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

Markets in Europe shook off nerves on Monday, following Joe Biden leaving the US presidential race.The FTSE 100 index was up 62.43 points, or 0.8%, at 8,218.22. The FTSE 250 was up 108.13 points, or 0.5%, at 21,175.81, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.93 of a point, or 0.1%, at 785.06.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.0% at 820.39, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.8% at 18,494.63, but the Cboe Small Companies was do

Alphabet and Tesla to kick-start 'Magnificent Seven' reportsBull market 'broadening not rotating' say analystsInvestors spooked recently by semiconductor restriction commentsUS quarterly earnings will hit top gear this week and investors should be watching closely. Will big tech corporate results put a stopper in the recent stock price declines that have cooled this year's US markets rally?The S&P

The FTSE 100 started the week on the front foot, seemingly unfazed by President Joe Biden's decision to bow out of the re-election race, although the travel sector stalled after a Ryanair warning.The FTSE 100 index traded up 30.98 points, or 0.4%, at 8,186.70. The FTSE 250 was up 55.40 points, 0.3%, at 21,123.08, while the AIM All-Share was up just 0.29 of a point at 784.42.The Cboe UK 100 was up

Stock prices in London were lower at midday Friday, as investors grappled with a large IT outage on a global scale that affected a plethora of businesses and trade.Companies around the world reported technical issues, with planes grounded, trains disrupted, and television and radio broadcasters taken offline, while Microsoft Corp said it was taking mitigating actions after service issues.As AJ Bel

Gloomy start to summer spendingJune volumes worse than fearedPoor showing from weather-sensitive categoriesRetail sales fell in June as colder-than-average weather conditions and election uncertainty dampened consumer spending, with sales across department stores and clothing categories faring especially poorly.Last month's disappointing sales decline came despite hopes of a boost from above-infla

The FTSE 100 was in the green on Friday morning, while other stocks were mostly downbeat amid gloomy UK retail sales data and a global IT outage.Companies around the world reported technical issues, with planes grounded, trains disrupted, and television and radio broadcasters taken offline. According to Sky News, Berlin Airport has halted all flights until 0900 BST, while Microsoft Corp said it wa

Stocks in London ended higher on Thursday, with promising updates sending retailers Frasers and Dunelm higher, while in mainland Europe, the European Central Bank took centre-stage as it opted to leave rates unmoved.The conviction remains that the ECB will cut at its September meeting, however. In the UK, signs of a softer labour market aided Bank of England rate cut expectations.The FTSE 100 inde

Stock prices in London were in the green at midday, as investors awaited the next interest rate call from the European Central Bank, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted leaders from across Europe at a summit.The FTSE 100 index was up 59.33 points, or 0.7%, at 8,246.78. The FTSE 250 was up 151.37 points, or 0.7%, at 21,244.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.77 points, or 0.4%, at 789.57.The

London stocks outperformed its European peers on Thursday morning, as investors await a key interest rate decision by the European Central Bank.The FTSE 100 index opened 78.02, or 1.0%, at 8,266.64. The FTSE 250 was up 54.31 points, or 0.3%, at 21,147.65, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.63 points, or 0.2%, at 788.43.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at 824.37, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 18,435.38, an

The starting gun has sounded for the second-quarter US earnings season but expect the excitement level to climb next week when big tech firms start reporting, with Microsoft (MSFT:NASDAQ) among the first out of the gate on 23 July.These results will be crucial as there's a great deal riding on whether the AI (artificial intelligence) runners, which have driven most of the gains for US markets this

In an effort to encourage more companies to float on the London Stock Exchange, and presumably encourage more people to invest in them, the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) has unveiled a new listing regime which comes into force at the end of July.The rules ? described by the FCA as 'Big Bang 2.0' in a nod to the reforms of the mid-1980s ? are weighty, running to nearly 200 pages, and we at Shar

They say a week is a long time in politics, but even a day can be a long time in the markets as we found out on Tuesday.After last week's lower-than-expected June US inflation print, traders loaded up on bets the Federal Reserve would start lowing interest rates to the point where a 25 basis point or 0.25% cut in September was fully priced-in by Friday's close.When, on Monday, Fed chair Jerome Pow

GYM Group (GYM) 137.8pMarket Cap: £219.8 millionShares in low-cost, no-contract gym operator The Gym Group (GYM) are languishing 55% below pre-pandemic levels despite the firm seeing a recovery in site profitability and growing its estate by 40% since 2019.In recent months the business has got itself back in shape and appears to be building strong growth momentum with like-for-like sales up 9%

I am 72 and retired. I am aware that if I die after my 75th birthday my Pension Pot would be taxed as income by my beneficiaries (wife and children).As this would no doubt incur some 40% liability, would it make sense to draw from the SIPP up to my 20% income tax limit in the next 3 years rather than use other savings such as ISA's to live off?I have every intention of spending enough not to fall

Shares in luxury goods group Burberry (BRBY) slumped more than 15% to 747p, their lowest level in more than a decade, after the firm warned it could make a first-half operating loss if weakness in its core markets persisted.In its first-quarter trading update covering the three months to the end of June, the company said its performance had been disappointing due to a luxury market which is provin

Big US banks kicked-off the second-quarter earnings season on Friday (12 July) and despite earnings largely coming in ahead of Wall Street expectations, the share prices of JPMorgan Chase, (JPM:NYSE), Citigroup (C:NYSE) and Wells Fargo (WFC) all ended the day lower.The results showed a widening divide between the rude health of Wall Street and a struggling Main Street with the former boosting inve

London's FTSE 100 shook off a stronger pound and a robust UK services inflation reading to register its first rise of the week on Wednesday, as investors also digested the latest King's speech, with new Prime Minister Keir Starmer getting his feet firmly under the table at Number 10.A stronger pound is usually a headwind for the international earner-heavy blue-chip index, though some share price r

Goldman Sachs makes stock buyback predictionMagnificent Seven spent $208 billion on buybacks in year to JuneApple stock jumped 8% after unveiling record $110 billion programmeA bit controversial, but share buybacks are one of the easiest ways for a company to return value to shareholders without the tax complications that dividends might entail. By buying back stock, earnings are spread over a sma

UK government customer pays £21.4 millionRecord revenue of £202.5 million up 11%Cohort shares are up 54% year-to-dateShares in Cohort (CHRT:AIM) were up 4% to 859p in morning trading as the defence specialist said its subsidiary MCL (Marlborough Communications) has been awarded two orders with a total value of £21.4 million by a government customer.In addition, last month the firm's EID subsidi