction on record, with...

The FTSE 100 got off to a slow start on Wednesday after a warning from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the global economy could suffer its worst fall since the 1930s.In its half-yearly forecasts, the IMF said gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to fall globally by 4.2% in 2020, by 6.5% in advanced countries, and by 7% in the UK.The UK's benchmark index fell 0.63% to 5,754.73...

Shares in outsourcing firms Capita (CPI), G4S (GFS) and Serco (SRP) are among the biggest gainers following the landslide Conservative election victory.Not only has the threat of a Labour government evaporated, taking with it the prospect of a ban on outsourcing deals, the new administration is set to increase public spending next year to spur growth.Shares in Capita touched a 12-month high of...

London's FTSE 100 gave up 49.2 points to trade at 7,213.3 early on Thursday with investors growing tired of the lack of progress with US/China trade talks and the Federal Reserve's latest meeting minutes showed it is in no hurry to make further interest rate cuts in the US.CENTRICA REMAINS ON TRACKUnloved energy giant Centrica (CAN) rallied 4.5% to 75.96p after leaving its full year outlook...

The FTSE 100 got off to a good start on this morning as investors await the latest UK jobs data to be published today with cautious optimism.It follows yesterday's data on the UK economy, which showed the country avoided a recession as it recorded 0.3% growth in gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of the year.The UK's benchmark index rose 21.44 points, or 0.29%, to 7,349.39.B&M...

The FTSE 100 opened virtually unchanged at 7,608.54 this morning as fears grow among economists that the UK could've gone into the red in last three months. Given business sentiment surveys in June for construction and manufacturing were pretty dismal, it's believed that UK gross domestic product (GDP) will have shrunk in the second quarter.There's also confusion as to whether the Bank of...

At around 1.6bn China has the biggest population in the world living on the fourth largest land mass. It is also the second largest economy today, and is rapidly closing in on the US at number one. Some analysts believe this will happen before 2030.That combined potential makes China an attractive place to invest today. So what are the big themes that investors should understand before taking...

In the 1990s the UK industrials sector could be characterised as low-margin metal bashers producing commoditised products for mature economies. There has been significant improvement since then with leaner, more technologically focused companies operating in a far more diverse mix of geographies.What's included in this sector: The industrials super sector includes a number of industries...

The FTSE 100 fails to build on gains overnight in the US and Asia and is down 0.26% this morning at 6,850.82.Global advertising outfit WPP (WPP), often seen as a bellwether for the wider economy, is up 3% to £18.00 on better than expected interim results. Net sales increase 3.8% against expectations for an advance of around 3.2% to 3.3%. Current trading is also buoyant with like-for-like...

London's blue chip index trades 0.7% higher at 6,715.80 in early trading as the pound rises against the dollar after Theresa May walked into 10 Downing street as prime minister for the first time on Wednesday night.Expectations that the Bank of England could cut interest rates later today have also been welcomed by the market.Convenience store retailer McColl's (MCLS) jumps 14% to 150p on...

Markets worldwide start the week with strong gains as the re-election of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prompts expectations of further stimulus in the world's third-largest economy.Blue chip shares in London hit an 11-month high, adding 0.4% to 6,617, alongside similar gains across the rest of Europe.Stronger-than-anticipated US job numbers late on Friday and the Japan election result...

Dragon Capital's flagship fund Vietnam Enterprise Investment (VEIL) has floated on London's Main Market in the midst of a strong comeback for overseas-focused funds.The closed-ended fund first launched in 1995 and provides exposure to a portfolio of listed and unlisted companies in Vietnam that offer 'attractive growth and value metrics and strong corporate governance' according to Dragon...