The FTSE 100 lagged European peers on Thursday, after a perceived 'hawkish' rate cut by the European Central Bank drove the euro higher.Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell said there wasn't any bad news to cause a minor sell-off.'It's just one of those days where investors reassessed their portfolios given the uncertain economic and geopolitical backdrop,' he noted.The FTSE 100 index end

Blue chip stocks in London and Paris were lower at midday Thursday, but up a notch in Frankfurt amid hopes of big investments from the incoming German government.The European Central Bank 'is expected to cut rates having been given a freer hand as inflationary pressures have eased,' AJ Bell's Russ Mould noted.The FTSE 100 index was down 82.84 points, 1.0%, at 8,673.00. The FTSE 250 was down 33.31

ME International (MEGP) 197.8Gain to date: 23.8% We highlighted instant-service equipment maker ME International (MEGP) as a compelling investment opportunity a year ago.The company, formerly known as Photo-Me International, operates a unique business which generates strong cash flow and high returns on capital.The firm primarily installs and operates photo booths and laundry machines in high foot

A quirk of the system means that families can pay £36,000 into a tax-free account for their child in one year ? far exceeding the usual £9,000 annual Junior ISA limit. A clash between how the rules differ between Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs, plus the generous £9,000 annual allowance per child, means that parents can exploit the loophole to save a huge amount of money in 12 months, or les

With Saba Capital having turned the spotlight on a handful of underperforming investment trusts, there is now a wave of activity as other trusts look for ways to reduce the persistent discount to NAV (net asset value) which has dogged the asset class.Some have introduced 'discount control' mechanisms, others have launched share buybacks, and some have announced they will hold a 'continuation vote'

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 Februar

Stock prices in Europe were in the red at Tuesday midday, with airline stocks hit badly in particular, as European countries intend to boost their militaries amid a US freeze on aid for Ukraine.'Investors were desperately hoping that Trump would delay tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China at the eleventh hour, yet the US president has stuck to his guns and brought them into power,' commented AJ Bell

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red on Tuesday morning, amid news that UK grocery sales growth slowed in February, amid worries about US tariffs.'Today marks a turning point in Donald Trump's tariff policy,' commented Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'It is the day the tariff threat will materialise ? unless there is a surprise U-turn ? and hammer hopes that the aggressive t

Diageo director buys on five-year lowB&M director buys 70,053 sharesLBG Media directors snap up stockA person closely associated with Dan Mobley - a member of the executive committee at Diageo (DGE) - Diana Mobley has bought 2,280 shares at £21.81 for a total value of £49,727 on 14 February.The alcoholic drinks giant's shares recently took a turn for the worse dropping to a five-year low of £22

London's FTSE 100 edged higher on Monday, driven by a rally in BAE Systems as defence spending optimism lifted sentiment.Meanwhile, investors awaited US manufacturing data to be released later today.The FTSE 100 index was up 58.45 points, 0.7%, at 8,868.19. The FTSE 250 was up 23.20 points, 0.1%, at 20,349.58, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.20 points, 0.2%, at 705.03.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at

Intertek (ITRK) £52.30Market cap: £8.5 billionApparently, prior to its ultimately unconsummated tie-up talks with SGS (SGSN:SWX), France's Bureau Veritas'(BVI:EPA) first choice was to look at UK-listed peer Intertek (ITRK). In our view investors should take heed of this signal from an industry player and snap up shares in the FTSE 100 constituent.Like its Swiss and French counterparts, Intertek

Hotter-than expected UK inflation for January, with headline CPI up 3% year-on-year versus the 2.8% expected, combined with a volatile geopolitical backdrop, means investors should be seeking ways to protect their income.Shares has long championed the unique advantage investment trusts have when it comes to paying regular and progressive dividends, since these funds are able to hold back up to 15%

The FTSE 100 was up a notch, while the CAC 40 in Paris was down mildly and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was up comfortably following the German federal election.Meanwhile across Europe, eurozone consumer price inflation picked up last month, numbers from Eurostat confirmed.The euro area consumer price inflation rate accelerated to 2.5% year-on-year in January, from 2.4% in December, in line with the la

London's FTSE 100 held steady on Friday as strong retail sales lifted sentiment, while UK borrowing concerns and mixed data capped gains. European markets were cautious ahead of Germany's upcoming election.The FTSE 100 index rose 9.70 points, 0.1%, at 8,672.67. The FTSE 250 jumped 170.56 points, 0.8%, at 20,783.33, and the AIM All-Share climbed 4.17 points, 0.6%, at 720.71.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.2

There are plenty of options these days when it comes to investing your hard-earned cash. Now in her mid-60s, Sarah first started putting her money to work in the markets in 2003 through a wealth management firm and stockbroker, however it was not until the pandemic that 'she got the investing bug' and began trading through a stocks and shares ISA.During the pandemic she became increasingly frustra

Listed infrastructure and renewable trusts have had a torrid time over the last three years with average discounts to NAV (net asset value) drifting out to between 30% and 40%.In our view the gloom and doom gone too far, with the headwinds impacting NAVs have starting to dissipate, opening the prospect of a strong recovery.We have noticed some green shoots of broad share price strength since the s

London stocks ended Tuesday little changed, as investors digested strong UK wage growth data while looking ahead to key inflation figures that could shape the Bank of England's next policy move.The FTSE 100 index closed down just 1.28 points at 8,776.73. The FTSE 250 ended down 57.12 points, 0.3%, at 20,881.56, while the AIM All-Share closed down 0.70 of a point, 0.1%, at 724.52.The Cboe UK 100 en

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 All-Share

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 100 fe

The FTSE 100 opened in the green on Monday despite geopolitical concerns and tariff worries continuing to hang over equities.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.43 points, 0.2%, at 8,745.89. The FTSE 250 added 64.96 points, 0.3%, at 20,977.97, and the AIM All-Share rose 1.33 points, 0.2%, at 727.39.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 877.63, the Cboe UK 250 also added 0.3% to 18,333.89, and the Cboe Small Compa