Blue-chip stocks in London advanced on Thursday, as housebuilders buoyed the FTSE 100 index despite jitters from retailers after poor updates.The FTSE 100 index rose 20.07 points, 0.2%, at 8,565.20. It earlier set a new intra-day high of 8,572.51.The FTSE 250 lost 59.91 points, 0.3%, at 20,520.39, and the AIM All-Share ended down just 0.14 of a point at 720.86.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.3% at 859.10,

With most of the big names in the retail sector having reported we can get a decent picture of how the sector fared in the run-up to and during the festive period. A weak trading backdrop for non-food retail in October and November, before Santa delivered a return to growth in December, a month that also witnessed a notable shift to online sales according to the latest data (17 January) from The O

Blue chip stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the green at Wednesday midday, while British pub operator JD Wetherspoon was down a notch as it warned on higher costs amid an incoming increase in national insurance contributions for UK employers.The UK Chancellor is unlikely to be celebrating after public sector net borrowing rose to £17.81 billion in December, far outpacing FXStree

Festive like-for-likes up 6.1%Year-to-date sales up 4%£60 million extra labour costs expectedPubs group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) reported strong trading over the festive season with like-for-like sales up 6.1% over the three weeks between 16 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.In the last 12-weeks, representing Wetherspoon's financial second quarter, like-for-like sales growth slowed to 4.6% compared wit

Key UK indices closed in the green on Tuesday as Trump's stance on tariffs appeared to shift to a more moderate position and UK unemployment rose above expectations.The FTSE 100 index rose 27.75 points, 0.3%, at 8,548.29, just shy of a new intra-day high of 8,550.41.The FTSE 250 ended 108.99 points higher, 0.5%, at 20,595.73, and the AIM All-Share rose 0.82 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.11.The Cboe UK

European equities ended higher on Thursday, supported by strong corporate updates, while the pound struggled on soft UK economic data.US interest rate optimism continued to lift the mood after Wednesday's inflation reading, and one Federal Reserve official said rate cuts can come if the data continues to play ball.The FTSE 100 index shot up 90.77 points, 1.1%, at 8,391.90. The large-cap benchmark

Positive peak salesUK and Nordics in growthDividend reinstatement demonstrates turnaround successCurrys' (CURY) shares sparked up 10.5% to 91p after the electricals retailer delivered yet another full-year profit guidance upgrade following a strong festive period, with the TVs-to-laptops purveyor delivering like-for-like sales growth in both the UK and Nordics.Benefiting from a technology replacem

Another quarter of like-for-like declinePre-tax profit guidance cut againNike's problems a headwindRecent downward momentum in JD Sports Fashion (JD.) continues, with shares in the self-styled 'King of Trainers' tanking on another year-to-January 2025 profit guidance downgrade.This follows slower sales over the Christmas period for the FTSE 100 tracksuits-to-football shirts seller. With weak tradi

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the green on Tuesday morning, as housebuilders in the UK enjoyed a boost after giving trading updates.'Markets' sensitivity to major economic data will likely rise as policy uncertainties mount and appetite weakens,' commented Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'Due today, the US will release its latest PPI numbers, and the headline PPI may have ris

The FTSE 100 closed lower on Monday, but above early lows, as bond yields continued to creep up and analysts predicted the end of the US rate cutting cycle.The FTSE 100 index closed down 24.30 points, 0.3%, at 8,224.19. The blue-chip index had fallen as low as 8,192.31.The FTSE 250 ended 15.57 points lower, 0.1%, at 19,718.37, and the AIM All-Share shed 3.99 points, 0.6%, at 709.39.The Cboe UK 100

Like-for-like food sales up 8.9%Market share gains in clothingCautious outlook prompts profit-takingRetail bellwether Marks & Spencer (MKS) delivered 'another good Christmas' with sales records broken across the business as it gained market share in both food and clothing.However, shares in the high street stalwart fell 5% to 358p as third quarter clothing, home and beauty came in light of expecta

Stocks in London were in the red at Tuesday midday, while the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt were in the green, ahead of US trade balance data.The FTSE 100 index was down 23.05 points, 0.3%, at 8,226.61. The FTSE 250 was down 98.05 points, 0.5%, at 20,514.60, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.88 points, 0.1%, at 728.07.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 824.19, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0

Strong festive salesOnline and international drive growthTougher FY26 expectedFirst out of the blocks with its Christmas trading statement, fashion and homewares colossus Next (NXT) raised full-year profit guidance yet again following better-than-expected festive trading with online sales growth accelerating in the fourth quarter.Shares in the FTSE 100 retailer ticked up 3% to £98.40 on the news,

London stocks opened in the red on Tuesday morning, but FTSE 100-listed retailer Next achieved a gain as it upped its guidance following a healthy Christmas trading period.The FTSE 100 index opened down 23.47 points, 0.3%, at 8,226.19. The FTSE 250 was down 79.56 points, 0.4%, at 20,533.09, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.37 points, 0.2%, at 727.22.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 824.16, the Cbo

London's FTSE 100 ended higher in quiet trade on Friday, though gains were more convincing in mainland Europe, shaking off declines in New York.The FTSE 100 index added 12.79 points, 0.2%, at 8,149.78. The FTSE 250 fell 82.86 points, 0.4%, at 20,488.65, and the AIM All-Share ended down 2.21 points, 0.3%, at 715.19.The Cboe UK 100 ended higher at 816.42, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.5% at 17,930.53, and

London stocks closed higher on Tuesday's shortened trading day, buoyed by gains in the retail and mining sectors, while Windward surged 42% following a takeover bid from FTV VIII LP.The FTSE 100 index closed up 34.27 points, 0.4%, at 8,136.99. The FTSE 250 ended up 152.42 points, 0.8%, at 20,571.51, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.96 points, 0.7%, at 717.40.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 816.2

The FTSE 100 in London edged into the green on Monday at midday despite a downcast morning of economic data announcements.In London, the FTSE 100 index was up 10.02 points, 0.1%, at 8,095.11. The FTSE 250 was down 49.10 points, 0.2%, at 20,401.59, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.87 of a point, 0.1%, at 711.47.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 812.51, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.3% at 17,888.41, and the

The last 10 years have been pretty rough for UK stocks but there could be some signs of life emerging as we head towards 2025.Brexit, Covid and other political and economic shocks as well as a tilt towards 'old economy' stocks and a minimal footprint in technology have combined to undermine the relevance and appeal of the UK market.The resulting underperformance has led to people consistently poin

Pubs group JD Wetherspoon's (JDW) value credentials continue to shine through. According to fund manager Anna Farmbrough at Ninety One the company has doubled its average price advantage over competitors to 40% since the pandemic.Farmbrough notes that a few years ago there were three pubs in her local area while today there is just a single Wetherspoons, demonstrating its ability to benefit as con

UK takeovers moved up a gear in 2024 as predators targeted bigger companies. The average value of deals was £1.07 billion, nearly three times higher than the £390 million average in 2023. In total, there were £49 billion worth of recommended bids versus £17.2 billion last year.A bounty of unloved or underappreciated companies were swept off their feet, signalling the UK market as being 'on sal