Texas-headquartered Dell Technologies (DELL:NYSE) stock has been making strides since the end of the summer and investors will be anticipating a strong end to 2024 as its AI servers business ramps up activity. Next week's quarterly earnings are a potential test of this confidence.Dell is already a key manufacturer in tech infrastructure and that edge is being sharpened by strong demand for next ge

Stock prices in Europe were in the green on Monday morning including all UK stocks, as the energy price cap in Great Britain is now expected to rise in January, as opposed to fall.Meanwhile, Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya commented: 'US retail sales and the inflation data came in higher than expected last week, and the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that the US economy is strong enough a

Stocks in London edged lower on Friday, while equities in New York dropped in early trade following some hawkish comments from the chair of the US Federal Reserve.The FTSE 100 index lost 7.58 points, 0.1%, at 8,063.61. The FTSE 250 declined 46.17 points, 0.2%, at 20,476.64, and the AIM All-Share gave back 2.24 points, 0.3%, at 727.14.For the week, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.1%, the FTSE 250 declined 0

In this column a few weeks back I flagged Bitcoin and gold as potential barometers of Donald Trump's chances in the election.As it turned out, Bitcoin was the better marker and has continued to soar since he prevailed hitting record highs close to $90,000 while gold has been hamstrung by a surging dollar.Investors will have their own take on the merits of cryptocurrencies, and this author would le

The result of the US presidential election has created shockwaves in the financial markets and beyond and I'm sure raised questions about your own portfolios.That's understandable and arguably this was among the more consequential elections of recent times. However, the occupant of the White House has historically made little difference to the long-term returns available from the financial markets

Stock prices in Europe were in the green on Monday morning after data on Saturday showed that annual consumer price inflation in China slowed in October.Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya said that 'the picture remains bullish for the US equities' following Trump's re-election but 'Elsewhere, worries mount: FTSE 100 and the European Stoxx 600 index both closed last week below the 200-DMA on worries ab

The polls had forecast a knife-edge election but as it turned out Donald Trump won a convincing victory in the US presidential election and has completed a stunning political comeback to return to the White House.The clarity in itself was welcomed by financial markets who had feared a protracted affair with both parties potentially taking some time to concede defeat.Trump's vocal support for crypt

ProCook (PROC) 29pMarket cap: £32.7 millionRisk-tolerant investors seeking a compelling recovery play with tasty re-rating potential should consider ProCook (PROC). This direct-to-consumer specialist kitchenware brand is carving out market share gains under management's refreshed strategy to serve up profitable growth.After a tough few years post its 2021 IPO (initial public offering), when the c

London's FTSE 100 moved higher in early trade on Wednesday, boosted by some strong corporate updates, while the dollar marched on as a tempering of US interest rate cut zeal continued.The FTSE 100 index traded up 13.14 points, 0.2%, at 8,319.68. The FTSE 250 was up 26.44 points, or 0.1%, at 20,976.09, and the AIM All-Share added 0.61 of a point, 0.1%, at 734.77.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 832.8

In the coming week (22-24 October), Russia will host the latest annual BRICS summit in Kazan. For all that one of the meeting's key goals is to tackle neglected tropical diseases, few investors may be inclined to pay attention, not least given the economic sanctions imposed upon the host nation. The concept of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (the BRICS) as an investable grouping

Treasury could raise up to £3 billion888-owner Evoke most exposedMagnitude of tax hike uncertainGambling shares were sent reeling after a media report said the government was considering doubling taxes from the sector to raise between £900 million and £3 billion of extra funding.Shares in 888-owner Evoke (EVOK) led the fallers, dropping by 14%, closely followed by Ladbrokes owner Entain (ENT) d

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 (Jul

Shares in Cheltenham-based thermal energy management and fluid technology firm Spirax Group (SPX) hit a five-year low this week, trading even below the level they reached at the peak of the pandemic sell-off, after its latest capital markets event failed to spark enthusiasm.The FTSE 100 group, whose shares are down 33% this year, making them one of the worst performers in the index, is guiding for

European stocks made a limp start to trading on Monday as investors eye this week's US inflation data in the wake of Friday's blow-out payrolls report.The FTSE 100 index was down 12.60 points, 0.2%, at 8,268.03, having briefly seen slight gains immediately after the opening bell. The FTSE 250 was down 55.56 points, 0.3%, at 20,844.52, but the AIM All-Share was up 1.72 points, 0.2%, at 740.08.The C

After September's boom, US stocks have gone limp into early October with investor's troubled by escalating aggression in the Middle East, pushing oil prices to their biggest increases in nearly a year.At the same time, mixed economic data offered little firm clue as to the future of the Federal Reserve's easing cycle after Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted the central bank is not in a rush to rapidly

Stock prices in London were mixed on Thursday morning after Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey hinted at a more aggressive path for interest rate cuts, while also showing concern over the situation in the Middle East.Escalating tensions between Iran, Israel and militant Lebanese group Hezbollah continue to affect commodity prices.In an interview with the Guardian, Bailey said he was watching d

The defensive lean to London's FTSE 100 index served it well on Tuesday, as tensions mounted in the Middle East amid reports that Iran is planning an imminent missile attack on Israel.The FTSE 100 index ended up 39.70 points, 0.5%, at 8,276.65. The FTSE 250 closed 112.46 lower, 0.5%, at 20,940.73, and the AIM All-Share shed 3.63 points, 0.5%, at 736.80.The Cboe UK 100 ended 0.5% higher at 828.74 o

Stock prices in London were higher at midday on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 outperforming its European peers after news that the UK has overtaken several G7 countries on economic growth forecasts.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development has placed the UK joint second in its economic growth forecasts for the rest of 2024.The prediction of 1.1% growth for the whole of this year puts

London's FTSE 100 slipped slightly heading into Monday afternoon, as investors digest what was a busy week of interest rate action, while drab eurozone data put the European Central Bank in focus and hurt the euro.Elsewhere on mainland Europe, Frankfurt's DAX 40 traded resiliently in the face of weak German data, but French banks weighed on the CAC 40 on tax hike fears for larger companies.The FTS

Stock prices in London suffered at midday on Monday, while the pound rose against the dollar as traders await central bank decisions from the US, the Bank of England and Japan this week.The FTSE 100 index was down 12.25 points, or 0.2%, at 8,260.84. The FTSE 250 was down 11.24 points, or 0.1%, at 20,884.28, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.70 points, or 0.2%, at 743.53.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1