London's FTSE 100 opened in the red on Wednesday as investors assessed UK inflation data and looked ahead to a finely-balanced US interest rate call.According to CME FedWatch, there is a 63% chance the US central bank cuts by 50 basis points. There is a 37% likelihood it reduces the federal funds rate by 37%.However, sell-side consensus is backing a 25bp cut.'Speculation about a more aggressive cu

Investor excitement surrounding weight-loss drugs has arguably been as great if not greater than that seen for everything AI (artificial intelligence) in the last two years.Market leaders Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B:CPH) and Eli Lilly (LLY:NYSE), makers of Wegovy and Zepbound respectively, have seen their share prices soar as investors seemingly extrapolate their initial success years into the future.Ben

Stocks in London fell back on Wednesday, despite a jump in flagship retailer Marks & Spencer, as hot inflation figures dealt a blow to hopes for a June interest rate cut.Over in the US, focus will be on the latest batch of Federal Reserve meeting minutes, as well as earnings from chipmaker Nvidia.The FTSE 100 index traded down 28.02 points, 0.3%, at 8,388.43. The FTSE 250 was down 39.56 points, 0.

Chemicals companies produce the compounds used in a huge variety of different industrial and consumer products across sectors which include agriculture, healthcare, technology, aerospace, sports, leisure and beauty.The breadth of the industry?s focus means its fortunes are closely tied to the economy and movements in GDP as well as volatility in raw material prices and energy costs.In 2023 the sec

The FTSE 100 hit an all-time high on Tuesday, before returning some gains after somewhat hawkish words from a UK monetary policymaker.The FTSE 100 index closed up 20.94 points, 0.2%, at 8,044.81. The FTSE 250 shot up 200.33 points, 1.0%, at 19,799.72, and the AIM All-Share ended up 5.69 points, 0.8%, at 754.87.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 803.32, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.9% to 17,156.66, and the

European stocks had an unexpectedly muted reaction to the surprise acceleration of US consumer price inflation on Tuesday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 78.58 points, 1.0%, at 7,747.81. The FTSE 250 ended up 35.12 points, 0.2%, at 19,565.21, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.23 of a point at 738.04.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 1.0% at 775.93, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.3% at 16,970.72, and the Cboe S

The FTSE 100 was outperforming its European peers at midday Tuesday, after market sentiment got a boost from UK employment data, which has raised the chances of a Bank of England interest rate cut.A red-hot US consumer price rise could undo all of that progress, however. According to FXStreet cited consensus, the US annual consumer price inflation rate is expected to have remained at 3.1% in Febru

As we approach the end of the year it is a good time to take stock with your investing, and it's no different for the team at Shares. We do our best to furnish you with strong investment ideas every week, but we clearly do not get it right every time.Two big losers from the last 12 months or so which stand out as examples where we need to hold our hands up and acknowledge we got it wrong, and wher

Full year results meet expectationsSigns customers no longer de-stockingWell placed for growth after investmentShares in manufacturer and supplier of natural extracts and ingredients to the beverage, flavour and fragrances industries Treatt (TET) pepped up 12% to 475p after the company said it was seeing early signs of a reversal of customer de-stocking.The shares are down around 15% over the last

The FTSE100 closed up on Thursday, after the Bank of England hinted an end to rising interest rates.The FTSE 100 index closed up 15.58 points, or 0.2% at 7,441.72 on Thursday. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 ended down 67.97 points, or 0.4%, at 18,383.85 and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.30 points, or 0.2%, at 735.68.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 741.07, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.4% at 16,008.30,

Stock prices in London fell on Thursday morning amid ongoing concerns over oil prices, interest rates and weak Chinese data.The FTSE 100 index opened down 13.54 points, 0.2%, at 7,412.60. The FTSE 250 was down 62.23 points, 0.3%, at 18,389.59, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.22 points, 0.6%, at 732.76.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 737.38, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.4% at 16,011.52, and the Cbo

Construction equipment rental specialist Ashtead (AHT) has setitself quite a high bar when it comes to its first-quarter earnings report on 5 September.The firm has beaten revenue forecasts in nine out of the last 10 quarters. Moreover, the comparison with the same quarter last year is a tough one as rental revenue was up 26% to just over $2 billion and adjusted pre-tax profit was up 29% to $555 m

Matthew Moulding will lose unilateral hostile takeover vetoCompany set to qualify for premium listing and spot in FTSE 250Private equity buyers could return, sparking buyout battleThe founder of THG (THG) is to give up his much-publicised special share, the company announced ahead of its annual general meeting today (21 Jun).The planned move means founder and chief executive (CEO) Matt Moulding lo

Shares in London kicked off Friday on the up, as investors digest a wave of central bank decisions, with the pound also climbing as the Bank of England prepares to move into the spotlight.A hawkish European Central Bank also lifted the euro, while a key US Treasury yield narrowed, suggesting the market is not buying the Federal Reserve's tough talk on inflation.The FTSE 100 index opened up 25.03 p

There is no hotter area to invest in today than artificial intelligence, or AI as it is commonly known. Ever since OpenAI's ChatGPT took the world by storm, investors have been racing to find winners from this explosive trend.Corporate leaders, meanwhile, have been scrambling to prove to investors that they are harnessing the technology to drive revenue growth, improve operational efficiency, and

Blue-chip equities in Europe ended slightly higher on Tuesday, though there were signs of continued unease after recent stress in the banking sector, as shares pared gains in the afternoon and stocks in New York traded mixed.Central bankers in the UK and US moved to calm nerves for investors and depositors. In London, oil majors and miners lifted the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index closed up 12.48 poi

No news was good news for stock markets on Tuesday, as no new indications of a wider banking industry crisis, combined with reassuring words from the Bank of England governor, allowed European large-cap stocks to rise slightly at midday.In London, oil majors, miners and a broker upgrade for British Airways-parent IAG supported the FTSE 100. Banking shares traded mixed, meanwhile, having recovered

London shares opened narrowly mixed on Tuesday, as worries about a wider global banking crisis eased, ahead of testimony to Parliament about Silicon Valley Bank by the governor of the Bank of England.The FTSE 100 index opened 31.0 points, 0.4%, higher at 7,502.77. The FTSE 250 was down 9.63 points, 0.1%, at 18,519.99, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.96 of a point, 0.1%, at 797.52.The Cboe UK 100

JD WetherspoonInvestors will be looking for signs pubs group's sales momentum is poised to pick up in the second halfPubs group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is scheduled to release first half results to 29 January 2023 on 24 March. The shares have had a strong run since last October gaining around 38% on the back of a general market recovery.A January trading update said first half like for like sales gre

All eyes on earnings and dividends as housebuilders report next monthInvestors will be hoping activity picks up and payouts are at least maintainedAfter analysts at Deutsche Bank recently cut their recommendations on four leading housebuilders, investors will be keen to hear from Persimmon (PSN) and Taylor Wimpey (TW.).Persimmon, which reports full-year earnings on 1 March, revealed in November it