Shares in blue chip indices in London and Paris traded mostly higher on Monday morning, as investors await flash UK purchasing managers' index data to be out shortly.The FTSE 100 index opened up 48.13 points, 0.6%, at 8,693.31. The FTSE 250 was up 103.68 points, 0.6%, at 20,022.05, and the AIM All-Share was trading up 2.90 points, 0.4%, at 692.02.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.4% higher at 869.01, the...

James Parsons is looking to revive another moribund oil stock in the form of Echo Energy (ECHO:AIM). He has form, turning Sound Energy (SOU:AIM) from a micro-cap with a messy portfolio of assets and legacy of failure in South East Asia into a major force in the Mediterranean.Now he's intent on transforming Echo (formerly Independent Resources). First announced in March, his plans for the...

The FTSE 100 is slightly lower in early trading at 7,500.11 as sterling stabilises and Prime Minister Theresa May prepares for a crunch meeting with her own MPs.Negotiations with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) continue as May looks to secure a so-called 'confidence and supply' arrangement to allow her to govern despite failing to secure an outright majority last week.New chief executive...

Cobham profit warningDefence components specialist Cobham (COB) has suffered its second profit warning in six months (26 Apr) coupled with the prospect of an emergency rights issue. The shares fell 17% to 178.30p on the news (SFl)Whitbread's German hopesPremier Inn and Costa owner Whitbread (WTB) plans to innovate its core UK business and expand internationally - in particular growing Premier...

The explorers still active off the coast of the Falkland Islands are in demand as they announce the Isobel Deep well has yielded a discovery. The well, drilled in a venture between Rockhopper (RKH:AIM), Premier Oil (PMO) and Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL:AIM), has encountered 27 metres of net oil pay in the North Falklands basin.The news is only giving Premier a modest boost - up 1.7% to 30.5p but...

London shares are on the rise gain in early trade on Monday as investors take a measured view of lingering concerns about China's economic outlook, Middle East tensions and a global glut of crude oil. The benchmark FTSE 100 index nudges around 15 points higher to 5,925, although key stocks indices in Europe remain mixed.Recruiters Hays (HAS) and Michael Page (MPI) are among the bigger fallers...

Escalating tension in the Middle East weighs on markets as Turkish fighters down a Russian jet near the border with Syria.Leisure stocks and airlines in particular bear the brunt of the pressure which sees the FTSE 100 index trade 0.8% lower at 6,257 and the FTSE 250 fall 0.7% to 16,988.British Airways and Iberia operator International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) falls 3.3% to 549p and easyJet...

At 59p oil explorer Rockhopper (RKH:AIM) could interest investors with a contrarian bent after its $22 million cash and paper purchase (10 Aug) of Egyptian assets from Beach Energy.Lower oil prices do not help sentiment towards the stock but they do allow it to use a relatively robust balance sheet to acquire assets cheaply. Even after the completion of this acquisition it expects net cash to...

London shares nudge lower in early trade on Thursday despite gains by retail sector outfits Sports Direct (SPD) and Kingfisher (KGF), today's biggest Footsie leaders, against a backcloth of easing mining and financial stocks. The FTSE 100 is off around 7 points at 7028, while midcaps decline buy a similar margin to 18,201.Mike Ashley-founded pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap fashion retailer...

Investors were confronted by renewed volatility this autumn reflected in the performance of the UK's headline index. Nudging year highs above 6,900 in early September the FTSE 100 collapsed to less than 6,200 in mid-October as worries about global economic growth dominated the agenda before recovering to the 6,600 mark as sentiment improved.The good news is there are two main ways of profiting...

UK stocks move modestly higher in early trading Thursday, returning to the recently positive path after slipping back on Wednesday, its first reverse performance in six sessions. Stimulus hopes in China and easing concerns about the Japanese economy give London equities a boost, the FTSE 100 trading 20 points higher at at 6,629 in early deals.Sir Richard Branson's bank Virgin Money (VM.)...

Backing the right oil stock can be very satisfying as shareholders in explorer Roxi Petroleum (RXP:AIM) are fully aware. That stock is up 388% since striking oil (8 Jul) with a well testing the deeper potential on its BNG asset in Kazakhstan.To help you better understand other prospects in the sector, we look ahead to a quartet of wells either being drilled or set to be drilled by four...

A large sale by the departing chief executive officer of mid-cap oil and gas firm Premier Oil (PMO) should not obscure the group's undervalued attractions.Simon Lockett pocketed nearly £2.8 million from his divestment (5 Jun) but the appointment of his replacement, a re-energised exploration portfolio and news on a farm-out of the group's 60%-owned $5.2 billion Sea Lion project off the...

Specialist video games retailer GAME Digital (GMD) fails to excite on its return to the stockmarket, trading at 199.5p having priced its offer at £2 per share for a £340 million debut market cap. A market leader in the UK and Spain, GAME is now profitable and cash-generative, having been turned around under new ownership after going into administration in 2012.London Pride brewer and...

The proposed acquisition (23 May) of Mediterranean Oil & Gas (MOG:AIM) by Rockhopper Exploration (RKH:AIM) provides the latter with a near-term exploration catalyst which could revive its fortunes.Rockhopper's flagship Sea Lion project off the Falkland Islands remains mired in uncertainty with its partner Premier Oil (PMO) not expected to take a final investment decision on the development...

There's big newsfor the train operators as one of the big London franchises is won by Go-Ahead (GOG), sending its shares up 8.9% to £21.12. It has pinched the expanded Thameslink network from FirstGroup (FGP), down 0.5% to 134.1p. Investec calls it a 'major coup' for Go-Ahead, saying it gives certainty over rail earnings for a number of years and raises the chance of a dividend hike in the...

Just as the market thought Ladbrokes (LAD) was the only weak player in the gambling sector, a trading update from William Hill (WMH) shows weakness elsewhere in the industry. The bookie warns that third quarter operating profit is £20 million below its expectations and there's no guarantee it can make up the shortfall before the year end. That sends the share price down 0.5% to 409.15p. Given...

Consolidation among the Falklands oil explorers dominates the junior oil sector today as Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL:AIM) moves to acquire Desire Petroleum (DES:AIM) in an all-paper recommended offer valuing the latter at 18p a share.In response FOGL is down 5.6% to 26.9p - suggesting its shareholders are uncertain on the merits of the deal - Desire itself gushes up 29.4% to 15.9p. Concurrently...

Although the flurry of oil and gas exploration has temporarily quietened down, interesting moves are underway in the Falklands to prepare for a radical change to the islands' economy. This is evident from today's financial results from service group Falkland Islands Holdings (FKL:AIM) which beat market expectations and put the £32.7 million cap in a good position to benefit from a forecast...

A lack of oil exploration drilling in the Falklands until late next year could keep investors away from the listed contingent with exposure to the region, according to research house Edison.This includes: Argos Resources (ARG:AIM); Borders & Southern Petroleum (BOR:AIM); Desire Petroleum (DES:AIM); Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL:AIM); and Rockhopper Exploration (RKH:AIM).The fortunes of their larger...