Blue-chip stocks in London advanced on Thursday, as housebuilders buoyed the FTSE 100 index despite jitters from retailers after poor updates.The FTSE 100 index rose 20.07 points, 0.2%, at 8,565.20. It earlier set a new intra-day high of 8,572.51.The FTSE 250 lost 59.91 points, 0.3%, at 20,520.39, and the AIM All-Share ended down just 0.14 of a point at 720.86.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.3% at 859.10,

Stock prices in London were mostly lower at midday on Thursday, ahead of US jobless figures, while the European Central Bank's next rate call due next Thursday is getting closer.'The FTSE 100's strong start to 2025 is starting to lose some momentum,' commented AJ Bell's Russ Mould, adding: 'In London, retailers were on the back foot with some recent measures of UK consumer confidence suggesting th

UK like-for-likes down in Christmas quarter'Cautious' shopper, mild weather blamedGrocery brands growing overseasFoods-to-fashion giant Associated British Foods (ABF) delivered a disappointing first quarter trading update with weak UK sales at Primark driving a sales growth guidance reduction for the retail jewel in the conglomerate's crown.Analysts downgraded their group profit forecasts on news

Stocks in London opened mixed on Thursday, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt and the CAC 40 in Paris opened a notch higher, as investors await eurozone consumer confidence data.The FTSE 100 index opened down 0.15 points at 8,544.98. The FTSE 250 was down 23.09 points, 0.1%, at 20,557.21, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.72 points, 0.2%, at 722.72.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 856.61, the Cboe UK 250 was d

Vistry Group (VTY) 588pMarket cap: £1.95 billionWe have held off from recommending any of the housebuilders over the last year as despite plenty of attractive valuations it was clear the whole sector was in a downgrade cycle.That cycle now seems to be over, for Vistry (VTY) at least. The company was forced to warn on profits three times in quick succession last quarter, including one announcement

The FTSE 100 fell slightly on Wednesday, as international earners put pressure on the index and as easyJet sank on a 'woolly' update.The FTSE 100 index fell just 3.16 points at 8,545.13. The FTSE 250 lost 15.43 points, 0.1%, at 20,580.30, and the AIM All-Share ended up 1.89 points, 0.3%, at 721.00.The Cboe UK 100 lost 0.1% at 856.60, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.2% at 17,962.96, and the Cboe Small Compa

Key UK indices closed in the green on Tuesday as Trump's stance on tariffs appeared to shift to a more moderate position and UK unemployment rose above expectations.The FTSE 100 index rose 27.75 points, 0.3%, at 8,548.29, just shy of a new intra-day high of 8,550.41.The FTSE 250 ended 108.99 points higher, 0.5%, at 20,595.73, and the AIM All-Share rose 0.82 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.11.The Cboe UK

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

Stocks in London opened mixed but the blue chip FTSE 100 was in the green early Monday, with Pershing Square up as it announced it will pay dividends for every quarter of 2025.Financial markets are closed in the US on Monday to mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and as president-elect Donald Trump prepares to officially take office.The FTSE 100 index opened up 16.47 points, 0.2%, at 8,521.69. The F

The wildfires which seemingly came out of nowhere and have devastated large communities in the Los Angeles area, destroying more than ten thousand properties, are reckoned to have caused total damage approaching $250 billion according to forecasting service Accuweather.That would be equal to around 4% of California's annual GDP and would make this one of the costliest natural disasters in US histo

£250 million target reiteratedDowngrade cycle looks overShares rally sharply on updateThe relief following today's scheduled trading update from Vistry (VTY), the UK's largest housebuilder in volume terms, was palpable as the group confirmed its full-year 2024 profit forecast and talked up the 2025 outlook for its partnership business.The shares rallied as much as 50p or just shy of 10% to 565p,

Better than expected second-half tradingFull-year profit at top end of rangeShares jump 20%Global animal genetics company Genus (GNS) said first half performance has been stronger than expected and the board now expects group adjusted pre-tax profit to be at least £35 million.The shares were catapulted almost 20% higher to £16.96 which suggests investor sentiment had become too negative, with th

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher at midday Tuesday, with London's FTSE 100 up slightly despite oil major BP losing ground as it eyes lower production figures.Meanwhile in the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will move to reassure turbulent markets amid high government borrowing costs as she faces a grilling from MPs later today.The UK chancellor will answer questions in the Hous

The FTSE 100 made a tepid-at-best start to trading on Wednesday, with Shell declining after it forecast a weaker fourth-quarter output performance for its Integrated Gas unit.The FTSE 100 index opened down just 0.69 of a point at 8,244.59. The FTSE 250 was down 24.85 points, 0.1%, at 20,325.52, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.18 of a point at 725.46.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 825.45, the

UK indices closed Monday in the green amid Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tendering his resignation and reports of a possible watering down of Trump's tariff agenda.The FTSE 100 index ended up 25.68 points, 0.3%, at 8,249.66. The FTSE 250 climbed 21.25 points, 0.1%, at 20,612.65. The AIM All-Share rose 3.55 points, 0.5%, at 728.95.The Cboe UK 100 closed up 0.2% at 826.32, the Cboe UK 250 f

Stocks in London opened in the green on Tuesday morning but not everyone is feeling the Christmas spirit, with Vistry issuing a profit warning.The FTSE 100 index opened up 21.00 points, 0.3%, at 8,123.72. The FTSE 250 was up 57.64 points, 0.3%, at 20,476.73, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.11 points, 0.4%, at 715.55.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 815.18, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 17,932.69, an

A mixed close for London equities on Monday highlighted increasing concerns about the UK economy, with businesses bracing for a sharp slowdown and consumer confidence sliding further.The FTSE 100 index closed up 18.11 points, 0.2%, at 8,102.72. The FTSE 250 ended down 31.60 points, 0.2%, at 20,419.09, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.84 points, 0.3%, at 712.44.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 812

UK water firms had their gains pulled back by Friday's close following yesterday's Ofwat induced bump, as Trump threatened the EU with tariff's if it failed to address its trading deficit.The FTSE 100 index closed down 12.67 points, 0.2%, at 8,092.65. The FTSE 250 ended up 31.24 points, 0.2%, at 20,430.62, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.1, or 0.73 of a point, at 711.05.The Cboe UK 100 ended d

Next-generation drug falls shortOver £70 billion wiped off market valueRace is on for launch of oral drugDanish diabetes and obesity drug specialist Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B:CPH) gave investors a nasty surprise on Friday (20 Dec) after revealing its next generation obesity treatment CagriSema fell short of inducing significantly more weight loss than rival Mounjaro made by Eli Lilly (LLY:NYSE), sendi

UK equities suffered on US exposure as they closed lower on Thursday amid the Bank of England holding interest rates, but warning of 'heightened uncertainty'.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pleaded for patience over his drive to improve living standards, warning it 'will take some time' for people to feel the benefits.Starmer hopes changes to planning rules, reforms to regulations and the use of te