European stocks stumbled in early trading on Wednesday despite optimism of progress in US-China trade talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that he and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to lay the groundwork for future negotiations. 'We will agree what we're going to talk about. My sense is that this will be about de-escalation, not...

Stock prices in Europe were lower at midday Monday, as investors digested the results of the EU election, which saw a rise in support for right-wing parties.The FTSE 100 index was down 23.67 points, 0.3%, at 8,221.70. The FTSE 250 was down 66.99 points, 0.3%, at 20,488.38, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.26 points, 0.5%, at 789.27.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 819.76, the Cboe UK 250 was...

The blue chip benchmark finished 0.6% higher at 7,384.18 points on Thursday, a 20-month high, amid relief that Chinese property developer Evergrande has avoided defaulting on its debts.Disappointing UK GDP data, combined with last week's surprise decision by the Bank of England to delay a rate rise, drove sterling lower and the international FTSE 100 higher, as a weak pound means constituents'...

There was little cheer for investors heading into the fourth quarter as the squeeze on global energy prices continued to send markets lower. In the US, the S&P 500 index finished down 1.2% at 4,023 points, defying recent bullish talk by analysts, while in Asia the Nikkei index slumped 2.3%.In energy markets, Brent crude eased 1% to $77.80 per barrel but European front-month natural gas prices...

The FTSE 100 made a cautiously positive start, up 0.4% to 6,728.21, as investors await the US interest rate decision later.Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) gains 5.8% as it reaches an agreement with Pfizer to combine their consumer health businesses into a new joint venture.The joint venture is expected to realise 'substantial' cost synergies and help GSK scale its consumer...

The FTSE 100 opens up 102.13 points to 6,990.82 following strong trading in the US and Asian markets. This may indicate that fears of a trade war between the US and China are dissipating.Building material distributer Ferguson (FERG) leads the FTSE 100 gainers as its share price is up 5% to £53.89. Its results for the half year to 31 January show a 10.3% growth in revenue to £10.03bn with a...

London's blue-chips trade 40.64 points lower at 7,502 on Wednesday, tracking falls in Asian markets and mixed sentiment on Wall Street with investors continuing to worry about Chinese growth.FTSE 250 engineer Spirax-Sarco (SPX) sparks up 135p (2.4%) to £57.10 on stellar first half results and a positive outlook statement. The valves, pumps and control systems supplier's adjusted profit before...

Everyone loves a bargain and investors are no different. What you must understand is that there is a difference between shares which are 'cheap' and those which offer genuine value.There are several tools at your disposal to identify value and we'll look at four key metrics in this article to help spot investment opportunities.Looking at ratios such as price-to-earnings (PE) will provide you...

Investors looking for other undervalued opportunities in the oil services sector after Amec Foster Wheeler (AMFW) agreed to a $2.7bn merger with Wood Group (WG.) (13 Mar) could consider maintenance vessel provider Gulf Marine Services (GMS).A discounted valuation reflects a stretched balance sheet. A January trading update suggests market conditions are improving and we would expect a...

Takeovers are back on the agenda for the UK stock market. We aren't surprised, given favourable conditions for M&A (mergers and acquisitions) have been in place for some time.The cost of borrowing is low; sterling devaluation makes British companies a more attractive proposition to overseas buyers; and volatile conditions in certain sectors have left some decent businesses in a vulnerable...

Though London's FTSE 100 is around 20 points lower at 6,800 early on, housebuilders are among the main risers, buoyed by indicators suggesting Brexit fears continue to be shrugged off by consumers.The Nationwide House Price Index rose by 0.6% in August, taking the annual growth rate in property prices to 5.6%, and the average house price to £206,145. Also providing a boost is the GfK Consumer...

Shares in oil services firm Gulf Marine Services (GMS) are down just 10% at 72p in the wake of a big profit warning at 3.04pm on 21 March ahead of 2015 numbers.The reaction looks out of whack compared with the scale of the warning with 2016 earnings per share (EPS) expected to be 25% to 30% lower than in 2015. To put this in context Canaccord Genuity had penciled in EPS growth of 15% for...

London shares began on a mildly negative note ahead of a raft of inflation data due out mid morning, while Europe is heavily lower after a series of terror attacks in Brussels this morning.The FTSE 100 index nudge around 15 points, or roughly 0.3%, lower to 6,167.Thomas Cook (TCG) falls 5% to 87.8p in the wake of this morning's deadly explosions in Brussels' airport and metro system. The...

RESULTS > FINALS > 22 MARCH 2016Gulf Marine Services (GMS) 69.5pSelf-propelled self-elevating support vessels provider Gulf Marine Services (GMS) is set to report its 2015 results with investors hoping the pricing pressure alluded to in a third quarter update (11 Nov 2015) is not increasing.The oil services company commands high margins for its vessels and because it sources work from...

A third quarter release from Gulf Marine Services (GMS) could be read as a mild profit warning despite guidance that the full year will be 'broadly' in line with expectations.The shares fall 9.7% to 99.3p as the self-propelled self elevating support vessels (SESV) provider warns of a $8 million hit from dollar strength and says low oil prices have had some effect on contract pricing.Barclays...

London shares get off to a good start in early trade on Wednesday as investors mull signs of possible stabilisation in Chinese economic growth, offsetting some weak corporate announcements. The FTSE 100 index rallies around 40 points, or 0.6%, to 6,313, matching the solid progress on Wall Street and on Japan's markets overnight.A rally at credit bureau Experian (EXPN) extends into a second day...

Stepping out in a new market helps lift Gulf Marine Services (GMS) - up 4.3% to 135.6p as one of its large class of self-propelled self-elevating support vessels (SESVs) is contracted for decommissioning work. The vessel, which has been supporting well service and maintenance work in the Southern North Sea for an international oil company (ConocoPhillips (COP:NYSE)) since the third quarter of...

The FTSE 100 dives 45.65 points to 6,540 as Greece moved a step closer to leaving the eurozone over the weekend. The Greeks voted to reject the austerity conditions linked to a fresh bailout package in Sunday's referendum.Banks led the fallers in London during early trading with Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) diving 2.3% to 350.7p, closely followed by a 1.8% drop by Barclays (BARC) to 258p while...

Amid the widely expected news (5 Jun) that oil producers' cartel OPEC will keep its production quotas unchanged at 30 million barrels of oil per day the outlook for the Oil Equipment & Services sector is far from rosy.Its year-to-date performance has followed the lead given by a recovering oil price - with shares rebounding from a very low base.Not every stock has participated in this rally -...

Oil industry vessel provider Gulf Marine Services (GMS) gains 8.4% to 111.6p as it announces a four year charter for one of its Large Class Vessels with an unnamed national oil company in the Middle East.The contract commences at the end of the first quarter and the day rate is consistent with that previously indicated for this class of vessel in the region. Taken together with the other...