UK blue chip stocks have taken direction from Wall Street and ended the week at a nine-month high as US stocks hit new records, following a weak jobs report which is expected to put pressure on US policymakers to greenlight a stimulus package.The US economy, which is the world's largest, added just 245,000 jobs - less than half the 500,000 jobs analysts had been expecting - in November as the...

The FTSE 100 has continued to climb throughout trading on Friday with a steady flow of positive news boosting investor sentiment.Reuters reports that a Brexit trade deal could be 'imminent' with an agreement expected by the end of the weekend barring any last minute breakdown in talks, while construction industry data released earlier today also provided optimism having beat all forecasts,...

The UK's FTSE 100 hit a nine-month high on Friday as a jump in oil prices boosted energy stocks and mild optimism over Brexit talks lifted the mood as the deadline closes in. This offset the drag following news that US drugs giant Pfizer has had to slash its roll-out target of its Covid-19 vaccine.The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 0.7% in early trade at 6,534.52 with oil majors Royal Dutch Shell...

The FTSE 100 recovers some ground early on Thursday, up 0.17% to 7,546.48, ahead of purchasing managers' index data on the UK manufacturing sector out later this morning and after Nationwide's latest figures showed faster than expected growth in house prices.Several big corporate names have announcements out this morning. Oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) slips 1.3% to £24.64 as a narrow...

London's FTSE 100 opens 88.3 points down at 7,313.2 as the latest round of Brexit negotiations highlight the widening division between Brussels and London and amid rising geopolitical tensions after North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan.In corporate news, struggling outsourcer Mitie (MTO) is marked down 1.8p to 264p on news the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is investigating...

The FTSE 100 is struggling, down 0.4% to 7,272.68, with one of the largest stocks on the index, HSBC (HSBC), in the doghouse.The banking giant falls 4.5% to 680p as a number of writedowns and one-off costs see 2016 profit fall 62%. A $1bn share buyback is also announced.Miner Anglo-American (AAL) is up 2% to £13.87 as full year results reveal a 34% reduction in net debt to $8.5bn and earnings...

X-ray technology mico cap Image Scan (IGE:AIM) will an end a three-year run of operating losses this year thanks to an £800,000 contract win. As a result the company now 'expects to materially exceed current market expectations' for the full year to 31 December 2016, sparking a 17% jump in the shares 6.75p.Analyst forecasts had previously been anticipating £2.3 million revenue for the year...

London shares hit the skids in early trade on Tuesday as investors take their cue from Asian markets and further concerns about Chinese growth. The benchmark FTSE 100 index drifts around 50 points lower to 6,321, mirroring declines being registered right across Europe.In corporate news, Pilsner Urquell-to-Grolsch maker SABMiller (SAB) soars 9% to £39.48 after agreeing 'in principle' to...

London shares fail to hang on to early gains and start a steady decline as investors fret over more debt talks between Greece and Eurozone states. The FTSE 100 sags more than 50 points 6,902 despite gains made on Wall Street overnight, although once again UK midcaps put in a better showing, drifting just 10 points down to 18,209.Building services and supplies firm Wolseley (WOS) heads the...

London markets dip modestly in early trade on Monday nudging back from record closing highs hit late last week, with a swathe of mining and retail-related stocks providing direction. Wall St closed higher overnight Friday, while Asian markets are up this morning.The FTSE 100 index FTSE 100 slips around 19 points, or 0.3%, to 7,071, while midcaps fade similarly, the FTSE 250 index off around 45...

There's divided opinion in the Shares camp about the quality of earnings at Quindell Portfolio (QPP:AIM). Our resident Quindell bull, Steve Frazer, is away on holiday so for now, our Quindell bear, Dan Coatsworth, takes a look at today's trading update. We're pleased to see the insurance services provider has exited the complicated equity swap agreement that worried investors a few months ago....

Global stock markets have slumped on fears that the US central bank will start to scale back its economic stimulus programme this year. This is on the back of comments made yesterday by the Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke.The FTSE 100, Dac and Cac 40 all recorded falls in excess of 2%; the Dow Jones yesterday closed down 1.4% and has recorded further declines today.Gold fell more than...

After failing to find a buyer for its diamond business, diversified miner Rio Tinto (RIO) is rumoured to be preparing to list the unit in London later this year. Its shares added 3p to £28.60 following weekend press reports about the possible event.Corporate governance disaster Eurasian Natural Resources (ENRC) nudged ahead 1.3% to 242.9p ahead of today's 5pm takeover deadline. The miner's...