UK like-for-likes down in Christmas quarter'Cautious' shopper, mild weather blamedGrocery brands growing overseasFoods-to-fashion giant Associated British Foods (ABF) delivered a disappointing first quarter trading update with weak UK sales at Primark driving a sales growth guidance reduction for the retail jewel in the conglomerate's crown.Analysts downgraded their group profit forecasts on news

Only a few more sleeps before we find out how Cranswick (CWK) fared over the seasonally-important Christmas period, with the UK food producer prepping its third-quarter trading statement for release on 21 January.Shares believes the update could stoke another round of forecast upgrades, since Cranswick continues to profit from its strong relationships and scale with the current winners in UK groce

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher at midday Tuesday, with London's FTSE 100 up slightly despite oil major BP losing ground as it eyes lower production figures.Meanwhile in the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will move to reassure turbulent markets amid high government borrowing costs as she faces a grilling from MPs later today.The UK chancellor will answer questions in the Hous

Fourth-quarter retail revenue up 17.5%Average basket value up by 1% to £122.09Shares gain 9% to 296pShares in Ocado (OCDO) gained as much as 10% in early trading after the company said fourth-quarter retail revenue grew by 17.5% to £715.8 million.Ocado retail is a joint venture between Ocado group and Marks & Spencer (MKS).The online grocery retailer was reporting a trading statement for the 13

Key UK indices closed in the red on Friday as UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves remains under pressure following increased government borrowing costs.The FTSE 100 index closed down 71.20 points, 0.9%, at 8,248.49. The FTSE 250 ended down 271.20 points, 1.4%, at 19,733.94, and the AIM All-Share closed down 6.48 points, 0.9%, at 713.48.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.7% at 826.80, the Cboe UK 250 closed down

The FTSE 100 in London underperformed against its peers in Paris and Frankfurt, but Centrica on the FTSE 100 edged up after warning of 'concerningly low' UK gas storage levels during the ongoing cold snap.The FTSE 100 index was down 32.62 points, 0.4%, at 8,287.82. The FTSE 250 was down 135.35 points, 0.7%, at 19,869.79, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.64 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.32.The Cboe UK 100 w

Group winning more customersGrocery strength offsets ArgosNo change to full-year guidanceHot on heels of rival Tesco (TSCO), second-placed UK supermarket group Sainsburys (SBRY) posted an upbeat third-quarter trading statement saying it had had 'the biggest-ever Christmas'.Inevitably, just as Tesco shares were sold off yesterday, Sainsburys shares were also down on the day losing 5p or 2% to 258p.

Stocks in London, Paris and Frankfurt made a slow start to the day on Friday morning, while FTSE 100-listed grocer Sainsbury's fell despite celebrating a bumper Christmas period.The FTSE 100 index opened down just 0.55 of a point at 8,319.14. The FTSE 250 was up just 9.28 points at 20,014.42, and the AIM All-Share lost only 0.23 of a point to sit at 719.76.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 833.21, th

Key UK retailers ended Thursday firmly in the red but calmer bond markets and rising commodity prices helped keep blue-chip stocks in the green.The FTSE 100 index ended up 68.66 points, 0.8%, at 8,319.69. The FTSE 250 climbed 52.90 points, 0.3%, at 20,005.14, bouncing from an intra-day low of 19,733.12. The AIM All-Share ended down 0.15 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.96.The Cboe UK 100 closed up 0.8% at

London's blue-chips were higher around midday on Thursday, but fresh falls in the pound and bond market angst kept domestically-focused stocks on the back foot.The FTSE 100 index was up 46.80 points, 0.6%, at 8,297.83. The FTSE 250 was down 95.22 points, 0.5%, at 19,857.02, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.68 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.43.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6% at 830.81, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.5%

Firm enjoyed strong volume growthInvesting in price for long termNo upgrade to current-year earningsThe UK's biggest supermarket chain Tesco (TSCO) reported strong trading and its highest market share since 2016 over the third quarter, including Christmas, as hinted at by the Kantar grocery sales data released a few days ago.However, the shares slumped in morning trade, at one point losing 15p or

Stock prices in London were mixed on Thursday morning, with the FTSE 100 edging higher, despite retailers Tesco and M&S falling after festive trading updates.The FTSE 100 index opened up 11.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,262.72. The FTSE 250 was down 118.85 points, 0.6%, at 19,833.39, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.63 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.48.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 827.88, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.6

Stocks in London were in the red at Tuesday midday, while the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt were in the green, ahead of US trade balance data.The FTSE 100 index was down 23.05 points, 0.3%, at 8,226.61. The FTSE 250 was down 98.05 points, 0.5%, at 20,514.60, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.88 points, 0.1%, at 728.07.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 824.19, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0

Both firms grew their market shareSainsbury's update due on ThursdayTesco update due a day laterIt may not look like it from their share prices today, but if the latest supermarket sales figures are anything to go by both Sainsbury's (SBRY) and Tesco (TSCO) had a bumper Christmas.Sainsbury's, which is due to post a trading statement this Friday (10 January), saw its shares dip 4p or 1.5% to 273p,

London's FTSE 100 ended higher in quiet trade on Friday, though gains were more convincing in mainland Europe, shaking off declines in New York.The FTSE 100 index added 12.79 points, 0.2%, at 8,149.78. The FTSE 250 fell 82.86 points, 0.4%, at 20,488.65, and the AIM All-Share ended down 2.21 points, 0.3%, at 715.19.The Cboe UK 100 ended higher at 816.42, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.5% at 17,930.53, and

The FTSE 100 in London edged into the green on Monday at midday despite a downcast morning of economic data announcements.In London, the FTSE 100 index was up 10.02 points, 0.1%, at 8,095.11. The FTSE 250 was down 49.10 points, 0.2%, at 20,401.59, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.87 of a point, 0.1%, at 711.47.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 812.51, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.3% at 17,888.41, and the

Ocado still the number one shortRetailers in general unlovedEnergy services stocks drilledShort-selling, or borrowing shares to sell in the hope of buying them back at a lower price, is not something most retail investors have the nerve or the skill-set to pull off as it requires a certain mindset and a willingness to tolerate heavy losses on occasion until your bets come right.For the pros, howev

Analysts expect £78.5 billion in payouts£56.5 billion of buybacks this yearFTSE 100 up over 7% in 2024The latest AJ Bell Dividend Dashboard report shows FTSE 100 constituents are on course to pay £78.5 billion in ordinary dividends this year.That figure is almost flat on 2023 and well below the all-time high of £85.2 billion recorded in 2018, although analysts are penciling in a 6.5% increase

Pubs group JD Wetherspoon's (JDW) value credentials continue to shine through. According to fund manager Anna Farmbrough at Ninety One the company has doubled its average price advantage over competitors to 40% since the pandemic.Farmbrough notes that a few years ago there were three pubs in her local area while today there is just a single Wetherspoons, demonstrating its ability to benefit as con

Markets 'challenging and unpredictable'US disruption and Korea destockingWax Lyrical performance improvingShares in British ceramics maker and homewares retailer Portmeirion (PMP:AIM) plunged 17% to a 10-year low of 170p on a warning annual profits will fall significantly short of forecasts, primarily due to delays getting stock into the US in time for the Christmas and destocking in South Korea.W