The FTSE 100 lagged European peers on Thursday, after a perceived 'hawkish' rate cut by the European Central Bank drove the euro higher.Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell said there wasn't any bad news to cause a minor sell-off.'It's just one of those days where investors reassessed their portfolios given the uncertain economic and geopolitical backdrop,' he noted.The FTSE 100 index end

Blue chip stocks in London and Paris were lower at midday Thursday, but up a notch in Frankfurt amid hopes of big investments from the incoming German government.The European Central Bank 'is expected to cut rates having been given a freer hand as inflationary pressures have eased,' AJ Bell's Russ Mould noted.The FTSE 100 index was down 82.84 points, 1.0%, at 8,673.00. The FTSE 250 was down 33.31

2024 sales and earnings up 11%Shares were flat year-to-dateWarning on costs and marginsOn the surface, today's full-year results from FTSE 250 private hospital operator Spire Healthcare (SPI) looked fine, but investors spied one or two things they clearly didn't like and sent the shares sharply lower from the open.By mid-morning the stock was trading 36p or 16% lower at 188p, having earlier hit th

Just over five years ago the stock market began to react in earnest to news of the Covid pandemic.The sell-off was short and sharp, with a modest recovery from the lows in the spring followed by sharper gains in November 2020 after AstraZeneca (AZN) made a vaccine breakthrough.However, a large number of UK stocks are still trading below the levels they were at by the close of trading on 21 Februar

I have read some press reports about the Government getting rid of cash ISAs. I have an old one of these which I took out a few years ago, but I would like to take out a new one with a fixed interest rate. I want to do this before the end of the tax year in case something happens.I also have an investment ISA that I have been paying about £3,000 into for the last five years.Am I able to take out

European stocks were mixed on Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 eased slightly despite a boost for miners from higher metal prices and hints some sectors may be left out of US tariffs.The FTSE 100 index ended down 3.16 points at 8,755.84. The FTSE 250 climbed 177.23 points, 0.9%, at 20,127.73, and the AIM All-Share gained 3.61 points, 0.5%, at 690.48.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 877.63, the Cboe UK 2

Stock prices in Europe were mostly higher on Wednesday midday, with higher-risk and economically sensitive sectors benefiting from a risk-on sentiment among investors.'European and Asian markets were on the front foot on Wednesday amid hopes that Donald Trump might partially wind back tariffs if deals could be struck with Canada and Mexico,' commented AJ Bell's Russ Mould. 'Investors are looking f

Full year profit ahead of expectationsStrong trading across core business and licensingBuilds on strong first halfFantasy games and miniatures retailer Games Workshop (GAW) rolled the equivalent of double-six on Wednesday (5 March) after confidently forecasting full year pre-tax profit to the end of May will be ahead of expectations.The shares jumped as much as 8% to top the FTSE 100, notching up

European indexes sank on Tuesday as fears of a full-blown trade war grew after increased tariffs were imposed against Canada, Mexico and China by the US.The FTSE 100 index ended down 112.31 points, 1.3%, at 8,759.00. The FTSE 250 slumped 431.79 points, 2.1%, at 19,950.50, and the AIM All-Share fell 14.93 points, 2.1%, at 686.87.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.6% at 875.00, the Cboe UK 250 declined 2.

Stock prices in Europe were in the red at Tuesday midday, with airline stocks hit badly in particular, as European countries intend to boost their militaries amid a US freeze on aid for Ukraine.'Investors were desperately hoping that Trump would delay tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China at the eleventh hour, yet the US president has stuck to his guns and brought them into power,' commented AJ Bell

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red on Tuesday morning, amid news that UK grocery sales growth slowed in February, amid worries about US tariffs.'Today marks a turning point in Donald Trump's tariff policy,' commented Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. 'It is the day the tariff threat will materialise ? unless there is a surprise U-turn ? and hammer hopes that the aggressive t

London stocks closed in the green on Monday, as shares in defence firms surged across Europe amid expectations of heightened defence spending.Shares in Thales were 17% higher in Paris, Leonardo climbed 16% in Milan, BAE Systems jumped 14% in London and Rheinmetall leapt 15% in Frankfurt.On the FTSE 250, Babcock was up 8.9% and Qinetiq up 11%.JPMorgan increased share price targets by an average of

London's FTSE 100 edged higher on Monday, driven by a rally in BAE Systems as defence spending optimism lifted sentiment.Meanwhile, investors awaited US manufacturing data to be released later today.The FTSE 100 index was up 58.45 points, 0.7%, at 8,868.19. The FTSE 250 was up 23.20 points, 0.1%, at 20,349.58, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.20 points, 0.2%, at 705.03.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at

London stocks opened slightly higher on Monday as investors assessed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's return from high-stakes diplomatic meetings and awaited the UK manufacturing PMI, following similar releases from other regions.The FTSE 100 index opened up 34.18 points, 0.4%, at 8,843.92. The FTSE 250 was up 56.11 points, 0.3%, at 20,382.49, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.54 points, 0.2%, at 705.37

London's FTSE 100 outperformed peers on the continent on Friday, ending the week positively and rounding off a 1.6% rise over the course of this month.The FTSE 100 index ended up 53.53 points, 0.6%, at 8,809.74. For the week, it added 1.7%. The FTSE 250 lost 88.35 points, 0.4%, at 20,326.38, and the AIM All-Share fell 3.89 points, 0.6%, at 703.83.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 882.15, the Cboe U

London's FTSE 100 was outperforming its European peers around midday on Friday, sent higher by a series of positive earnings reports helping to temper nerves on potential US tariffs.The FTSE 100 index was up 26.71 points, 0.3%, at 8,782.92. The FTSE 250 was down 77.39 points, 0.4%, at 20,337.34, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.49 points, 0.5%, at 704.23.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 880.09, the

London's FTSE 100 slipped on Friday morning as Trump's new tariff announcement hit sentiment, dragging Asian and European stocks lower.China hit back, threatening to take 'all necessary countermeasures'. The UK could be set for a 'great' trade agreement with the US, however, Trump suggested.Among individual stocks, IAG, Pearson and IMI were supported by buyback plans.The FTSE 100 index traded down

The FTSE 100 closed in the green on Thursday following a flurry of earnings, while the pound falls as the UK braces itself ahead of potential US tariffs.The FTSE 100 index closed up 24.75 points, 0.3%, at 8,756.21. The FTSE 250 ended down 181.17 points, 0.9%, at 20,414.73, while the AIM All-Share closed down 3.78 points, 0.5%, at 707.72.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 876.77, the Cboe UK 250 clos

Stocks in London were mostly in the red at Thursday midday, as investors await US jobless data, while insurer Aviva rose as it increased its dividend.The FTSE 100 index was up 30.65 points, 0.4%, at 8,762.11. The FTSE 250 was down 160.11 points, 0.8%, at 20,435.79, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.54 points, 0.4%, at 708.96.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 877.53, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.9% at 17

Blue chip stocks in London, Paris and Frankfurt opened lower on Thursday, with shares of London-based advertising agency WPP diving as client spend weakened late last year.The FTSE 100 index opened down 30.83 points, 0.4%, at 8,700.63. The FTSE 250 was down 196.86 points, 1.0%, at 20,399.04, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.94 points, 0.4%, at 708.56.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 871.39, the Cb