UK shares ended the day stronger with investor optimism lifted by hopes of a US stimulus package being agreed.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are set for talks again today, with hopes growing that the Democrats and Republicans can get a new Covid-19 stimulus package over the line.Having started the day in the red, the UK's benchmark FTSE 100 index closed 0.12%...

The FTSE 100 recouped some of its earlier losses by midday on Tuesday, helped by a falling pound on reports the EU will ignore the UK's Brexit ultimatum, as well as news that US president Donald Trump has returned to the White House.The exporter-heavy index traded relatively flat at 5,939 by 12pm as the pound fell against the euro and dollar.It follows reports from Bloomberg that the EU is...

UK shares opened lower on Tuesday with the FTSE 100 index dipping 0.2% to 5,929 points on lingering doubts about the state of economic recovery.Overnight trading in Asia was mixed with China's Shanghai SE Composite down 0.2% and Japan's Nikkei 225 up 0.5%.Gold prices were slightly lower down 0.1% at $1,911 an ounce and Brent Crude was 0.3% higher at $41.3 a barrel. The pound was up slightly...

Investors are relieved that Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has agreed a settlement over claims it mis-sold toxic mortgage-backed securities in the run up to the financial crisis in 2008. It will pay $1.1 billion which it says is 'substantially covered by existing provisions'. The shares rise 1.2% to 176.62p.Parcel delivery group UK Mail (UKM) has received a 440p takeover bid from Deutsche Post....

London shares start the week on the back foot in early trade on Monday after the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) warned of a 'gathering storm' in the global economy. In its latest quarterly report Swiss-based bank BIS said the global economy could spiral downwards as markets lose faith in the 'healing powers' of central banks.The UK's benchmark FTSE 100 index slides around 40 points,...

London shares continue their northbound direction in early on Wednesday with investor confidence spurred by relatively stable crude oil prices, with mining and financial stocks once again in favour ahead of perceived safe-haven assets. Europe was firmer, as were Wall Street and Asia overnight.The benchmark FTSE 100 index makes modest gains of around 10 points, or 0.15%, but remaining...

London shares make healthy gains in early trade on Monday in the wake of a firmer Asia overnight, albeit against a mixed session on Wall Street on Friday. With the Brexit debate no starting to get into full swing markets are likely to remain volatile for the foreseeable future in the UK as the in-out referendum on the UK's EU membership heats up.The FTSE 100 index rallies around 70 points...

Moving into profit can be a powerful share price catalyst. In 2015, investors were well-rewarded for owning some of these types of stocks as they 'moved into the black'.Fast-growing high-end tonic water producer Fevertree (FEVR:AIM) gained 246% in 2015 after registering a profit in its first year as a public company. And commercial gas pipeline engineer Fulcrum (FCRM:AIM), which swung back...

Don't panic about two directors selling shares in Inspiration Healthcare (IHC:AIM) as we understand it was down to personal reasons and not a reflection of their views in the company's outlook.Chief executive Neil Campbell and sales director Toby Foster sold a combined £225,000 worth of shares at 40p each less than a year after the medical device developer and supplier floated (24 Jun...

A larger portfolio of products resulting from an acquisition in June is expected to translate into a trebling of pre-tax profits at medical device developer and supplier Inspiration Healthcare (IHC:AIM).Such growth can be bought on an undemanding valuation with the prospective 2.6p earnings per share putting the stock on 14.8 times earnings at 38.5p.Pre-tax profit is forecast to reach £1...