London stocks were mixed on Thursday, but European equities closed in the green on news of progress towards a possible peace deal in Ukraine.The FTSE 100 index closed down 42.72 points, 0.5%, at 8,764.72. The FTSE 250 ended up 35.64 points, 0.2%, at 20,916.14, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.19 of a point at 723.20.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 877.79, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.3% at 18

London's FTSE 100 was lower early Thursday, hurt by the likes of BAT, Barclays, Unilever and oil majors, but European peers confidently moved higher on hopes of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.Barclays fell despite reporting improved earnings. Unilever announced listing plans for its ice cream unit, meanwhile.The FTSE 100 index traded down 45.80 points, 0.5%, at 8,761.64. The FTSE 250 was up 42.78 poi

Imagine going for a night out in a busy pub, and when the time comes to use the loo, you leave your phone and wallet on the table unguarded. You wouldn't. Yet your online data is, in theory, just as exposed.Don't panic, fortunately, most of your information is secured by the clever digital locks and latches of cybersecurity, be that your personal banking details, your Facebook identity, or your Am

If there were any doubts over gold's status as a safe haven they have been blasted away as the precious metal makes a push towards the $3,000 mark for the first time amid volatility elsewhere in the financial markets.Gold's status as a safe haven asset is based on its historic role as a store of value and the fact that, unlike currencies, its value cannot be manipulated through adjustments to inte

Sales and earnings to top forecastsNuclear business better than hopedMarine contracts also impressCivil and defence contractor Babcock International (BAB) cheered investors with the revelation revenues and underlying operating profit for the year to the end of March would 'exceed the top end of the range of analyst expectations'.The shares jumped 54p, or 10%, to a new five-year high of 596p, takin

2024 profits up 30%New year off to 'positive' startGrowth slowdown, upgrades absence weighAs per usual, there was plenty to like about the latest trading update from affordable cosmetics supplier Warpaint London (W7L:AIM). The company, which supplies its wares to Tesco (TSCO), Boots and Walmart (WMT:NYSE), reported a 'strong' performance for the year to December 2024 and hailed a 'positive start'

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

European, UK and US central banks started cutting interest rates in June, August and September 2024, respectively, yet beady-eyed investors will have noticed that 10-year bond yields are higher today than they were then.The move higher in yields reflects increasing investor nervousness over high government budget deficits, sticky inflation and uncertainty caused by US trade tariffs.Those concerns

The FTSE 100 index climbed on Wednesday, with shares in GSK boosted after its revenue beat expectations.The Bank of England is expected to enact a 25 basis point rate cut on Thursday, but policymakers face the unenviable balancing act of weighing up a stalling economy with inflation pressure.The expected quarter-point cut by Threadneedle Street would take the bank rate to 4.50%, from 4.75% current

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

London stocks climbed on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 reaching a new high, driven by strong performances from gold miners and upbeat corporate earnings, while investors also assessed weak economic data from the US and eurozone.The FTSE 100 index ended up 89.07 points, 1.0%, at 8,646.88. It had earlier set a new intra-day high of 8,655.19.The FTSE 250 ended up 245.37 points, 1.2%, at 20,802.07, and

Sage Group (SGE) has put in a robust performance over the last three months, with shares in the accounting software provider gaining 21% since late November to hit an all-time high last week.Much of the increase came on the 20 November when the company reported full-year results, which included a 7% increase in revenue to £2.3 billion for the 12 months to 30 September buoyed by progress made with

Beeks Financial Cloud (BKS:AIM) 260pMarket cap: £174 millionThere is a lot to like about Beeks Financial Cloud (BKS:AIM). Namely rapid and (largely) profitable growth and improving cash flow and margin profiles from an expanding market niche.Compound average revenue growth since 2019 runs at 31.5%, and while profit has been lumpy, due to expansion investment, the shares have returned 18.5% a year

London stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 gaining as utilities rebounded, while investors awaited the Federal Reserve's rate decision and key US tech earnings.The FTSE 100 index ended up 23.94 points, 0.3%, at 8,557.81. The FTSE 250 ended down 28.81 points, 0.1%, at 20,559.70, and the AIM All-Share eased 3.13 points, 0.4%, at 712.19.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 857.74 on Wednes

Nvidia set for 5%-plus recovery when Wall Street reopensBroadcom, AMD, TSMC also set to regain some lost groundValuable reminder to investors that stocks do not always go upThe tech bloodbath on Wall Street overnight looks like a short, sharp shock often needed when markets get over exuberant. Pre-market data shows the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures both making modest gains as investors reset expe

I have worked in the public sector for most of my life and since I retired, I am receiving a pension. I also have a small SIPP which I have not yet touched.My husband has a good pension of his own plus his state pension. When I die he will receive my share of our joint assets and will have enough money to live on.Instead of leaving my small SIPP to him when I die, I would like to pass it onto char

First of seven vital votes on Saba proposalsRetail investor engagement key to outcomeInvestors should 'use votes wisely' says analystThis is potentially a historic day (22 January) for the UK investment trust sector, with Herald Investment Trust's (HRI) shareholders about to kick-start a string of crucial votes to either approve or reject a radical agenda pursued by US raider Saba Capital Manageme

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher on Tuesday morning, while the newest ONS data showed that UK earnings growth outpaced inflation.Meanwhile, UK unemployment rate rose above analysts' forecast to 4.4% for November, according to the Office for National Statistics.Average earnings rose by 5.6% including and excluding bonuses, outpacing inflation. Wage growth excluding bonuses sp

Streaming giant Netflix (NFLX:NASDAQ) made waves last year as it piled into live sports for the first time, inking blockbuster deals with WWE and the NFL, and viewers followed, adding 22.4 million net new subscribers as of the third quarter, its best year since 2020.It helped seed an 85% share-price surge last year and shareholders are excited about 2025 prospects, as the company readies to report

The FTSE 100 closed lower on Monday, but above early lows, as bond yields continued to creep up and analysts predicted the end of the US rate cutting cycle.The FTSE 100 index closed down 24.30 points, 0.3%, at 8,224.19. The blue-chip index had fallen as low as 8,192.31.The FTSE 250 ended 15.57 points lower, 0.1%, at 19,718.37, and the AIM All-Share shed 3.99 points, 0.6%, at 709.39.The Cboe UK 100