Blue chip stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the green at Wednesday midday, while British pub operator JD Wetherspoon was down a notch as it warned on higher costs amid an incoming increase in national insurance contributions for UK employers.The UK Chancellor is unlikely to be celebrating after public sector net borrowing rose to £17.81 billion in December, far outpacing FXStree

First of seven vital votes on Saba proposalsRetail investor engagement key to outcomeInvestors should 'use votes wisely' says analystThis is potentially a historic day (22 January) for the UK investment trust sector, with Herald Investment Trust's (HRI) shareholders about to kick-start a string of crucial votes to either approve or reject a radical agenda pursued by US raider Saba Capital Manageme

Key UK indices closed in the green on Tuesday as Trump's stance on tariffs appeared to shift to a more moderate position and UK unemployment rose above expectations.The FTSE 100 index rose 27.75 points, 0.3%, at 8,548.29, just shy of a new intra-day high of 8,550.41.The FTSE 250 ended 108.99 points higher, 0.5%, at 20,595.73, and the AIM All-Share rose 0.82 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.11.The Cboe UK

Stock prices in Europe lacked direction at Tuesday midday, while analysts still believe the Monetary Policy Committee in the UK will opt for an interest rate cut next month, despite solid wage growth.'The FTSE 100 was subject to choppy trading following [US President] Trump's inauguration,' AJ Bell's Russ Mould said. 'Having jumped at the market open, the UK index quickly pulled back as investors

Like-for-like festive sales up 11%Full-year profit reiteratedMedium-term targets reaffirmedPubs group Marston's (MARS) reported exceptionally strong festive trading with like-for-like sales growth of 11.1% between 22 December and 4 January and said it is well positioned to deliver full-year pre-tax profit in line with consensus analyst expectations.The shares dropped 1.4p or 3.3% to 40.9p, reflect

Both sterling and London's blue chip index were up at Monday's close amid reports indicating a potential delay in Donald Trump's tariff policy.The FTSE 100 index rose 15.32 points, 0.2%, at 8,520.54. It had earlier reached a new intra-day high of 8,548.59.The FTSE 250 ended 110.68 points lower, 0.5%, at 20,486.74, and the AIM All-Share shed 0.78 of a point, 0.1%, at 718.29.The Cboe UK 100 ended up

Digital business set to outperform says Panmure LiberumDue to report full year results on 4 MarchYear-to-date shares up 7%Shares in Reach (RCH) soared 25% to 90p in early morning trading as the newspaper publisher said it expects to deliver results ahead of current market expectations for the full year.Back in October 2024 the publisher said it was confident in delivering full-year guidance due to

Stock prices in London were mostly in the red at midday on Monday, as Pod Point shares dived as it lamented an ongoing weakness in the private new car segment of the electric vehicle market.'Markets are beating to the drum of Donald Trump on the day of his return to the White House,' commented AJ Bell's Russ Mould. 'Markets are eagerly awaiting Trump's first batch of executive orders as this will

The FTSE 100 reached a new all-time high on Friday, with stocks comfortably in the green at midday, after sound fourth quarter growth data from China, which beat the consensus.The FTSE 100 index was up 99.25 points, 1.2%, at 8,491.24. It had earlier reached a new intra-day high of 8,496.42.The FTSE 250 was 36.40 points higher, 0.2%, at 20,564.10, and the AIM All-Share advanced 1.87 points, 0.3%, a

Double-digit Q4 revenue growthFull year profit to be top end of rangeEarnings upgrades expectedGambling firm Evoke (EVOK), formerly known as 888 Holdings, reported double-digit fourth-quarter revenue growth and raised its full-year profit guidance to the top end of consensus forecasts.Investors responded positively, sending shares in the William Hill and Mr. Green owner up by a tenth to 75.5p. The

Order intake up 10.1%Profits to be first-half weightedManagement cautious on strength of consumerSofa seller DFS Furniture (DFS) enjoyed better-than-forecast orders in the half to 29 December 2024 that included the Christmas run-in.As a result, DFS expects to deliver first-half pre-tax profits in the £16 million to £17 million range, nearly double the £9 million delivered last year.Yet despite

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher on Friday morning despite underperforming UK retail sales, with miners boosting the FTSE 100 on the back of economic growth data from China.UK retail sales volumes decreased 0.3% month-on-month in December, worsening from 0.1% growth in November and falling far short of the FXStreet-cited market consensus of 0.4% growth.On an annual basis, re

European equities ended higher on Thursday, supported by strong corporate updates, while the pound struggled on soft UK economic data.US interest rate optimism continued to lift the mood after Wednesday's inflation reading, and one Federal Reserve official said rate cuts can come if the data continues to play ball.The FTSE 100 index shot up 90.77 points, 1.1%, at 8,391.90. The large-cap benchmark

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were higher at midday Thursday, as investors await US weekly jobless claims data.UK gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in November, underperforming against the FXStreet-cited market consensus of 0.2% growth.Prime Minister Keir Starmer told broadcasters during a visit to Ukraine that the government would be 'unrelenting' in its pursuit of economic growt

Expects full year 2024 revenue growth of 18%Shares up 101% over the past yearNorth America bookings up 26%Shares in Trustpilot (TRST) were up more than 16% to 320p in morning trading as the online reviews and analytics platform said it is expecting to report revenue of $211 million for full year 2024, a rise of 18% compared to $176 million last year.Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxat

Strong festive tradingLike-for-like sales up 11.6%Confident outlook statementPremium pubs and rooms operator Young & Co (YNGA:AIM) said it traded 'exceptionally well' over the Christmas and New Year period with like-for-like sales for the five weeks to 13 January up 11.6%.Total managed sales ticked up 30.4% reflecting a contribution from City Pubs, which was acquired in March 2024.Investors were s

Growth slows in Q2Profits seen 'within the range' of expectationsDigital growing as share of salesHomewares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) said it delivered 'solid' sales growth in the first half to 28 December 2024, with sofas, dining chairs and coffee tables selling particularly well and digital sales penetration buoyed by strong Click and Collect sales.However, shares in the cushions-to-curtains seller

Stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were up on Thursday morning, with the FTSE 100 up comfortably despite UK economic growth undershooting expectations.Gross domestic product edged up 0.1% in November, driven by growth in services, after a fall of 0.1% in October. This undershot the FXStreet-cited market consensus of 0.2% growth.Separately, the Office for National Statistics said the UK tr

Interest rates are back in focus. The UK is seeing its borrowing costs surge, as Martin Gamble explains in this week's news section, and this has its own domestic causes, even if it also reflects similar moves in other sovereign debt.The latest US jobs figures strongly hint that the Federal Reserve may hit pause on rate cuts for the time being.The influential non-farm payrolls reading was notably

Oil prices have hit a six-month high amid cold weather and new US sanctions on Russian sales of crude.This is not entirely bad news for the FTSE 100 given the heavy weighting of oil giants BP (BP.) and Shell (SHEL) in the index, but not for nothing is oil known as a tax on economic growth.Higher prices are likely to feed into higher inflation, which will only reinforce assumptions about interest r