Retailer reels in forecast 'beat'Growth accelerated in H2European losses reducedShares in Angling Direct (ANG:AIM) ticked up 3% to 40.5p after the fishing tackle and equipment retailer delivered a positive full-year trading update in the face of an uncertain consumer backdrop, which served to demonstrate the resilience of the angling sector and the micro cap company itself.Thanks to strong second

London's FTSE 100 closed in the green on Tuesday, though more subdued in the afternoon against its morning highs, as US stocks were shaken by weak consumer confidence data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 9.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,668.67. The FTSE 250 ended down 36.11 points, 0.2%, at 20,448.28, while the AIM All-Share closed down 2.82 points, 0.4%, at 708.06.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 867.14, the

London's FTSE 100 ended little changed on Friday as strong UK retail sales lifted sentiment, while weak US business activity data and falling consumer confidence pressured Wall Street.The FTSE 100 index closed down just 3.60 points at 8,659.37. The FTSE 250 ended up just 1.12 points at 20,613.89, while the AIM All-Share closed up 1.48 points, 0.2%, at 718.02.For the week, the FTSE 100 was down 0.8

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

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 fell on Wednesday as Trump's tariff threats hit markets, UK inflation surprised on the upside, and Glencore slumped after weak results and hints it may abandon its London listing.The FTSE 100 index closed down 54.20 points, 0.6%, at 8,712.53. The FTSE 250 ended down 173.77 points, 0.8%, at 20,707.79, while the AIM All-Share closed down 5.09 points, 0.7%, at 719.43.The Cboe UK 100 end

Winter load factor down 2.2%Margins to come under pressureCEO 'satisfied' with early Summer 2025 bookingsAirline and package holidays provider Jet2 (JET2:AIM) assured investors that despite continued late bookings and competitive pricing, profits for the year to 31 March 2025 should be 8% to 10% higher.So why did the shares drop 10% to £14.10 in early dealings on 19 February?The catalyst was the

Heavy truck demand weakened further in Q3Surging power costs a headwindBut Castings could be over the worstCastings' (CGS) shares came under heavy selling pressure after the iron casting-to-machining firm focused on the European heavy truck market warned full-year profits will be 'substantially below' market expectations.The Walsall-headquartered group pinned the blame on plunging demand for heavy

European stocks climbed on Monday, with defence firms leading gains as leaders gathered in Paris to discuss increased military spending amid calls for greater European security investment, while markets also reacted to surging gold prices.The FTSE 100 index closed up 35.55 points, 0.4%, at 8,768.01. The FTSE 250 ended up 25.67 points, 0.1%, at 20,938.68, but the AIM All-Share closed down 0.84 of a

Full year to be materially aheadRegulatory change tailwindAnalysts upgrade earningsIn an unscheduled trading update, pension consulting and administration group XPS Pensions (XPS) said it expects full year results to March to be 'materially' ahead of prior expectations.The shares raced 14% ahead, hitting an all-time peak of 396p in early trading before settling around the 386p level.Over the last

Amsterdam the primary Ice Cream listing destinationOrganic growth deceleratesMarket growth to remain 'soft'Packaged consumer goods powerhouse Unilever (ULVR) delivered encouraging full-year 2024 results with volume growth across every division and margins on the rise.The cash-generative Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker also announced a new €1.5 billion share buyback.Which begs the que

The resilience of the US labour market looks likely to keep Federal Reserve rate cuts on hold for the foreseeable future.Although non-farm payrolls for January showed the economy added 143,000 jobs, below the median estimate of 170,000, figures for the prior two months were revised up by 100,000 taking the three-month average increase to 204,000 in the fourth quarter from 170,000 previously.The un

With sales of its cut-priced make-up seemingly going gangbusters investors might ponder why ELF Beauty's (ELF:NYSE) share price performance is anything but pretty.The Californian business posted strong third-quarter fiscal 2025 revenues on 6 February, showing 31% year-on-year growth, yet earnings were flat and marginally light of consensus, suggesting ELF Beauty is having to spend more on marketin

Deal creates £3.4 billion income giantBrings increased scale and liquiditySector's fourth-lowest ongoing chargeConsolidation is a growing theme across the investment trust sector against a backdrop of stubbornly-wide NAV (net asset value) discounts, increasing pressure on sub-scale funds and shareholder activism, and yet another intriguing combination has just been announced.JPMorgan Global Growt

Stocks in London close higher on Thursday, close to a new record, boosted by a rate cut at the Bank of England and strong results from AstraZeneca.BoE Governor Andrew Bailey believes the central bank will be able to cut rates further, but policymakers will need to decide meeting-by-meeting 'how far and how fast' bank rate can be trimmed.Speaking following the BoE's decision to cut bank rate by 25

London's FTSE 100 powered higher on Thursday afternoon, setting a new record high, after the Bank of England announced an interest rate cut.The BoE announced a 25 basis point reduction to bank rate to 4.50% from 4.75%. The move was expected.The FTSE 100 index added 129.37 points, 1.5%, at 8,752.66. The index set a record high shortly after the decision. The FTSE 250 surged 354.87 points, 1.2%, at

China's New Year Holiday festival is over, and the Year of the Snake is now under way. People with a much keener interest in, and better understanding of, the Chinese zodiac tell this column the snake signifies intelligence, mystery and renewal.Make of that what you will, but president Xi Jinping and the Communist Party authorities are going to need plenty of the first trait if they are to resolve

Shares in Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) seem to be in a downward spiral despite the pubs, bars and restaurants group reporting strong trading during its first quarter which encompassed the festive season.Mitchells said first-quarter like-for-like sales remained well ahead of the market, however the pubs group highlighted circa £100 million of year-on-year cost headwinds driven primarily by increased

Forecast-beating Q4 profitsFresh DKK 4 billion buybackGrowth to slow in 2025Pandora (PNDORA:CPH) is something of a market darling, shares in the Danish jewellery giant having recently hit an all-time peak thanks to surging sales and management's successful delivery against its 'Phoenix' growth strategy.The Copenhagen-headquartered company delivered better-than-expected profits for the fourth quart

London stocks closed in the red on Tuesday, as Vodafone shares slumped after its revenue fell in Germany, and traders analysed the latest developments in President Trump's tariff policy.The FTSE 100 index closed down 12.79 points, 0.2%, at 8,570.77. The FTSE 250 ended down 58.50 points, 0.3%, at 20,653.26, but the AIM All-Share closed up 0.24 of a point at 712.37.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at