European banking and mining stocks bore the brunt of the selloff in morning trading on Friday (4 April) as China announced 34% retaliatory tariffs on US imports, sparking fears of a global trade war.UK banks Barclays (BARC), NatWest (NWG), Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) were some of the biggest fallers ? down 9.12%, 8.99% and 7.32% respectively on the day and global mining companies Glencore...

It was a sea of red on the FTSE 100 on Monday afternoon, with tobacco and utility stocks among the rare few to trade higher.Tariff worries continued to take a toll on equities, as 'liberation day' edges ever closer.The FTSE 100 index fell 100.89 points, 1.2%, at 8,557.96. The FTSE 250 slumped 389.25 points, 2.0%, at 19,475.73, and the AIM All-Share fell 12.16 points, 1.8%, at 684.46.The Cboe...

Soft UK economic figures did little to deter a market uplift on Friday, as Asian stocks are boosted on hopes of consumer spending stimulus.The FTSE 100 index traded up 59.66 points, 0.7%, at 8,600.72. The FTSE 250 was up 175.56 points, 0.9%, at 19,863.93, and the AIM All-Share was up 5.86 points, 0.9%, at 685.32.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% at 859.45, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0% at 17,326.55,...

FTSE 100 commodity trader and mining outfit Glencore (GLEN) is languishing close to multi-year lows in the wake of its latest disappointing results (19 February).Management's frustration at the company's current valuation ? which stands at 11.7 times 2025 consensus forecast EPS (earnings per share) ? led it to speculate in the wake of the numbers that it might seek to shift its primary listing...

Stocks in Europe were mixed on Tuesday afternoon, with London's blue chip index boosted by miners and defence as talks between the US and Russia continue, though the pound surrendered some earlier progress as the Bank of England governor warned on tepid economic growth.The FTSE 100 index rose 14.82 points, 0.2%, at 8,782.83. The FTSE 250 fell 34.80 points, 0.2%, at 20,903.88, and the AIM...

London's FTSE 100 traded ever-so-slightly lower early on Tuesday, while the pound rose further above the $1.26 mark, after data showed the UK jobless rate was lower than expected and wage growth was hotter than forecast.The FTSE 100 index fell just 3.18 points at 8,764.83. The FTSE 250 fell 41.07 points, 0.2%, at 20,897.61, and the AIM All-Share rose 1.10 points, 0.2%, at 726.32.The Cboe UK...

The market is alive with chatter about a mega-merger in the mining space after the revelation of a failed coupling between Rio Tinto (RIO) and Glencore (GLEN). That's understandable for several reasons, but recent history shows flirtations between corporate giants often go unconsummated.Having covered the oil and gas sector for nearly 20 years, I have seen the topic of a combination...

In just the first 20 days of 2025 the FTSE 100 index of blue-chip stocks has equaled its gains for the entirety of 2024, in the process closing at an all-time high of 8,505 points on 17 January.A better-than-expected inflation report for December together with weaker-than-expected retail sales for the same month appeared to open the door to faster Bank of England rate cuts, pushing the index...

European stocks opened in the green at the start of the week, boosted by an announcement from China's top leadership which aims to aid the Asian nation's shaky economy.The FTSE 100 index traded up 26.17 points, 0.3%, at 8,334.78. The FTSE 250 was up 36.75 points, 0.2%, at 21,095.75, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.55 points, 0.4%, at 740.77.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.4% higher at 837.24, the Cboe UK...

The FTSE 100 rallied at the close on Wednesday, as US markets climbed ahead of a CPI print later in the week.The FTSE 100 index closed up 53.13 points, 0.7%, at 8,243.74. The FTSE 250 ended 191.18 points higher, 0.9%, at 20,822.38, and the AIM All-Share rose 1.59 points, 0.2%, to 736.66.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.6% 825.37, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 1.0% at 18,281.39, but the Cboe Small Companies...

The mining sector is at an inflection point. Historically associated with polluting materials like coal, the industry has a huge role to play if the world is to transition itself away from fossil fuels.However, while long-term targets remain around net zero, there are hints of governments backsliding on these commitments and prioritising other things like energy security.That makes it very...

European stocks were in the green on Friday morning, as regulator Ofgem reported it will increase the energy price cap in Great Britain, pushing up average household bills by 9.5% from October.'Just when temperatures begin to plummet and nights draw in, households will be faced with the exact scenario they'd hoped was behind them,' warned AJ Bell's Danni Hewson.Meanwhile, eyes remained on the...

Stocks in London made a soggy start on Tuesday, with miners dragging the blue-chip FTSE 100 lower, although Compass bucked the weaker trend.The FTSE 100 index traded down 30.93 points, or 0.4%, at 8,167.85. The FTSE 250 was down 25.12 points, 0.1%, at 21,113.56, while the AIM All-Share was down 1.55 points, 0.2%, at 781.69.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 815.65, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.2% lower...

European stocks recovered some poise Monday after a difficult week, though there could more volatility for equities in London and mainland Europe, with political campaigns picking up speed, and a Bank of England decision to come.Stocks in Asia traded lower, with mixed data from China hurting enthusiasm.The FTSE 100 index opened up 40.03 points, 0.5%, at 8,186.89. The FTSE 250 was up 118.58...

Copper is already one of the most important materials underpinning human civilisation, and the energy transition is only likely to see demand for the industrial metal build in the years to come.Limits and pressures on supply and this growing demand profile are already seeing copper prices mount a charge and recent M&A activity ? with BHP's (BHP) unsuccessful (for now) attempt to take over...

In the last few weeks, the drumbeat of companies complaining about the lowly valuation of their shares and floating the idea of moving to the US market has grown steadily louder.First there was miner Glencore (GLEN), then oil major Shell (SHEL) started making noises and most recently online retailer Ocado (OCDO) has come under shareholder pressure to move its listing.What is significant is...

Stocks in London opened mixed on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 dragged down by soft earnings from HSBC and Glencore, two of its largest constituents by market cap.The FTSE 100 index opened down 50.16 points, 0.7%, at 7,669.05. The FTSE 250 was up 3.10 points at 19,112.73, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.28 points, 0.2%, at 751.77.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.6% at 768.27, the Cboe UK 250 was up...

While it may have been choppy seas for growth investors last year, for those with an income strategy it was plainer sailing with regular dividend payments for the FTSE All-Share excluding investment trusts growing by more than 5% to over £88 billion according to the latest Dividend Monitor report from financial services company Computershare.The firm?s latest quarterly report reveals some...

It's not often the UK stock market gets to blow its own trumpet but in September the FTSE 100 was the best-performing major global index, gaining 2.3%, while Germany's Dax lost 3%, the S&P500 lost 4% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 ended the month 4.5% lower.Key drivers of international weakness were the continued rise in bond yields, which is particularly negative for the valuation of growth...

Stocks in London were higher at midday on Thursday, as investors eyed a key interest rate decision from the European Central Bank this afternoon.The FTSE 100 registered some strong gains, as it got a boost from miners.The FTSE 100 index was up 82.60 points, or 1.1%, at 7,608.59. The FTSE 250 was marginally higher, up just 5.10 points at 18,566.67 and the AIM All-Share was up 1.27 points, or...