The FTSE 100 closed in the green on Thursday, following positive updates from some of London's large-cap constituents. The FTSE 100 index rose 40.86 points, 0.5%, at 8,071.19. The FTSE 250 closed up 163.80 points, 0.8%, at 20,522.81. The AIM All-Share advanced 0.09 of a point to 729.38.The Cboe UK 100 climbed 0.5% at 811.74, the Cboe UK 250 climbed 0.9% at 17,950.10 and the Cboe Small Companies fe

Stocks were mixed on Thursday morning in Europe as investors await eurozone GDP and jobless data, and a US producer price inflation reading later.Also in the UK, data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors showed signs of improvement in the housing market. A net balance of 16% of property professionals reported house prices rising in October, and a 12% balance saw fresh buyer inquiries

Now we have had the Budget, I think this may alter my retirement planning strategy. The significant IHT (inheritance tax) pensions advantage has now gone (or will within two years). I am 74, have around £1.5 million in SIPPs largely untouched. I have fixed protection 2014, and my tax-free cash limit is £375,000 less £25,000 taken in 2024.In view of IHT advantages of pension (until the Budget) I

Surprisingly, one of the most talked-about US stocks of 2024 has nothing to do with AI (artificial intelligence), chips, gold or cryptocurrencies.It is a small tele-health company based in San Francisco called Hims & Hers Health (HIMS:NYSE), which provides prescription and over-the-counter medicines as well as personal care products through its online platform.When we say small, its market cap is

The US stock market is the biggest in the world and the listing domain of globally-renowned companies including Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ), Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ) and Amazon (AMZN:NASDAQ), which makes the market an extremely attractive proposition for UK-based investors. The US equity market's sheer size means it is highly liquid and offers investors greater scope for diversification than other regional ma

Stamp duty changes announced in the Budget mean that from April 2025 buyers will face higher costs when buying a home ? with first-time buyers hit the hardest.The ending of a temporary stamp duty cut means that the tax will rise next year. This measure, originally introduced by former prime minister Liz Truss to boost the housing market, will end on 31 March 2025. The most significant impact will

MercadoLibre (MELI:NASDAQ) $1,961.16Gain to date: 28.2% Quarterly reporting maybe great for transparency but it can be a curse for long-run growth stocks, as investors in MercadoLibre (MELI:NASDAQ) are finding out.The stock was thumped last week (7 November) after a third-quarter report saw sales surge but profits miss expectations. Quarterly revenue jumped 35% year-on-year to $5.31 billion, beati

International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) 239p Gain to date: 47.5% Since we flagged the appeal of the stock in March, British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) has gone from strength-to-strength.Passenger numbers have increased despite continued pressures on household budgets and the company has put in a strong financial performance which looks set to continue.The airline's s

Stocks in London struggled for direction at the close on Wednesday, following a CPI print from the US, and amid general uncertainty in Europe.The FTSE 100 index rose 4.56 points, 0.1%, at 8,030.33. The FTSE 250 closed down 68.59 points, 0.3%, at 20,359.21. The AIM All-Share fell 1.57 points, 0.2%, at 729.29.The Cboe UK 100 climbed 0.2% at 807.56, the Cboe UK 250 retreated 0.4% at 17,791.49 and the

Stocks in London slipped at the close on Tuesday, joining the pound, which failed to pack a punch against the dollar amid political uncertainty.The FTSE 100 index slumped 99.42 points, 1.2%, at 8,025.77. The FTSE 250 closed down 295.73 points, 1.4%, at 20,427.80. The AIM All-Share fell 7.07 points, 1.0%, at 730.86.The Cboe UK 100 declined 1.2% at 805.89, the Cboe UK 250 retreated 1.6% at 17,865.50

Sales and profit outlook upgradedAll divisions contributingStrategic plans paying offGlobal medical products company Convatec (CTEC) jumped 20% to top the FTSE 100 leaderboard after upgrading full year sales growth and margin guidance in an unscheduled trading update.It is one of the biggest one-day advances in the shares since the business listed on the stock market in 2016 and means they are out

Stock prices in blue chip indices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red at Tuesday around midday as UK unemployment and German annual inflation increased, as investors digest Donald Trump's election victory in the US.Annual consumer price inflation in Germany quickened to 2.0% last month. However Germany's outlook has weakened in the eyes of financial experts, survey results from the ZEW

Takeover tilt by Italian rival expectedBurberry results due 14 NovemberAnalysts expect lurch into lossFirmly out of fashion with investors this year amid a slowdown in luxury goods demand, shares in Burberry (BRBY) rallied 2% to 822p on 11 November as excitement surrounding a bid from Italian outerwear rival Moncler (MONC:BIT) continued to build.According to correspondence viewed by The Mail on Su

Year-to-date IAG shares up 48%New €350 million share buyback15.4% increase in operating profit to €2.01 billionShares in International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) took off this morning after the British Airways owner booked a 7.9% increase in total revenue to €24.05 billion for the nine months to 30 September.The airline group which also owns Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling said its

The FTSE 100 was flat on Thursday afternoon, treading water after the Bank of England reduced rates, and suggested a more gradual cutting path than some expected.The pound moved higher immediately following the decision, which was accompanied by the BoE's latest economic projections. The central bank suggested last week's UK budget was inflationary.The budget is expected to boost the level of gros

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) 602pMarket cap: £732 millionThe market has a well-understood tendency to overshoot and undershoot, and in the case of pub group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) we think it has pushed the shares much too low given the qualities of the business and the risks it faces.Considering the company raised its earnings guidance last month and reinstated the dividend thanks to 'robust' like-for-lik

Gold has had a great year. Spot prices hit another all-time high (30 October) of $2,781 per ounce, based on Bloomberg data, chalking up 35% gains so far in 2024, having broken through the $2,600 level in September for the very first time.That trumps global equities, based on the FTSE World Index's 18% returns, and even high-flying tech firms have struggled to keep pace, based on the 27% year-to-da

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an astonishing £40 billion of tax rises in her maiden budget, and yet, despite that, there will be relief in some quarters that things didn't turn out worse.Capital gains tax is one of the areas where the Reeves' raid was not as bad as feared, as there had been speculation she would bring capital gains tax rates into line with income tax, with the top rate risin

Beazley and Lancashire shares rallyLancashire to pay a special dividendConduit Holdings shares drop 10%Given the succession of devastating storms which hit the US this autumn, investors in insurers covering catastrophe loss had every right to be nervous when it came to reporting season.In the event, two of the biggest UK-listed property and casualty insurers - Beazley (BEZ) and Lancashire Holdings

Full-year profit ahead of expectationsSpecial dividend of 2p per shareNew growth initiatives outlinedUK news wholesaler Smiths News (SNWS) was the second largest gainer in the FTSE All-Share on 5 November, the shares rising as much as 13% after the company delivered better than expected full-year results and announced a special dividend of 2p per share.The shares are up 18% year-to-date compared w