Just over five years ago the stock market began to react in earnest to news of the Covid pandemic.The sell-off was short and sharp, with a modest recovery from the lows in the spring followed by sharper gains in November 2020 after AstraZeneca (AZN) made a vaccine breakthrough.However, a large number of UK stocks are still trading below the levels they were at by the close of trading on 21...

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...

Specialty recruitment firm SThree (STEM), which focuses on filling roles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics settings, posted a downbeat trading statement for the 12 months to November and drastically cut its forecast for earnings for the current year.The shares, which were previously down just 11% for the year, slumped as much as 39% intraday before recovering and now stand...

Fees down 14% in Q1Significant savings being deliveredHays to 'benefit materially' once markets reboundHeadhunter Hays (HAS) has had a hard time of late. Pre-tax profits plunged more than 90% in the year to June 2024 and the recruiter is on a losing streak of negative fee income growth amid a hiring slowdown.The FTSE 250 firm's fortunes failed to reverse in the first quarter of the new...

City-based headhunter Hays (HAS) has had a rough time over the last 12 months, posting four consecutive quarters of negative growth in fee income. Worse still, the rate of decline actually accelerated over that period to stand at minus 17% at the end of June.Therefore, investors and analysts will be looking for less-bad news when the company updates the market on its first-quarter performance...

Stock prices were higher in London, Paris and Frankfurt on Thursday, while the UK got a boost in a flash purchasing managers' index reading, ahead of weekly US jobless data.The FTSE 100 index was up 11.79 points, 0.1%, at 8,295.22. The FTSE 250 was down 18.70 points, 0.1%, at 21,168.49, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.54 points, 0.1%, at 776.27.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 829.44, the Cboe...

Stock prices in Europe were mildly higher on Thursday morning, as investors await the start of the Jackson Hole conference on Thursday which could indicate clues on the trajectory of US interest rates.Amongst individual stocks, JD Sports Fashion saw its shares jump, after updating shareholders on its second quarter growth. Eckoh also took some of the spotlight, after receiving a takeover offer...

Recruitment firm Hays (HAS) is one of the worst-performing stocks of 2024, having lost 15% since start of the year, and we don't have high hopes when the company reports full-year earnings next week. Falling client and candidate confidence has knocked fee income for six, and in a trading update last month the firm said its 'exit rate' in the fourth quarter to June was down 18% on last year due...

Second-quarter fees down 12%June exit rate even worse, reversing 18%Firm cuts full-year profit goalFTSE 250 firm PageGroup (PAGE) sent the European staffing sector lower across the board after warning soft trading in the second quarter meant full-year profits would be below expectations.PageGroup shares fell as much as 60p, or 15%, to a 12-month low of 360p before recovering to trade down...

Profit from permanent recruitment down 18.6%UK gross profit falls by 19.2%Headcount reduced by 100Shares in PageGroup (PAGE) fell 6% to 456p after the recruitment firm reported a 12.8% fall in group gross profit to £219.7 million for the first quarter of 2024.CEO Nicholas Kirk warned: ?The slower end to the fourth quarter of 2023 continued into the first quarter 2024, particularly within...

2023 operating profit to disappointClient and candidate confidence weakeningNet cash on balance sheet offers comfortShares in PageGroup (PAGE) weakened 2.5% to 445p after the staffing specialist warned profits for the 2023 calendar year would disappoint with low levels of client and candidate confidence delaying the recruitment process, particularly in the permanent jobs market.Judging by the...

Sharp slowdown in UK job marketShare prices fall across the sectorInterim earnings guidance cutThe European staffing sector became a sea of red on Tuesday with share prices down sharply after FTSE 250 bellwether Hays (HAS) posted a grim account of trading in the three months to the end of December and warned half-year profits would miss expectations.Hays shares were down as much as 19% to 87p...

Stock prices in London were in the red on Tuesday morning as weak UK retail data and company updates overshadowed optimism after a tech rally on Wall Street.The FTSE 100 index had opened higher before returning early gains, and edging into the red by 0.29 of a point at 7,693.90. The FTSE 250 was down 85.57 points, 0.4%, at 19,308.23, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.56 of a point, 0.1%, at...

Temp fees drive like-for-like growthPermanent market remains weakDividends reflects strong cash positionRecruitment firm Hays (HAS) posted a mixed full-year trading update showing an improvement in second-half operating profit but continuing difficulties in the permanent hiring market which has slowed sharply over the last 12 months.However, investors took heart from the fact the firm is still...

Temp demand strong as clients stay 'flexible'UK market still difficult to navigateBoth firms keep full-year earnings outlookExecutive recruitment firms Hays (HAS) and PageGroup (PAGE) both stuck to their full-year earnings targets this week even after reporting weak quarterly fee generation.Hays shares eased 1.5% to 103p while PageGroup shares gave up 1.2% after gaining 3% yesterday following...

A big profit warning on 14 June from Hays' (HAS) rival Robert Walters (RWA) has created nervousness ahead of the former's fourth quarter and full-year trading update on 13 July.The recruitment space is often a bellwether for the wider economy and, with economic clouds gathering, the portents are not too promising.This is despite April's solid third quarter update from Hays, with the company...

Tobacco and alcohol firms lead UK rankingsAI machine analyses more than 10,000 data pointsProduces probabilities, not certaintiesTobacco and alcohol producers feature among the best UK stocks to buy in July, according to Danelfin's proprietary artificial intelligence stock picking engine. Imperial Brands (IMB) and Diageo (DGE), behind the Lambert & Butler, Rizla and Johnny Walker brands, stand...

Shares fall as much as 20%Earnings seen 'significantly' below forecastsRival firms report mid-JulyA second profit warning in less than six months from professional recruitment firm Robert Walters (RWA) has sent a shiver through the staffing sector just when it seemed from most macro data the global job market was in good health.Robert Walters shares opened down as much as 20% at 371p before...

- Fees hit a record in first half- Margins coming under pressure- Search under way for new CEOGlobal recruitment firm Hays (HAS) posted solid growth in first half revenues but warned conditions in the permanent placement market had 'tightened' over the last six months.Hays shares dipped 1% to 122p, marking three consecutive days of losses as global markets have struggled to make headway.RECORD...

- Marked slowdown in hiring in last quarter- Net profits to 'slightly' miss estimates- Hays and Michael Page report tomorrowProfessional recruitment firm Robert Walters (RWA) revealed a sharp slowdown in net fee income growth in the final quarter of last year as it faced 'difficult market conditions' across its business.The shares fell 6.5% to 505p, pulling down with them shares in rivals Hays...