European markets remained downbeat on Tuesday around midday, as the prospect of a second Trump term and signs of economic weakness from China weighed on sentiment.The FTSE 100 index was down 22.59 points, 0.3%, at 8,160.37.In European equities, the CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.7%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was down 0.4%.In the FTSE 100, Rio Tinto fell 3.3%.The miner said iron ore production in t

If you're thinking about using property to fund your retirement, you wouldn't be the first. The post-financial crisis boom in house prices, propelled by low interest rates and government support schemes, led many budding property tycoons towards investing in buy-to-let instead of saving in a pension.For many, that gamble probably paid off, thanks to the long period when mortgages were super cheap,

Rockwood Strategic (RKW) 267.5pGain to date: 42.7%We highlighted the investment merits of Rockwood Strategic (RKW) at 187.5p in November 2023, arguing the value-focused trust was a way to gain differentiated exposure to a small cap asset class with exciting re-rating scope. We explained how manager Richard Staveley's tried-and-tested strategy identifies undervalued stocks where the company will b

Offers at £12 and £12.50 rejectedRobinsons maker's shares surge on bid excitementCarlsberg 'considering its position'Soft drinks business Britvic (BVIC) was the FTSE 250's biggest gainer on Friday, with shares in the Fruit Shoot-to-J2O maker fizzing 11% higher to £11.29 on news it has rebuffed two takeover approaches from Carlsberg (CARL-B:CPH).The Danish brewer sweetened its original £12 per

Stock prices in London closed mixed on Monday ahead of UK inflation data and a rate decision from the Bank of England, and as investors digested the latest house price reading.The FTSE 100 index closed down 4.71 points, 0.1%, at 8,142.15. The FTSE 250 ended up 39.36 points, 0.2%, at 20,159.72, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.11 points, 0.2%, at 774.93.The Cboe UK 100 ended down slightly at 810.9

Here we go again. Shares in GameStop (GME:NYSE) are surging, US equity markets are setting new highs and a lowly reading on the VIX index suggests investors are confident that volatility will remain low and equity markets buoyant.This is all barely three years after the year GameStop melt-up (and, lest it be forgotten, subsequent melt-down), which also saw social media influencers and commentators

The space sector is gaining traction with investors again amid increased activity among names spanning US aircraft maker Boeing (BA:NYSE), defence giant BAE Systems (BA.) and Elon Musk-backed SpaceX.On 5 June Boeing launched its long-delayed astronaut capsule Starliner towards the International Space Station with two Nasa astronauts on board.Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams ? the astronauts in ques

Stocks in London were called slightly higher on Thursday at midday, as investors eye the European Central Bank's upcoming rate decision and following surprisingly positive data for the UK construction industry.The FTSE 100 index was up 25.37 points, 0.3%, at 8,272.32. The FTSE 250 was up 66.00 points, 0.3%, at 20,739.41, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.54 points, 0.3%, at 796.43.The Cboe UK 100 w

Much of the focus in the media and among investors has been on the poor performance of the FTSE 100 compared with global counterparts. A trend which only now seems to be unwinding.What is often lost is how poorly mid- and, particularly, small-caps have performed of late. This is significant given these are typically more domestic-facing businesses.Whichever party occupies 10 Downing Street after J

This column has no axe to grind with Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ) and ? like everyone else ? it continues to be both surprised and impressed by the growth that the semiconductor specialist is generating, thanks to the competitive position it is crafting itself in providing silicon chips that power the data centres that, in turn, drive the large language models that are so important to the development of A

VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMGB) £34.34Fund size: £1.62 billion'We have no doubts that Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ) is going to become the biggest company in the world in time.' So says Stephen Yiu, manager of the Blue Whale Growth (BD6PG78) fund, which has consistently upped its stake in the AI chip champion since first investing in 2021.Blue Whale doesn't publicly disclose its stake sizes but data from

Cash bid at 370p per shareStock trading at just 332pQuestions over likely approvalThe board of Royal Mail-owner International Distributions Services (IDS) said it had agreed to a raised £3.57 billion bid from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, already a major shareholder in the firm.Despite the bid valuing IDS shares at 370p each, the stock traded just 11p, or 3.5% higher at 332p suggesting inve

Copper is already one of the most important materials underpinning human civilisation, and the energy transition is only likely to see demand for the industrial metal build in the years to come.Limits and pressures on supply and this growing demand profile are already seeing copper prices mount a charge and recent M&A activity ? with BHP's (BHP) unsuccessful (for now) attempt to take over Anglo Am

Discounts and premiums to NAV (net asset value), which is the value of all the investments an investment trust holds minus any debt or loans, are among the trust universe's unique quirks and can confuse novice investors. At the moment the vast majority of trusts trade at a discount.Annabel Brodie-Smith, the AIC's (Association of Investment Companies) communications director, says: 'Only around 20

Stock prices in London opened higher on Wednesday, beating Asian peers which trended lower over night, and following a flatter session in the US.The FTSE 100 index opened up 34.20 points, 0.4%, at 8,347.87. The FTSE 250 was up 30.83 points, 0.2%, at 20,443.91, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.94 points, 0.3%, at 778.36.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 833.39, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 17,713.33,

The FTSE 100 is not the best-performing major stock index in the world this year ? that honour lies with Japan?s Nikkei 225, which is up by 12% in local currency terms ? but the UK?s premier benchmark is (finally) setting new all-time highs, at least when measured in sterling. The picture does not look quite so rosy in US dollars and while this can be used as a pretext to cavil it can also be a fu

Interest rates are expected to stay higher for longer to combat the sticky inflation which remains a threat to investors? hard-earned wealth and purchasing power. During periods of high inflation, it is crucial to invest in companies that possess pricing power, because these firms can pass on increased costs to customers, enabling them to maintain profit margins and generate the robust cash flows

Stock prices in London were up heading into the afternoon on Wednesday, with Reckitt jumping on a strong start to 2024, while Lloyds rose despite a fall in profit.The FTSE 100 index was up 38.40 points, 0.5%, at 8,083.21. The FTSE 250 was down 3.41 points at 19,796.31, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.1 of a point at 754.97.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at 807.00, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.2% at 17,1

Investors in London continued to show confidence heading into the afternoon on Wednesday, looking ahead to key US data on Thursday and Friday.The FTSE 100 index opened up 27.80 points, 0.4%, at 8,072.61. The FTSE 250 was down 2.65 points at 19,797.07, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.63 points, 0.2%, at 756.50.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 806.01, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.1% at 17147.76, and the

Primark?s margin recovery narrative and sales performance for the second quarter ended 2 March will be in focus when parent Associated British Foods (ABF) delivers first half results (23 April).Shareholders will also be seeking reassurance the food-to-fashion conglomerate still expects ?meaningful progress? in profit and cash in the year to September 2024.The jewel in the ABF crown, Primark?s like