Travel and cruise booking aheadInsurance improving despite tough marketOn track to meet full year targetsOver 50s travel and insurance specialist Saga (SAGA) had a bounce in its step on Tuesday after revealing a good start to its new financial year, putting the business on track to meet full-year expectations.Investors welcomed the trading update for the four months to 24 June ahead of the firm's

London?s FTSE 100 ended lower in quiet trade on Monday, with the latest development in the Anglo American-BHP saga providing some excitement, as investors look to Wednesday?s US inflation data for fresh impetus.The FTSE 100 index ended down 18.77 points, 0.2%, at 8,414.99. It ends a six-day win streak for the large-cap index.The FTSE 250 closed down 85.04 points, 0.3%, at 20,560.34, and the AIM Al

Annual underlying revenue up 13% to £732.7 millionRiver Cruise and Travel returns to profitStrong customer base of 9.6 millionShares in Saga (SAGA) were marginally higher this morning as the over 50s travel and insurance company reported a 146% rise in underlying pre-tax profit to £38.2 million for the year ending 31 January 2024 lifted by forward bookings from their cruise and travel businesses

London?s FTSE 100 opened sharply lower on Tuesday, as US interest rate worries and geopolitical tensions continued to cast a dark cloud over equity markets.Only Mondi traded higher, with even packaging peer DS Smith falling despite agreeing to a takeover from International Paper, the latest twist in a takeover saga that also involved Mondi. Mondi is yet to respond to the development.The FTSE 100 i

The cruise industry is enjoying an unprecedented boom with around 35.7 million passengers expected to book a trip this year, up from 31.5 million in 2023 and 6% more than the number of passengers who set sail in 2019 according to the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association).Going on a cruise holiday is slowly become a more popular alternative then jumping on a plane or a high-speed train to E

Investor sentiment improved in London on Thursday afternoon, following words from the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell which helped soothe market concern over the US interest rate trajectory.While Powell?s remarked did not make the timing of interest rate cuts any clearer, he did affirm they will happen if the US economy continues to move as expected.The FTSE 100 index added 32.56 points, 0.4%,

AG Barr (BAG) 550pGain to date: 13.5%We flagged Scottish soft drinks maker AG Barr (BAG) in August 2023 arguing the company was not being given sufficient credit by the market for its sales momentum. We highlighted the strength of its portfolio of brands including Irn-Bru and Rubicon.WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SINCE WE SAID TO BUY?We were on the money when we flagged ?the scope for further upgrades? as

Stocks in London fell after the Bank of England left interest rates unchanged but played down hopes of a cut in the near-term.The FTSE 100 index closed down 8.41 points, 0.1%, at 7,622.16. The FTSE 250 ended down 226.79 points, 1.2%, at 19,131.16, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.05 points, 0.3%, at 752.70.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 761.66, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1.4% at 16,594.23,

Profit guidance upgraded againBrands have positive momentumEuan Sutherland to succeed Roger WhiteOne of Shares running Great Ideas selections, Irn-Bru-to-Rubicon drinks maker AG Barr (BAG) served up another full-year profit upgrade which sent the shares up 1.5% to a 52-week high of 576p.The beverages business behind iconic Scottish tipple Irn-Bru as well as take home cocktail offering FUNKIN and c

The FTSE 100 was up at the open on Friday, beating other indices in early morning trade thanks to a boost from oil majors and positive data from the US.The FTSE 100 index opened up 59.70, up 0.8%, at 7,589.43. The FTSE 250 was down 15.69 points, 0.1%, at 19,207.41, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.52 of a point, 0.1%, at 747.58.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at 758.53, the Cboe UK 250 was slightly lo

Stock prices in London closed lower on Thursday after European Central Bank president, Christine Lagarde, said discussions about interest rate cuts would be 'totally premature'.The FTSE 100 index closed down 59.77 points, 0.8%, at 7,354.57. The FTSE 250 ended down 87.62 points, 0.5%, at 16,783.09, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.98 points, 0.6%, at 669.84.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.9% at 733

European equities were on the decline on Thursday afternoon, with equities unnerved by events in the Middle East, as well as some caution ahead of key US data and a eurozone interest rate decision.The European Central Bank announces an interest rate decision in just under an hour at 1315 BST. It is expected to enact its first pause in over a year, halting a steep hiking cycle.Among individual shar

Competition watchdog says revised deal addresses concernsDecision expected before deadline on 18 October 2023If approved the transaction would be the biggest in the gaming industryThe long running saga of Microsoft's (MSFT:NASDAQ) $68.7 billion takeover of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI:NYSE) looks set to go through after the UK's competition watchdog said revised terms addressed its

$9 billion profit misses expectations by 15%Share buybacks this year also light of projectionsCoal questions remain with little news on Teck Resources agreementTight markets for raw materials after Russia's Ukraine invasion that handed mining firms bumper profits appear to be well and truly over - one look at Glencore's (GLEN) half-year report tells us that.The diversified mining and commodity tra

Revenue rises by 13% to £11 billionEBIT guidance raised by 200 bps to 6% to 8%New £1.5 billion share buyback programmeShares in BAE Systems (BA.), one of the world's leading defence firms, gained over 5% to 985p in early morning trading as the company reported a positive set of first half results lifted by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and a 'strong order intake.'Underlying earnings before inter

While motorists have benefitted from falling petrol and diesel prices this year - helping to offset some of the increased cost of the weekly shop - many are finding their motor insurance quotes have gone through the roof, typically with no explanation.According to the ONS (Office for National Statistics), car insurance prices have jumped more than 40% in the last 12 months, while the ABI (Associat

Stocks in London closed in the red on Friday as fears of a recession in the UK mounted with weak economic data and the prospect of global interests staying higher for longer.'The words from the chairman of the [US Federal Reserve], alongside the [Bank of England]'s assertiveness, show that central banks aren't yet done with monetary tightening, in a dynamic that highlights the risks of an economic

Global equity markets struggled on Friday, typifying what has been a tricky week for investors to navigate, as interest rate worries continue to keep a lid on sentiment.Among London listings, those with an exposure to the wild UK mortgage market were among the bigger fallers. GSK, on the other hand, rose on a well-received update on Zantac litigation.Purchasing managers' index data from the UK fla

GSK settles Californian Zantac legal case for undisclosed sumAvoids distraction related to protracted litigationDepressed share price reflects worst case scenario says analystShares in GSK (GSK) gained over 5% to £14.31 on Friday, topping the FTSE 100 leaderboard after the pharmaceutical company settled a Zantac case before it was due to start on 24 July.The shares remain around 20% below the £1

Glencore makes bid for Teck's steelmaking coal assetsPlan to merge with its own coal assets and spin-off within two yearsGlencore has made several approaches to Teck already in 2023A long-running bid battle involving Canada's Teck Resources (TECK:NYSE) and diversified commodities play Glencore (GLEN) took its latest turn with news the latter is offering to buy the former's steelmaking coal operati