Stocks in Frankfurt and London were boosted by defence stocks at midday Monday, as European leaders prepared for talks in Paris with a focus on Ukraine.Among individual shares, BAE Systems rose, Barclays and NatWest recovered and Wood Group continued to slide.The FTSE 100 index rose 15.78 points, 0.2%, at 8,748.24. The FTSE 250 added 18.56 points, 0.1%, at 20,931.57, and the AIM All-Share rose 0.9

The FTSE 100 opened in the green on Monday despite geopolitical concerns and tariff worries continuing to hang over equities.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.43 points, 0.2%, at 8,745.89. The FTSE 250 added 64.96 points, 0.3%, at 20,977.97, and the AIM All-Share rose 1.33 points, 0.2%, at 727.39.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 877.63, the Cboe UK 250 also added 0.3% to 18,333.89, and the Cboe Small Compa

London stocks were mixed on Friday, on the back of geopolitical uncertainty as world leaders come together at the Munich Security Conference.US Vice President JD Vance said Friday the US was prepared to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine, ahead of a meeting in Munich with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky meanwhile said that once Kyiv reached a common position with the US and Eu

London's blue chip index was in the red around midday on Friday, as investors await US retail sales and industrial production data.The FTSE 100 index traded down 17.80 points, 0.2%, at 8,747.10. The FTSE 250 was up 65.80 points, 0.3%, at 20,981.66, and the AIM All-Share climbed 2.18 points, 0.3%, at 725.38.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 877.76, the Cboe UK 250 firmed 0.3% to 18,337.27 and the Cboe Sm

Fourth-quarter sales rise 17.6%Group continues to outperform peersShares test new all-time highsHaving risen more than 300% over the past five years, Hermes' (RMS:EPA) shares were marked up another 3.5% to an all-time high of €2,912 in Paris after the high-end handbag-maker defied the depressed luxury goods market by delivering forecast-beating fourth-quarter sales.Revenue rose across the boa

Stock prices in London and Frankfurt opened in the red on Friday, as investors prepare for eurozone economic data and digest another tariff plan from the US president.In London, NatWest faced some selling pressure despite better-than-expected results. Hermes boosted Paris, keeping the CAC 40 in the green.The FTSE 100 index fell 30.67 points, 0.4%, at 8,734.05. The FTSE 250 added just 2.35 points a

London stocks were mixed on Thursday, but European equities closed in the green on news of progress towards a possible peace deal in Ukraine.The FTSE 100 index closed down 42.72 points, 0.5%, at 8,764.72. The FTSE 250 ended up 35.64 points, 0.2%, at 20,916.14, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.19 of a point at 723.20.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 877.79, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.3% at 18

London's FTSE 100 traded lower around midday on Thursday, as poorly received earnings weighed, missing out on a Ukraine peace hope-led rally elsewhere in Europe.The FTSE 100 index traded down 58.01 points, 0.7%, at 8,749.43. The FTSE 250 was down 16.97 points, 0.1%, at 20,863.53, and the AIM All-Share fell 0.71 of a point, 0.1%, at 722.68.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.6% at 876.73, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0

London's FTSE 100 was lower early Thursday, hurt by the likes of BAT, Barclays, Unilever and oil majors, but European peers confidently moved higher on hopes of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.Barclays fell despite reporting improved earnings. Unilever announced listing plans for its ice cream unit, meanwhile.The FTSE 100 index traded down 45.80 points, 0.5%, at 8,761.64. The FTSE 250 was up 42.78 poi

London's FTSE 100 reached a record-high close at above 8,800 on Wednesday, despite a stronger-than-expected inflation report leaving the US market downcast.The FTSE 100 index closed up 30.05 points, 0.3%, at 8,807.44. It had earlier hit a new all-time high of 8,810.62.The FTSE 250 ended down 39.22 points, 0.2%, at 20,880.50, and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.15 points, 0.2%, at 723.39.The Cboe U

London's FTSE 100 was slightly higher on Wednesday afternoon, but trade lacked a spark as investors await a US inflation report and more words from Fed chief Jerome Powell.It was a similar story in Paris, but Frankfurt's blue-chip index hit another record high.The FTSE 100 index traded up 8.88 points, 0.1%, at 8,786.27. The FTSE 250 was 105.22 points higher, 0.5%, at 21,024.94, and the AIM All-Sha

Robust growth in 2024Strong demand for premium beers€1.5 billion buyback launchedInvestors re-acquired a taste for Heineken (HEIA:AMS) stock after the Dutch brewer delivered forecast-beating full-year earnings, hiked the dividend 7.5% to €1.86 and launched a two-year €1.5 billion buyback.There was also relief as the globe's second-biggest brewer guided for tasty operating profit gro

Shares in Facebook-owner rallied 18% since 16 JanuaryAnalysts see Meta as one of markets biggest AI beneficiariesZuckerberg talked up growth potential in recent Q4 earningsFacebook-parent Meta Platforms (META:NASDAQ) closed higher overnight for the 17th straight session on 11 February, a run dating back to 16 January that has netted the stock an 18% gain.Stock futures data suggest the run will con

Full-year profit forecast raisedEarnings to be higher than FY24Shares top FTSE 100 gainersHousebuilder Barratt Redrow (BTRW) pleased the market with its first-half trading update and its outlook for the full year, with profits seen 'towards the upper end of expectations'.The shares jumped as much as 41p or 9% to 478p taking them to the top of the FTSE 100 leader board. 'SOLID DEMAND'For the

London's blue chip index performed weaker than its peers in Paris and Frankfurt on Wednesday morning, while Asian stocks climbed after Japan asked the US for an exemption on tariffs on steel and aluminium.A bright light on the London market was Barratt Redrow. The housebuilder surged on lofty profit guidance.The FTSE 100 index traded up just 1.87 points at 8,779.26. The FTSE 250 was 82.05 points,

London stocks were mixed on Tuesday prior to the FTSE 100 closing near a record-high, after Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that the US central bank is in 'no hurry' to lower interest rates.The FTSE 100 index closed up 9.59 points, 0.1%, at 8,777.39. It had earlier hit a new all-time high of 8,789.58.The FTSE 250 ended down 66.56 points, 0.3%, at 20,919.72, and the AIM All-Share closed down jus

London's FTSE 100 barely budged heading Tuesday afternoon, as investors await words from central bankers on both sides of the Atlantic, and tariff concerns remain from and centre.The FTSE 100 index traded up just 3.22 points at 8,771.02. It traded as high as 8,789.58 shortly after the opening bell, its best ever level.The FTSE 250 was 36.88 points lower, 0.2%, at 20,949.40, and the AIM All-Share a

Member companies raised dividends every year for more than 25Erie Indemnity, Eversource Energy, FactSet Research addedIndex now 69 stocks strong with combined 2.39% income yieldThe S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, an index that follows companies with a history of raising their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years, has announced its annual rebalancing, adding three new names to its exclusive me

Wilkinson to step away from roleUnderlying business trading wellSecond 35p/share special dividendIt was a day of mixed emotions as homewares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) posted a positive first-half sales performance at the same time as revealing chief executive Nick Wilkinson was stepping down after seven years at the helm.The shares dropped as much as 34p or 3.5% to 937p before stabilising at 955p for

London's blue chip index edged to a new record high early Tuesday, despite tariff worries emanating from the US, as investors await speeches from Jerome Powell and Andrew Bailey.Also hitting another record high, gold spiked above $2,942 an ounce but returned some progress.BP barely moved after reporting weaker fourth-quarter results, as eyes turn to a strategy update later this month.The FTSE 100