Blue chips were in demand at midday on Friday, ahead of a US inflation print later in the session, which is expected to show a softening of the core personal consumption expenditures inflation gauge.The FTSE 100 index traded 46.01 points higher, 0.6%, at 8,225.69. The FTSE 250 rose 50.55 points, 0.3%, at 20,382.352, while the AIM All-Share climbed 1.52 points, 0.2%, at 765.99.The Cboe UK 100 rose

Ultimate Products (ULTP) 131.5pLoss to date: 15.7%We flagged Ultimate Products (ULTP) on 18 April 2024 as a compelling way to play the UK consumer recovery on the basis the market was undervaluing the group's brand strength, resilient business model and multiple growth opportunities.Our bull case for the homeware products brand manager behind the likes of Salter and Beldray also hinged on hopes of

Companies tend to list on the stock market when conditions look ripe for a healthy reception from investors so as to get a deal away at the best price.After a fallow period for IPOs (initial public offerings) in 2022/23, activity appears to be gathering pace buoyed by the FTSE 100 and FTSE All-Share notching up new all-time highs in recent weeks.In an unusual turn of events, London could benefit f

Stocks in London started strong on Friday following the Bank of England?s dovish hold on interest rates on Thursday, as new data showed UK gross domestic product reached a stronger-than-expected level in March.The FTSE 100 index opened up 43.05 points, 0.5%, at 8,424.40. The FTSE 250 was up 68.41 points, 0.3%, at 20,599.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.06 points, 0.3%, at 785.76.The Cboe UK 100

The last couple of years have seen outsized returns for stocks, especially those in the US, but that doesn?t mean now is a bad time to invest. The truth is there is never a bad time to invest as long as you are looking to stay invested for the long term.From its inception in 1984 to 2022, the FTSE 100 index has gained around 5.5% per year in price terms and 7.5% per year in terms of total return,

Ultimate Products (ULTP) 156pMarket cap: £142.9 millionStrong brands, a resilient business model and multiple growth opportunities ahead are among the investment attractions the market is missing at Ultimate Products (ULTP). This company is the owner of homeware brands including Salter and Beldray. The Oldham-headquartered firm is well placed to profit with UK and international retailers starting

We begin this article with the cautionary tale of former high-flying cloud telephony and conferencing firm LoopUp (LOOP:AIM).At the beginning of March, the firm dropped a bombshell on investors by announcing the board had unanimously decided that canceling its listing on AIM and raising money from a handful of private backers was ?in the best interests of the group and our shareholders?.The stock

The Japanese benchmark index breached its 1989 all-time high of 38,915.87 on 22 February 2024.So, what is fueling Japan?s Nikkei 225 which rallied 28% last year and is this rally a sign for investors to ?pile in? or maintain a ?safe distance??A combination of factors has driven the surge in Japanese equities and the benchmark, including reforms by former prime minister Shinzo Abe during his second

Highest-ever first-quarter revenueShares gain 8% at the openPossible de-listing from LondonShares in TUI (TUI) were up over 8% to 627p as the market opened after the travel operator delivered its best-ever first-quarter revenue of ?4.3 billion and ?6 million of underlying EBIT (earnings before interest taxation).The travel operator said the reason for the record performance was ?higher demand at i

European equities ended lower on Friday, though the pound and euro climbed, as Federal Reserve interest rate expectations swung to-and-fro after contrasting US data in the afternoon.A stronger employment report meant some rethought their rate cut expectations for March. Interest rate nerves were soothed later, however, after an underwhelming reading of the US service economy.Among individual share

Stocks in London soared on Wednesday, outperforming European peers, after a sharp drop in the annual rate of UK inflation fuelled hopes for interest rate cuts next year.The FTSE 100 index closed up 77.65 points, 1.0%, at 7,715.68. The FTSE 250 ended up 313.11 points, 1.6%, at 19,629,09, and the AIM All-Share closed up 6.05 points, or 0.8%, at 751.44.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 1.1% at 771.19, the Cbo

The FTSE 100 in London was lower at midday Friday, after buoyed mood from hopes of interest rate cuts in the US ended ahead of flash US purchasing managers? index data.The FTSE 100 index was down 38.18 points, 0.5%, at 7,610.80. The FTSE 250 was up 55.28 points, 0.3%, at 19,312.24, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.68 points, 0.2%, at 739.52.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 759.66. Meanwhile, the Cbo

When music streaming platform Spotify's (SPOT:NYSE) announcement of a return to profitability was immediately followed by plans for further job cuts - its share price jumped more than 7%.There's nothing investors like more than hearing an executive team has their fingers wrapped tightly around a company's' purse strings.Costs have become a major issue over the past year and even as inflation cools

UK inflation fell to an 18-month low driving London's stocks higher on Wednesday, with top housebuilders doing particularly well, as nerves calmed ahead of this week's upcoming rate announcements.The FTSE 100 index opened up 44.27 points, 0.6%, at 7,704.47. The FTSE 250 was up 240.40 points, 1.3%, at 18,667.10, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.26 points, 0.3%, at 744.67.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% a

Stock prices in London were a mixed bag on Thursday at midday, with the FTSE 100 edging lower, as jitters were evident before the US Federal Reserve's latest print of its preferred inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures index.'The markets are so data driven right now, aping the stance adopted by central bankers, and it feels like a worse than expected reading could extinguish the

One of Shares 2023 Tips of The Year, Mr. Kipling, Bisto, Sharwood's and Ambrosia brands owner Premier Foods' (PFD) stock is up 11.5% year-to-date, extending five-year gains to nigh-on 190%.Ravenous investor appetite for the shares in recent years reflects the considerable progress made in reducing debt and resolving its pension issues, as well as the consistent growth from its brands and cycle of

The shift from petrol-powered engines to electric vehicles (EVs) is one of the biggest changes any of us are likely to see in our lifetimes. We all know that EVs are the future of day-to-day transportation. They are simpler to manufacture than their internal combustion engine predecessors, allow for the easy integration of driver assistance and other new technologies, and can be refuelled simply a

It feels as though we are at a pivotal point for stock markets as we head into the second quarter, with investors willing the indices on in the belief the interest rate cycle is nearing its end at the same time as fears of recession seem to be growing.Technology stocks have been strong with the Nasdaq 100 index up as much as 20% since the start of January, making it the best-performing index in th

For years, Cadbury's has tempted chocolate fans with its Creme Egg adverts asking, 'how do you eat yours?'. While Shares readers may have enjoyed their fill of the gooey stuff at Easter, Cadbury's marketing technique has led me to think about how investors find stocks for their portfolio.'How do you pick yours?' is an interesting question for investors and one that can probably be put into six buc

In 2022 there was a 'white gold' rush as lithium prices soared thanks to huge Chinese demand. The chemical element is a key component in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles and the storage of energy generated by renewable sources. China is at the forefront of battery production.Many analysts are forecasting a decline in lithium prices, but several executives have told Shares they ar