The FTSE 100 and 250 closed in the red on Friday, as this week's US interest rate cut was offset by a disappointing consumer confidence reading.The FTSE 100 index closed down 98.73 points, or 1.2%, at 8,229.99. The FTSE 250 ended down 330.87 points, or 1.6%, at 20,831.84, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.3%, or 2.46 points, at 745.62.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.2% at 823.77, the Cboe UK 250 cl

- Rapid decline for Covid-19 vaccine hits 1H revenues- Company expects to meet full year revenue expectations- Hopes pinned on transformational dealGene and cell therapy pharma services company Oxford Biomedica (OXB) said first half revenues fell 21% year-on-year to £64 million driven by a 24% reduction in Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing sales to £57.3 million.The fall in revenues, combined with

It is one thing for analysts to forecast which stocks and sectors will do well in a rising-rate or inflationary environment, but when it actually comes to pass it's always fascinating to see what works in practice.Judging by the list of stocks making 12-month highs over the past week, those who favoured real assets were on the money.Standing tall are 3i Infrastructure (3IN), AEW UK REIT (AEWU), GC

Global stock markets started the new month in positive spirits following a strong performance on the US Nasdaq technology index which closed up over 3%, capping its biggest two-day gain since 2020.Sterling gained against the dollar to sit at $1.35 once again, while Brent crude traded sideways at $89.16 per barrel as OPEC and its allies were expected to approve a modest increase in production this

Global stock markets kicked-off the new month in buoyant mood with Germany's DAX index gaining 1.5%, following a strong performance on the US Nasdaq index which closed up over 3%, capping its biggest two-day gain since 2020. Alphabet is expected to release its earnings after the close.Chinese markets are closed for new year while Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.3%.Brent crude nudged up 0.2% to $89.3 a

By midday on Wednesday, London's FTSE 100 had shaken off its earlier losses and resumed the upwards momentum it displayed on its first trading day of 2022, as broker upgrades helped lift some heavyweight stocks and supermarkets gained ground on positive industry data.The blue chip benchmark traded 0.19% higher at 7,519.62 by lunchtime, though the FTSE 250 was flat at 23,895.60.Investors were await

Major UK equity markets lost the positive momentum established in the previous session during early trading on Wednesday morning.Both the blue chip FTSE 100 FTSE 250 dipped into negative territory. At 9am the FTSE 100 was trading down 0.05% at 7501.43, and the FTSE 250 was 0.07% weaker at 23,880.65.Investors will be awaiting the release of US ADP private sector payrolls data later today for Decem

London's FTSE 100 jumped 85 points or 1.2% to 7,066 points on Wednesday lunchtime after beleaguered Chinese property developer Evergrande cooled fears of an imminent collapse, stoking a sharp rebound in mining shares.Asian markets also recovered and US index futures were pointing up ahead of the open, while Brent crude advanced 1% to $75.40 per barrel and sterling recovered from overnight selling

London's FTSE 100 traded 0.94% higher at 7,046.34 points early on Wednesday after beleaguered Chinese property developer Evergrande negotiated a deal with domestic bondholders, cooling fears of an imminent collapse.Though Evergrande still has plenty of problems to fix including more bond payments later this week, today's deal would suggest catastrophe is not immediately around the corner.CORPORATE

A weak start to trading in the US, amid suggestions from central banks about a tightening of monetary policy, helped put the FTSE 100 firmly on the back foot on Thursday afternoon.By the market close, the blue chip benchmark was down 1.1% at 7,012.02 points, with tech names in the US dragging down the Nasdaq index by 0.4% to 14,585.31 as of 4.30pm UK time.Heavyweight oil firms BP (BP.) and Royal D

London's FTSE 100 traded 0.7% lower at 7,044.16 by lunchtime on Thursday with heavyweight oil firms BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) in the red amid a slump in crude prices as OPEC reached a compromise on increasing production.A steady rise in inflation coupled with higher local coronavirus infections also stoked concerns of slowing the pace of economic recovery.Mid-caps were also weaker by n

Major UK stocks e FTSE 100 made a quiet start to trading on Thursday as inflation fears kept a lid on equity markets. The FTSE 100 was largely flat at 9am as heavyweight energy stocks tracked weak oil prices, while a steady rise in inflation coupled with higher local coronavirus infections stoked concerns of slowing the pace of economic recovery.The benchmark index was 0.02% higher at 7,092.77 wit

Shares in gene and cell therapy group Oxford Biomedica (OXB) jumped 8% to £10.83 after it upgraded financial guidance following an increase in a supply contract with pharma giant AstraZeneca (AZN).After successfully manufacturing large-scale batches of the Covid-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca has committed to an increase in the number of batches it requires from Oxford Biomedica for the second half of 2

The FTSE closed higher on Friday reaching its highest level since October 2019 as a raft of positive economic data was released in the US and China.US new homes increased 19.4% in March, the biggest monthly gain since 2006 during the housing bubble. The University of Michigan consumer confidence was higher showing increasing consumer confidence, although the reading of 86.5 was below economists' f

London's FTSE 100 added to gains at midday Friday as investors cheered signs that the global recovery remains on track following data showing China's economy grew at record pace in the first quarter.FTSE 100 miners and oil producers were in demand after China reported year-on-year GDP growth of 18.3% in the first quarter of 2021, giving investors greater optimism in terms of the outlook for global

Shares in online grocery retailer and platform provider Ocado (OCDO) gained 1.6% to £21.74 on news it has taken a £10 million stake in Oxford-based self-driving vehicle developer Oxbotica.Ocado said the purpose of its investment is to collaborate on hardware and software interfaces for autonomous vehicles, 'enhancing and integrating Oxbotica's autonomy software platform into a variety of vehicle

London's FTSE 100 was back above the 7,000 level for the first time since February 2020 on Friday as investors cheered signs that the global recovery remains on track following data showing China's economy grew at record pace in the first quarter.By 8.45 am, the blue chip benchmark was up 32.3 points or 0.46% at 7,015.75, representing a massive milestone in recovering from the terrible pandemic an

London's FTSE 100 jumped towards that all-important 7,000 mark on Thursday following strong economic data from the US, while pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) also helped the index with a big rise after reports that an activist investor has built up a stake in the business.The UK's benchmark index closed 0.63% higher to 6,983.50, with investors closely watching to see if can finally claw

UK stocks continued their strong run throughout morning trading on Thursday, boosted by gains in heavyweight mining stocks, while Deliveroo (ROO) posted a jump in first quarter orders.The benchmark FTSE 100 rose 0.52% to 6,970 by 12pm, with miners providing the biggest boost to the index as they tracked higher metal prices.FTSE 100 mining stalwarts Anglo American (AAL), BHP (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RI

UK stocks got off to a steady start on Thursday, boosted by gains in heavyweight mining stocks, while Deliveroo (ROO) posted a jump in first quarter orders. The benchmark FTSE 100 rose 0.3% in early deals, hitting 6,960.85, with miners providing the biggest boost to the index as they tracked higher metal prices.Investors will be closely watching the FTSE 100 to see if it has the momentum to finall