The common factor across the latest trading updates from the big housebuilders is they are all forecasting fewer completions and land purchases this year.That could spell trouble for the various trades which support the new-build home industry, from legal services to building materials and equipment hire to fitted kitchens and bathrooms.With mortgage costs soaring after repeated interest rate incr

Surging commodity prices pushed the FTSE 100 to a two-month high at the close. The boom for metals and energy saw miners dominating the top of the FTSE 100 leader board, with three-month futures contracts for aluminium, copper, nickel, palladium and more rising sharply on Thursday and seeing the likes of Anglo American (AAL), Glencore (GLEN), Antofagasta (ANTO) and Rio Tinto (RIO) all catching the

Surging commodity prices continued to drive UK stock higher in early afternoon trading, with miners dominating the top of the FTSE 100 leader board. Three-month futures contracts for aluminium, copper, nickel, palladium and more rose sharply on Thursday with Anglo American (AAL), Glencore (GLEN), Antofagasta (ANTO) and Rio Tinto (RIO) all catching the uplift.Elsewhere, Darktrace (DARK) and Qinieti

UK stocks opened higher on Thursday, led by mining companies as commodities prices, notably copper, continued to advance, with Anglo American (AAL), Glencore (GLEN), Antofagasta (ANTO) and Rio Tinto (RIO) all catching a bid early on.By 9 am, the FTSE 100 was trading 0.65% higher at 7,188.22 points, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.7% at 22,793.72.Brent Crude pushed ahead 0.8% to $83.85 per barrel, natu

There is a common theme in the current wave of takeovers involving UK stocks, namely that many of the targets operate in the business-to-business space and provide products or services to other companies.Since the middle of July there have been more than half a dozen significant bids, most of which have been recommended by the boards of the target companies.Parker-Hannifin's bid for component make

One of the very few positive effects of last year's pandemic was an increase in consumers spending on the repair, maintenance and improvement of their flats and houses.Having been confined indoors for months at a time, it didn't take long for people to set about redecorating and adding more indoor or outdoor space so they could live and work remotely more comfortably.That led to an explosion in pr

The FTSE 100 dropped sharply in opening trade as banks were told to suspend dividends and buybacks, while investors also brace for a likely global recession as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.The UK's benchmark index opened 3.24% lower to 5,488.27, mirroring falls seen in Asian stock markets with the Nikkei 225 in Japan down 4.5%, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong dropping 2.17% and China's Shanghai

Bathroom fit-out specialist Norcros (NXR), the firm behind the Triton brand of showers, is riding high this morning. The shares are up 6.4% to 212.7p on a strong set of full year results, which reveal a ninth consecutive year of growth.Revenue in the company's two main market, the UK and South Africa, is up 10% and 12% respectively as the company benefits from a mix of acquisitive and organic grow

South Africa is the latest country to be closely watched by UK investors. A decent number of companies doing business in that part of the world have their shares traded on the London Stock Exchange.Cyril Ramaphosa was last week sworn in as the new president of South Africa, replacing Jacob Zuma who stepped down after pressure from the governing ANC party amid corruption allegations. Ramaphosa want

Bathroom fit-out firm Norcos (NXR) continues to look undervalued as it progresses a plan to become a 'one-stop-shop' for bathroom fittings and accessories.The Cheshire-based company, best known for its leading Triton shower brand in the UK, recently completed the £60m acquisition of profitable Irish shower screens business Merlyn. The deal was financed by a £31.4m share placing and a new £120m

London's FTSE 100 opens modestly lower on Thursday in contrast to Wall Street, which marked a new high overnight, and progression on Asian markets. Disagreement among rival factions within the Government over Brexit negotiations continues to weigh on investor sentiment.Online takeaway ordering platform Just Eat (JE.) jumps 6.2% higher to 746.5p as the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) provisio

Shares in bathroom fit-out specialist Norcros (NXR) look cheap despite the company delivering an eighth consecutive year of revenue growth in the 12 months to 31 March 2017.At 173p, the shares trade on 6.1 times stockbroker Numis' forecast earnings per share (EPS) of 28.5p for the year to March 2018. They also offer a prospective yield of 4.5%. The expected dividend payment is covered just over 3.

Cobham profit warningDefence components specialist Cobham (COB) has suffered its second profit warning in six months (26 Apr) coupled with the prospect of an emergency rights issue. The shares fell 17% to 178.30p on the news (SFl)Whitbread's German hopesPremier Inn and Costa owner Whitbread (WTB) plans to innovate its core UK business and expand internationally - in particular growing Premier Inn

Economic pressure from low commodity prices is now being felt in South Africa's political arena impacting stocks including Old Mutual (OML), Investec (INVP) and Anglo American (AAL).While those moves might have been predictable, a sell-off in small cap shower manufacturer Norcros (NXR) looks less easy to justify. Norcros has a tiles business in the country but a 6% sell-off on Friday looks overdon

Year-to-date, a number of British brands with rich heritage have been picked off at a premium. Derbyshire-based Thorntons (THT), the beloved British chocolate brand established by Joseph William Thornton back in 1911, exited the stock market on 20 August. It recommended a £112 million takeover, representing a 72.3% premium to the average closing price over the previous six months, from Italian co

At 20.5p investors could do worse than take their cue from Norcros (NXR) chairman Martin Towers who has acquired £24,913 worth of stock (6 Aug).The bathroom fit-out specialist is up 13.6% year-to-date and while revenue growth has been muted in the first quarter, we keep faith with a proven management team implementing a sound growth strategy.Despite a positive backdrop for construction, the group

After five days of consecutive gains the FTSE 100 was back in the red on Thursday as hopes for an overnight deal on Greek's looming debt repayments were dashed. In mid-morning trading the FTSE 100 had recovered a little to trade down 5.25 points at 6839.56. The FTSE 250 just nudges into positive territory - up 2.62 points to 17,927.60.Among the mid-caps packaging group DS Smith (SMDS) climbs 2.5%

London shares fall for the fifth day straight on Thursday with gains across the mining sector unable to halt the slide caused by ongoing concerns over Greece debt talks, inflation, and possible interest rate rises to come. The FTSE 100, which fell to its lowest since January on Wednesday, drifts a further 0.24% lower at 6,660 early on, prolonging its spell in the red.Miners populate the top of the

It's shaping up to be another good year for Wilmslow-based Norcros (NXR). The bathroom fit-out specialist looks to be on target for a sixth consecutive year of revenue and profit growth. This is no mean feat considering the challenges that have faced Norcros in terms of its markets and indeed in light of some of the legacy issues with which the group has struggled.Nick Kelsall has been at the helm

Strong gains across the mining sector fail to stem overall negative sentiment on London markets in early trading, the FTSE 100 slipping 48 points to 6,515. Airlines lead the Footsie loser board, with both Easyjet (EZJ) and International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) down 3.8% to £14.11 and 3.7% to 357.6p respectively.But the big news today comes from the revelation that FTSE 100 miner and commodity