European stocks were in the green at Friday midday after a slew of fiscal stimulus measures from China, and as investors await key US inflation data which is crucial in the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions.The core personal consumption index remains traders' main focus going into Friday afternoon, and is expected to remain unchanged at 0.2% on a monthly basis with a small annual uptick fr

Stocks in Europe opened higher on a busy Thursday filled with economic readings from the US and Europe as well as comments from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.The US data today will be followed on Friday by the Fed's preferred inflation gauge of core personal consumption expenditures.'The global economy is settling into a newfound stability and central banks can continue to cautiously cut

If you pick up a newspaper this month, you are almost guaranteed to read about the taxes the new chancellor is planning to hike, or the tax reliefs she is looking to axe. But one set of tax reliefs we know is here to stay are those supporting venture capital trusts.The Treasury has just confirmed the VCT scheme will now run until at least 2035 in order to support small British businesses. Many inv

1. Chinese e-commerce: Recent data has confirmed that China is experiencing prolonged softer demand. This has resulted in rising competition. This is especially noticeable in China's e-commerce firms, which have reported mixed earnings for the most recent quarter. Despite this, our China e-commerce research analyst is keeping a positive view on selected e-commerce companies. In his view, some of t

Stock prices in London were higher at midday on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 outperforming its European peers after news that the UK has overtaken several G7 countries on economic growth forecasts.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development has placed the UK joint second in its economic growth forecasts for the rest of 2024.The prediction of 1.1% growth for the whole of this year puts

The FTSE 100 opened in the red on Wednesday morning, but other London stocks were mostly in the green, as investors awaited home sale and building permit data from the US.'An incredibly quiet economic calendar awaits today,' observed Pepperstone's Michael Brown, 'with only August's new home sales figures of note, though today's five-year auction will attract some attention after solid demand for y

The FTSE 100 closed higher in London on Tuesday, as miners enjoyed a boost from stimulus efforts in China, while mid-caps retreated from earlier in the day following US data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 23.05 points, or 0.3%, at 8,282.76. The FTSE 250 ended down 75.00 points, or 0.4%, at 20,770.12, and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.52 points, 0.2%, at 742.80.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 828.

London's FTSE 100 slipped slightly heading into Monday afternoon, as investors digest what was a busy week of interest rate action, while drab eurozone data put the European Central Bank in focus and hurt the euro.Elsewhere on mainland Europe, Frankfurt's DAX 40 traded resiliently in the face of weak German data, but French banks weighed on the CAC 40 on tax hike fears for larger companies.The FTS

Equities in London opened in the red on Monday morning, as AstraZeneca released disappointing trial results while REA upped the ante with a sweetened takeover bid for fellow property portal Rightmove.Monday's economic diary has several flash composite purchasing managers' index releases including from the US and UK.The FTSE 100 index traded down 6.78 points, 0.1%, at 8,223.21. The FTSE 250 was dow

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

Indices on Wall Street mounted a charge to new all-time highs after the US Federal Reserve unveiled a bumper 50 basis point cut to interest rates on Wednesday (18 September).After an initially mixed response, US investors reacted enthusiasm as they were reassured this wasn't a panicked move on the part of the Fed, which was cutting rates for the first time in this cycle.In corporate news, Nike (NK

Stock prices in Europe were in the red on Friday morning, despite the upbeat mood in New York after the Federal Reserve's 50 basis point rate cut earlier this week.The FTSE 100 index fell 36.33 points, 0.4%, at 8,292.39. The index is up around 0.2% so far this week. The FTSE 250 shed 86.37 points, 0.4%, at 21,076.34, and the AIM All-Share slipped 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 746.79.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0

Progress with planned portfolio reshapePositive start to new yearNaira devaluation wipes out profitsConsumer goods group PZ Cussons (PZC) insisted the 'favourable trends' seen in last year's second half have continued into its new financial year as the FTSE 250 firm assured investors it is on track with plans to refocus its portfolio following a strategic review.Unfortunately, shares in the Manche

Stock prices in London suffered at midday on Monday, while the pound rose against the dollar as traders await central bank decisions from the US, the Bank of England and Japan this week.The FTSE 100 index was down 12.25 points, or 0.2%, at 8,260.84. The FTSE 250 was down 11.24 points, or 0.1%, at 20,884.28, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.70 points, or 0.2%, at 743.53.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1

Group revenue up 16% to £229 millionNet ticket sales increased year-on-year by 13%Shares up 36% over the past yearShares in Trainline (TRN) were up 10% this morning to 332p as the rail booking site and app had a better-than-expected first half.Group revenue increased by 16% to £229 million for the six months ending 31 August despite ongoing UK rail strikes.Net ticket sales increased year-on-year

As an exercise in expectations management, the Labour government's trailing of its October Budget has been impressive.Rhetoric around what people should come to expect at the end of next month has been gloomier than a wet Tuesday in February. In our Personal Finance section this week Laith Khalaf explores whether material limits could be placed on pensions tax relief, for instance.As Panmure Liber

European markets were slightly higher during midday trade on Wednesday, as investors braced for a key US inflation reading.The FTSE 100 index edged up 5.21 points, 0.1%, at 8,211.19. The FTSE 250 was up just 10.14 points at 20,666.28, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.93 points, 0.5%, at 739.93.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 821.80, the Cboe UK 250 up 0.2% to 18,227.15, but the Cboe Small Companies wa

Stocks in London drifted lower by the close on Thursday, as more weak US jobs data tested nerves ahead of Friday's nonfarm payrolls data.The FTSE 100 index closed down 27.89 points, 0.3%, at 8,241.71. The FTSE 250 ended down 46.11 points, 0.2%, at 20,762.50, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.54 of a point, 0.1%, at 759.12.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% at 825.08, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.2%

Stock prices in London were lower at midday ahead of US jobs data, but alongside news that the UK construction sector is recovering from a 'difficult start' to the year.The FTSE 100 index was down 16.37 points, or 0.2%, at 8,253.23. The FTSE 250 was up 53.03 points, or 0.3%, at 20,861.64, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.09 points, or 0.1%, at 760.75.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 825.66, the Cboe

Lower sugar prices impact profitabilityPrimark hit by poor UK weatherShare buyback extendedAssociated British Foods (ABF) dropped to the bottom of the FTSE with the shares falling 4% after the grocery-to-retail conglomerate warned on sugar division profitability and reported a second half decline in like-for-like sales at Primark.The shares have slipped by just over a tenth since the middle of the