UK stocks opened higher on Tuesday as unemployment fell and investors continued to await interest-rate decisions due later in the week from a host of central banks. The UK jobless rate fell to 4.2%, down from 4.3% previously, with the claimant count falling by a better-than-expected 49,700.After falling back around 60 points on Monday, the FTSE 100 has recovered some of the lost ground in...

The UK's FTSE 100 fell on Tuesday, dragged down by heavyweight retail, insurance and energy stocks, although employment numbers highlighting a steady UK economic recovery helped limit losses.The UK blue-chip index was affected by worries over the economic slowdown of China, the world's growth engine, which continued to dog international stock markets on Tuesday.The FTSE 100 drifted 0.15% lower...

UK stocks ended Monday's session in the red as the reopening of shops and pubs across the UK failed to generate much of a market reaction.Caution prevailed as many investors decided to hold off on any big decisions as first quarter earnings season picks up pace in the US.'UK markets have remained pretty subdued as they seemed to have priced in today's lockdown easing exuberance,' explained...

UK stocks were ever slightly lower by lunchtime on Monday, even as local restaurants, bars and other non-essential businesses began to reopen, with sentiment uncertain amid global jitters over rising bond yields and lofty stock valuations.By lunchtime, London's blue chip benchmark index was off 22 points or 0.31%, at 6,894.2, with high street names weakening on reopening day as investors...

The FTSE 100 fell 0.69% to 6,868 in early trade on Monday despite optimism as non-essential retailers and pubs open their doors for the first time in months.Momentum in UK shares had been building ahead of today, with the index getting back to pre-pandemic levels last week. The midcap FTSE 250 index, which last week hit a record high, also fell this morning with a 0.46% drop to 22,148.Most...

The new venture capital trust (VCT) offer season is now in full swing where investors can apply for new shares and enjoy immediate tax benefits.Recent offers from Amati AIM VCT and Octopus AIM VCT have already closed, having hit their subscription target. Others are filling up quickly.Each year VCTs seem to attract money faster than the previous year, meaning interested investors need to act...

Forty two companies on the UK stock market have seen their share prices rise by at least 20% over the past week (to 15 September), principally as investors race to own shares issuing positive news, albeit some of the aforementioned stocks moved on no news at all.One of the biggest gains came from specialist car brake maker Surface Transforms (SCE:AIM), whose shares rocketed 98% to an intraday...

UK stocks closed slightly lower on Monday, despite positive Covid-19 vaccine news over the weekend from AstraZeneca (AZN) and Pfizer.At 16:30, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 0.1%, at 6,032.Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said on Sunday that the US company's Covid-19 vaccine could be distributed to Americans before the end of the year.AstraZeneca, meanwhile, announced it had resumed...

UK stocks drifted lower during the morning session on Monday, despite positive Covid-19 vaccine news over the weekend from AstraZeneca (AZN) and Pfizer.At midday the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 0.21%, at 6,027.Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said on Sunday that the US company's Covid-19 vaccine could be distributed to Americans before the end of the year.Meanwhile AstraZeneca...

UK stocks traded lower midway through the session on Monday, with oil companies weighing, as mounting Covid-19 cases stoked fears of a short-lived recovery in the global economy.At 11.35, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 41.66 points, or 0.66%, at 6,248.64.LARGE AND MID CAP RISERS AND FALLERSBP (BP.) dropped 1.6% to 302.45p and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) 1.3% to £12.24 amid a fall in crude...

Shares in specialist brake-maker Surface Transforms (SCE:AIM) jumped 21.5% to 19.75p after it won a contract from Swedish supercar builder Koenigsegg.The deal makes the firm the sole supplier of carbon ceramic brakes for the newly launched Gemera 'mega-GT' for five years to 2027 and is worth £5m.The Gemera is Koenigsegg's first four-seater car, but as with the rest of the firm's range power...

The FTSE 100 index was down 0.6% at 6,444 points early on Monday, pulled lower by its largest constituent AstraZeneca (AZN) whose shares lost 2.4% t0 £82.30, and a report by finance industry body TheCityUK which warned that the surge in corporate debt was unsustainable.AstraZeneca shares fell after press reports over the weekend that it had approached US pharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences...

The FTSE 100 nudges ahead 6.82 points at 6,909.68, despite being held back by several stocks going ex-dividend. Yesterday's gains on the index in response to a potential Italian bank bail-out plan were followed by a strong showing in the US and Asia overnight.Troubled sports retailer Sports Direct (SPD) falls 8.5% to 288.3p on a 25% fall in first half pre-tax profit to £140m, largely as a...

Further weakness in the pound fails to dampen UK domestic stocks with the FTSE 250 index holding ground at 18,005. The FTSE 100 also treads water, nudging ahead a mere three points to 7,048.William Hill (WMH) is considering an all-share merger with Canadian gambling group Amaya, best known for its Full Tilt and Pokerstars websites. William Hill has been struggling on the digital side while...