Challenging second half back dropLower consumer confidenceGreggs passes on price hikes to consumersShares in Greggs (GRG) fell by as much as 10% to £23.46 in morning trading despite the food-on-the-go purveyor reporting a 11.3% rise in full-year 2024 sales to £2 billion.Greggs said seasonal lines were in high demand in the fourth quarter including Festive Bake, the Vegan Festive Bake, and the al

Firm cites 'very challenging' tradingUnviable stores set to closeDiscounter to pass final dividendStruggling footwear retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) has halved its current-year profit guidance and plans to pass the final dividend for the year ended 28 September 2024 after experiencing 'very challenging trading conditions' since the Budget.Combined with increased costs also stemming from the Budget,

Stock prices in London opened mostly in the green on Friday, while the UK economy remained in the doldrums in October, hurtling to a surprise decline.The FTSE 100 index traded up 10.61 points, 0.1%, at 8,322.37. The FTSE 250 was up 55.00 points, 0.3%, at 21,004.04, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.74 of a point, 0.1%, at 736.82.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.1% higher at 835.63, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.2%

Stocks in Europe were mixed on Thursday midday ahead of an interest rate decision by the European Central Bank, while New York's Nasdaq Composite is set to ease after storming above the 20,000 point mark.The FTSE 100 index traded up 12.99 points, 0.2%, at 8,314.61. The FTSE 250 tread water. It was down just 0.53 points at 20,972.92. And the AIM All-Share was up 2.74 points, 0.4%, at 740.28.The Cbo

Contract fee income stallsNo signs of improvementFY25 pre-tax forecast slashedSpecialist recruitment firm SThree (STEM) posted a downbeat full-year trading update and warned challenging trading conditions would persist through the current financial year.The shares dropped as much as 140p or 39% to 221p before recovering to stand down 88p or 24% at 273p by mid-morning. SUBSTANTIAL CUT TO GUI

Stock prices in Europe were in the green on Thursday morning, in anticipation of an interest rate cut by the European Central Bank.Meanwhile, the Swiss National Bank enacted a chunkier than expected rate cut on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index traded up 15.34 points, 0.2%, at 8,316.96. The FTSE 250 was down just 5.35 points at 20,968.10, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.16 points, 0.3%, at 739.70.The Cbo

It may not seem much to non-China watchers, but the Communist party's politburo has changed the wording of its stance on monetary policy for the first time since the 2007/8 financial crisis from 'prudent' to 'moderately loose'.Chinese and Hong Kong listed shares jumped, as did those of UK and European stocks which have large exposure to the region including miners Antofagasta (ANTO) and Rio Tinto

Blue-chips in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red midday Tuesday, as investors fretted over the outlook for China's economy after some less-than-stellar data.'Chinese exports grew at a slower pace in November versus October, and imports shrank. That doesn't install much confidence about Beijing's efforts to get the country back on top. The prospect of higher tariffs on Chinese goods export

Kingfisher (KGF) 254.1pGain to date: 13.6%We added Kingfisher (KGF) to our list of Great Ideas in February at 223.5p arguing the valuation afforded the B&Q and Screwfix owner did not reflect the self-help levers being pulled by the company and the potential for an improvement in the consumer backdrop.WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE SAID TO BUY?For a time, our call looked like a particularly good one as

London's FTSE 100 held modest gains around midday on Monday but there were mixed fortunes elsewhere in Europe, as the DAX 40 hit a new high while the CAC 40 faltered.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.07 points, 0.2%, to 8,300.37. The FTSE 250 slipped just 6.30 points at 20,765.27, and the AIM All-Share added only 0.18 of a point at 732.67.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 833.95, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.1% a

Consumer goods goliath Unilever (ULVR) is pushing ahead with the IPO (initial public offering) of its ice cream unit and plans to slim down rather than spin off its food division, as CEO Hein Schumacher's turnaround strategy continues to gain traction.At the FTSE 100 giant's recent investor event (22 November), the Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker set out its strategic priorities under Sch

Stocks in Europe remained in the red on Tuesday afternoon after a plan by incoming US president Donald Trump to impose tariffs on China, Canada on Mexico on day one in office put investors on edge.The FTSE 100 index lost 18.02 points, 0.2%, at 8,273.66. The FTSE 250 slipped 117.93 points, 0.6%, at 20,631.33, and the AIM All-Share declined 2.02 points, 0.3%, at 731.51.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2%

Stocks in London edged lower on Friday, while equities in New York dropped in early trade following some hawkish comments from the chair of the US Federal Reserve.The FTSE 100 index lost 7.58 points, 0.1%, at 8,063.61. The FTSE 250 declined 46.17 points, 0.2%, at 20,476.64, and the AIM All-Share gave back 2.24 points, 0.3%, at 727.14.For the week, the FTSE 100 slipped 0.1%, the FTSE 250 declined 0

ProCook (PROC) 29pMarket cap: £32.7 millionRisk-tolerant investors seeking a compelling recovery play with tasty re-rating potential should consider ProCook (PROC). This direct-to-consumer specialist kitchenware brand is carving out market share gains under management's refreshed strategy to serve up profitable growth.After a tough few years post its 2021 IPO (initial public offering), when the c

Like-for-likes down 0.1%Delivering £30 million of savingsFY 2025 outlook unchangedMotoring-to-cycling products purveyor Halfords (HFD) reported broadly flat first half sales as cash-strapped consumers continued to cut back on big ticket, discretionary purchases.Yet the performance was actually better than it first appeared, when you consider the car batteries and bikes seller was lapping demandin

The FTSE 100 saw mixed fortunes on Friday, with stronger-than-expected Chinese economic data boosting miners, though housebuilders suffered on stamp duty speculation.The FTSE 100 index closed down 26.88 points, or 0.3%, at 8,358.25. The FTSE 250 ended up 48.66 points, or 0.2%, at 21,149.58, and the AIM All-Share lost 1.70 points, 0.2%, at 740.69.For the week, the FTSE 100 added 1.3%, the FTSE 250

Stocks in London closed lower on Tuesday, as miners and financials slipped after a stimulus-driven rally in China ran out of steam.The FTSE 100 index closed down 113.01 points, 1.4%, to 8,190.61. The FTSE 250 ended down 222.01 points, 1.1%, at 20,631.20, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.54 points, 0.5%, at 735.07.The Cboe UK 100 fell 1.3% to 820.18, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1.0% at 18,108.31

Stocks in Europe were in the red on Tuesday midday, with FTSE 100 housebuilder Vistry shares diving amid a profit warning, while China's stimulus was perceived as too soft.The FTSE 100 index was down 97.08 points, 1.2%, at 8,206.54. The FTSE 250 was down 198.23 points, 1.0%, at 20,654.98, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.81 points, 0.5%, at 735.00.The Cboe UK 100 was down 1.1% at 821.97, the Cboe

European shares went into reverse early Tuesday, as the lack of new stimulus in China disappointed the market, while the story in London was Vistry, which slumped by a third after a profit warning.'Having persuaded a sceptical audience that it was managing the transition from mainstream to partnership housebuilder, and outperformed the sector by over 30% in the last twelve months, Vistry now has t

European stocks made a limp start to trading on Monday as investors eye this week's US inflation data in the wake of Friday's blow-out payrolls report.The FTSE 100 index was down 12.60 points, 0.2%, at 8,268.03, having briefly seen slight gains immediately after the opening bell. The FTSE 250 was down 55.56 points, 0.3%, at 20,844.52, but the AIM All-Share was up 1.72 points, 0.2%, at 740.08.The C