Stocks in London ended the week higher on Friday, while unambiguously dovish remarks from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell propelled the pound to a 29-month high against the dollar.'The time has come for policy to adjust. The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks,' Powell said in a speec

It was a week of ups and downs for the US market as investors awaited Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's address to the Jackson Hole Symposium on 23 August.<img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O7wOm/full.png" alt="" data-mce-fragment="1" data-mce-src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O7wOm/full.png"><span id="mce_marker" data-mce-type="bookmark" data

Gold prices remain within touching distance of the all-time highs of $2,510 set recently amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.The precious metal is up around 20% year-to-date outperforming most other asset classes. WHY HAS GOLD HIT NEW HIGHS It is not hard to see why investors have flocked to gold due to the crises in the Middle East, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, worries about expected interest

Stocks in London retreated on Friday, though ended the week as a whole higher, while gold notched a new record and sterling gained strength.The FTSE 100 index closed down 35.94 points, 0.4%, at 8,311.41. The FTSE 250 ended down 45.25 points, 0.2%, at 21,048.91, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.52 of a point, 0.1%, at 774.27.For the week, the FTSE 100 ended 1.8% higher, the FTSE 250 gained 2.1%

Stock prices were lower at midday Thursday in Europe, ahead of New York Stocks which are called to open mixed as markets remained cautious.The FTSE 100 index was down 80.43 points, 1.0%, at 8,086.45. The FTSE 250 was down 257.43 points, 1.3%, at 20,318.60, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.58 points, 0.7%, at 761.74.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.9% at 807.71, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.3% at 17,811.02

Premium bonds are the most popular product from NS&I (National Savings & Investments) with around 22.5 million people holding the accounts, but new figures show most of these holders have never won a single prize. A Freedom of Information request* obtained by AJ Bell reveals two-thirds of Premium Bond holders, equivalent to just under 14.4 million people, have never won anything.It paints a disapp

Aviva (AV.) 464pMarket cap: £12.9 billionThere's a gambit insurance salespeople use which goes something like: if you had a machine in the shed which printed £70,000 a year of genuine £20 notes, how much would you insure it for? The customer usually gives a high figure, say in the region of £500,000.The salesperson then counters, so shouldn't you insure your homes' chief breadwinner for the sa

Once again, we find ourselves riffing on the Dinah Washington jazz classic, 'What a difference a day makes'. Barely 24 hours earlier US markets were all sporting weekly gains, but another bad session for 'Big Tech' stocks pushed the Dow and the Nasdaq into negative territory and sent the Russell small-cap index sharply lower.Investors had hoped that latest earnings from Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ) and Ama

European stocks were in the red on Friday morning as investors eagerly await non-farm payrolls from the US, after tech earnings and economic data disappointed on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index slipped 27.81 points, or 0.3%, to 8,255.55 on Friday morning. The FTSE 250 fell 257.34 points, 1.2%, at 21,201.89, while the AIM All-Share traded down 3.42 points, 0.4%, at 779.66.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2%

This feature was prompted by a reader question on why 'bond proxies' such as insurers Phoenix Group (PHNX) and Aviva (AV.) do not attract more investor attention.A bond proxy typically refers to a company which has a steadier-than-average income stream and offers a higher-than-average level of income.Long-term savings and insurance group Phoenix sits on a dividend yield of 10.4% based on an expect

On 17 July, Sir Keir Starmer's new Labour government announced its plans for the first year of the new parliament, with growth and wealth creation the priority.King Charles' speech at the State Opening of Parliament included a total of 39 bills under a new legislative agenda which includes speeding up the delivery of 'high-quality infrastructure and housing' and nationalising railway operators.Sta

So far 2024 has been a decent year for investors ? most major global indices are in positive territory as inflationary pressures have eased and some central banks have pulled the trigger on rate cuts.KEY DATES FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2024Bank of England meetings: 1 August, 19 September, 7 November, 19 DecemberFederal Reserve meetings: 31 July, 18 September, 7 November, 18 DecemberUK Budget: September

Business simplification plan unveiledHome care and nutrition brands up for saleFull year sales guidance cutShares in Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) rallied 4% to £45.86 after the consumer goods powerhouse unveiled plans to sell a raft of non-core homecare brands and said it was reviewing options for its troubled infant formula business.In a similar strategy to many of its rivals including Unilever (ULVR

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America[1]. It comprises 60% of the MSCI Latin America index,[2] and has four of the region's five largest companies. It is the highest weighting in the Bl

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Marketing material.A lot has been said about the concentration in the US markets, but investors in European markets have also been focused on a handful of companies. These 'Granolas' may be more diversified than the technology-focused Magnificent Seven ? and not as expensive ? but the focus on them suggests investors remain nervous about branching out. However, there

A new market is opening up for retail investors, and it may be coming to a broker near you soon. Traditionally the preserve of institutional investors, T-bills offer investors a secure way of storing money in the short term while getting a return in line with current interest rates. So what are T-bills exactly and how do they work?WHAT ARE T-BILLS?T-bills are basically short-dated government bonds

Stock prices in London were mostly lower at midday Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 mildly in the green as annual consumer price inflation remained flat in June, while services inflation was viewed as too high for comfort.Meanwhile, in political news, Labour presented a 'packed' legislative agenda in the annual King's Speech, focused on improving living standards by driving economic growth, the first

Equities in Europe rose on Friday, with the growing conviction that the Federal Reserve will cut rates soon lifting the mood, and not even hotter US data and some mixed bank earnings denting enthusiasm.The FTSE 100 index rose 29.57 points, 0.4%, at 8,252.91. The FTSE 250 added 13.98 points, 0.1%, at 21,202.89, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.64 points, 0.6%, at 786.17.The FTSE 100 made a weekly

Stocks in Europe failed to hold early gains on Monday, closing lower, as investors assessed the implications of an expected political gridlock in France.The FTSE 100 index ended down 10.44 points, 0.1%, at 8,193.49. The FTSE 250 rose 11.67 points, 0.1%, at 20,798.32, and the AIM All-Share edged up 0.77 of a point, 0.1%, to 775.16.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 816.60, the Cboe UK 250 closed down

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Charles Luke, Investment Manager, Murray Income Trust PLCRetirement is getting longer, and retirees have more ambitions for their later yearsA longer retirement means greater risks from inflationA well-constructed stock market portfolio can be the key ingredient to preserve wealthMany people in their sixties today can expect to enjoy 20 years or more in retirement.