Three recent interventions by the Trump administration are having a major impact on financial markets.First, plans for a cryptocurrency strategic reserve were announced, helping to light a fire under Bitcoin and other digital assets.Those gains were soon erased however when, against hopes of a last-minute reprieve, 25% tariffs were introduced on Canada and Mexico along with a 10% levy on Chinese g

European indexes sank on Tuesday as fears of a full-blown trade war grew after increased tariffs were imposed against Canada, Mexico and China by the US.The FTSE 100 index ended down 112.31 points, 1.3%, at 8,759.00. The FTSE 250 slumped 431.79 points, 2.1%, at 19,950.50, and the AIM All-Share fell 14.93 points, 2.1%, at 686.87.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.6% at 875.00, the Cboe UK 250 declined 2.

Stock prices in Europe were in the red at Tuesday midday, with airline stocks hit badly in particular, as European countries intend to boost their militaries amid a US freeze on aid for Ukraine.'Investors were desperately hoping that Trump would delay tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China at the eleventh hour, yet the US president has stuck to his guns and brought them into power,' commented AJ Bell

Positive clinical trial resultsUS regulator accepts review for new indicationsAsthma affects 26m people in USGSK (GSK) announced positive results from a late-stage clinical trial to test the effectiveness and safety of depemokimab, an antibody used for treating patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.Twice yearly administration of depemokimab showed clinically meaningful and statist

Intertek (ITRK) £52.30Market cap: £8.5 billionApparently, prior to its ultimately unconsummated tie-up talks with SGS (SGSN:SWX), France's Bureau Veritas'(BVI:EPA) first choice was to look at UK-listed peer Intertek (ITRK). In our view investors should take heed of this signal from an industry player and snap up shares in the FTSE 100 constituent.Like its Swiss and French counterparts, Intertek

London stocks closed in the green on Wednesday, boosted by gains in the banking sector, despite investors' disappointment as BP announced a reduced buyback programme.The FTSE 100 index closed up 62.79 points, 0.7%, at 8,731.46. The FTSE 250 ended up 147.62 points, 0.7%, at 20,595.90, while the AIM All-Share closed up 3.44 points, 0.5%, at 711.50.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.9% at 874.86, the Cboe UK

Stock prices in London opened mixed on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 up a notch despite Unilever shares falling as its Chief Executive Officer Hein Schumacher is set to leave the company.Separately, US President Donald Trump's claimed that tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian and Mexican imports are moving forward as planned, following last month's last-minute pause which ends next Tuesday.The announceme

AB Dynamics (ABDP:AIM)Price: £18.05Market Cap: £413 millionFor those unfamiliar with the story, AB Dynamics (ABDP:AIM) is a leading provider of development, test and verification solutions to the global automotive market. The business was founded in Bradford-on-Avon in 1982 by Tony Best, who remains the company's largest shareholder.The company's proprietary services help manufacturers develop v

If there were any doubts over gold's status as a safe haven they have been blasted away as the precious metal makes a push towards the $3,000 mark for the first time amid volatility elsewhere in the financial markets.Gold's status as a safe haven asset is based on its historic role as a store of value and the fact that, unlike currencies, its value cannot be manipulated through adjustments to inte

You often hear the word 'defensive' applied to certain stocks and sectors, but what does it mean and can buying 'defensive' stocks really help your performance as an investor?In a word, yes, because they dial down some of the risk which is inherent in markets because they tend not to be very volatile unlike most 'cyclical' or 'growth' stocks, but it's how you use them which matters.Defensive stock

Imagine going for a night out in a busy pub, and when the time comes to use the loo, you leave your phone and wallet on the table unguarded. You wouldn't. Yet your online data is, in theory, just as exposed.Don't panic, fortunately, most of your information is secured by the clever digital locks and latches of cybersecurity, be that your personal banking details, your Facebook identity, or your Am

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

European stocks traded higher on Monday, despite more US tariffs, while the FTSE 100 outperformed peers on a boost from BP.A report that an activist investor has picked up a stake in BP lifted the oil major. Gold hit a record high, boosting precious metal miners. News of another batch of US tariffs, this time in the aluminium and steel sectors, meant European stocks got off to a slow start to the

London's blue chip index closed in the green on Friday as Smiths Group unveiled 'strategic actions' to unlock shareholder value, including divestment and an increased buyback programme.The FTSE 100 index closed up 27.08 points, 0.3%, at 8,673.96. The FTSE 250 ended up 145.41 points, 0.7%, at 20,950.48, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.10 points at 718.13.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 869.89,

European stocks edged higher at Friday midday ahead of US inflation figures which are expected to show pricing pressures remained stable in December.The latest strength means London's FTSE 100 is on track to post a gain of around 6.2% for January, its biggest monthly gain since November 2022.Russ Mould at AJ Bell said: 'Investors will be relieved that the markets have successfully negotiated a wee

Blue chip stocks in Europe were largely higher, with Smiths Group the star performer in London, but looming tariff worries could unnerve equities.Convera analyst Boris Kovacevic said the 'tariff clock is ticking'.'The February 1st tariff deadline clouds the outlook. Investors are confused by the unclear tariff rollouts from the Trump administration. Recently, the White House confirmed a 25% levy o

Who had an open-source Chinese AI chatbot on their bingo card as something which could trip the markets up in 2025? Not me, I have to confess. We have a news special on the DeepSeek story and its implications from my colleague Martin Gamble, who won't mind me saying has seen a few market cycles in his time. Anyone invested in a global fund or tracker will likely to have some exposure to this story

Not living in 'the big smoke' has many benefits, but as a journalist it does mean missing out on lots of company meeting and presentations.Now and then, however, a locally-based firm will host an event, and so it was I found myself last Thursday morning heading to Midsomer Norton, just south of Bath on the A367, for the AGM and open day at SRT Marine Systems (SRT:AIM).As a shareholder, I was keen

European stocks were higher on Tuesday afternoon, with New York stocks set for a quieter start after a tumultuous Monday trade which saw tech stocks dive.The FTSE 100 index added 51.82 points, 0.6%, at 8,555.53. The FTSE 250 was up 190.59 points, 0.9%, at 20,560.09, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.37 points, 0.5%, at 714.76.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.6% higher at 857.38, the Cboe UK 250 rose 1.0% at 17,99