The market gave a largely positive response to Labour's first Budget with the domestic-facing FTSE 250 index and AIM market both enjoying strong gains following the unveiling of chancellor Rachel Reeves' plans.While the inheritance tax exemption on AIM shares was halved it wasn't abolished as had been feared. Rachel Winter, partner at Killik & Co: 'AIM shares have suffered from a perfect storm in

London's FTSE 100 was in the red during midday trade on Monday, returning the morning's gains as optimism fuelled by China's interest rate cuts ebbed.There was some sparkle in commodity markets from gold, however. Oil prices also climbed, supporting Shell and BP, which rose 1.1% and 1.9%.The FTSE 100 index went into the afternoon in a tepid fashion, despite the heavyweight oil majors rising. The l

First half profit jumps to £27 millionStrategic tie-up with AgeasSale of insurance underwriting unitSaga (SAGA) was the top performer in the FTSE All-Share on Friday, rising by a tenth after the over 50s travel and insurance specialist revealed strong first-half profit growth, a reduction in debt and confirmed it was in exclusive talks with Belgian insurer Ageas (AGS:EBR) to sell its insurance un

Pfizer nets $3.36 billion in share saleHaleon completes £500 million share repurchaseSanofi plans to divest consumer healthcare unitStrong demand from US investors allowed pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (PFE:NYSE) to sell an upscaled 640 million shares in consumer healthcare group Haleon (HLN) at 380p, representing a 3.3% discount to the prior close.Investors focused on the positive implications of

Lower sugar prices impact profitabilityPrimark hit by poor UK weatherShare buyback extendedAssociated British Foods (ABF) dropped to the bottom of the FTSE with the shares falling 4% after the grocery-to-retail conglomerate warned on sugar division profitability and reported a second half decline in like-for-like sales at Primark.The shares have slipped by just over a tenth since the middle of the

CEO unexpectedly steps downPre-tax profits plunge in H1Strategic review ongoingShares in Chapel Down (CDGP:AIM) cheapened 16% to 58.5p after England's largest winemaker uncorked a first half profits plunge and said CEO Andrew Carter is leaving to take up a new role at Timothy Taylor & Co.Drinks industry veteran Carter's exit is a bitter blow to Chapel Down.During his three year stint as CEO, he ov

Steepest US jobs revisions since 2009Interest rate cut nailed on for SeptemberJackson Hole speech likely to be dovishThe US BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) failed to post revisions to the monthly payroll figures at the allotted 10am New York time yesterday causing confusion among economists, many of whom had to call the department directly to get the number.A spokesperson for the BLS said: 'The i

Stock prices in Europe were mildly higher on Thursday morning, as investors await the start of the Jackson Hole conference on Thursday which could indicate clues on the trajectory of US interest rates.Amongst individual stocks, JD Sports Fashion saw its shares jump, after updating shareholders on its second quarter growth. Eckoh also took some of the spotlight, after receiving a takeover offer fro

FY24 operating profit forecast cutFY25 profit now seen below FY24Firm blames 'interest rate uncertainty'The UK's leading for-rent developer and operator Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM) dropped a massive clanger with its trading update for the full year to September which included a warning for 2025 earnings.The shares were crushed, losing 15p or 29% to 36p on volume of more than four million shares by 9am

London indices closed higher on Monday with mining stocks benefitting from rising gold prices while aerospace & defence manufacturers waned.The FTSE 100 index closed up 45.53 points, 0.6%, at 8,356.94. The FTSE 250 ended up 108.56 points, 0.5%, at 21,157.47, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.32 points, 0.3%, at 776.59.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 835.35, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.7% at 18,55

Shares in embattled Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain (ENT) plunged by almost a tenth on Monday (29 July), plumbing new four-year lows after the gambling giant's US joint-venture partner BetMGM said it expected to deploy 'greater than expected' marketing in iGaming the back half of the year.This means the business, currently the third-largest US gambling company by revenue, is now expected to post

Stocks in Europe were in the green heading into Wednesday afternoon as markets digest a raft of earnings and await the US interest rate decision.The FTSE 100 index shot up 116.07 points, or 1.4%, at 8,390.48. But the FTSE 250 rose 135.79 points, 0.5%, at 21,568.30, while the AIM All-Share added 4.37 points, 0.6%, at 782.53.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.2% at 837.75, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.5% to 18,892

Q2 sales and profit ahead of expectationsQ3 outlook falls short of consensusStrong upturn expected in 2025Semiconductor equipment maker ASML (ASML:AMS) dropped more than 6% to €919, despite delivering better than expected second quarter sales and profit, after the company forecast third quarter sales below consensus estimates.The shares fell to their lowest level since mid-June but remain alm

Stock prices in London were in the green on Friday morning, making tentative gains despite blue-chip equities in mainland Europe starting the day slowly.The FTSE 100 index traded 8.57 points higher, 0.1%, at 8,281.03. The FTSE 250 was up 22.01 points, 0.1%, at 20,520.73, though the AIM All-Share added 1.85 points, 0.2%, at 774.23.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.1% to 823.76, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.2% at 1

Indian stocks have been on a roller-coaster ride this week buffeted by uncertainty on the outcome of the election as prime minister Narendra Modi was on course to bag his third consecutive term in office.The BSE Sensex index comprising India's 30 largest companies by market capitalisation surged 3.4% to record highs on 3 June as exit polls pointed to a comfortable victory for Modi's Bharatiya Jana

Full-year revenue and profit beatAdministrations increase 22%Positive outlookBusiness advisory specialist FRP Advisory (FRP:AIM) has revealed full-year revenue to the end of April grew 23% and profit increased 37%, both ahead of market expectations, sending the shares up by a tenth to 142.1p.Today's gain lifts the shares back into positive territory for the year to date and means they are up 27% o

3i Infrastructure (3IN) 342.5pGain to date: 8.7% When we recommended buying into private equity firm 3i Infrastructure (3IN) last summer at 315p we flagged the undervaluation of its portfolio, as shown by the sale of Dutch waste treatment and recycling firm Attero for more than 30% above its most recent valuation and 2.7 times the purchase price.We stuck with our call even when the shares dipped t

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

UK stocks continue to make new highsLower rates and stronger economy fan gainsBest-performing stocks over the last yearUK stocks continue to make new highs buoyed by increasing hopes interest rates will be cut this summer and decreasing worries of economic Armageddon.A dovish tone from Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey at this week?s (9 May) interest rate policy meeting and today?s (10 May) s

With around 40% of S&P 500 constituents reporting earnings last week including heavyweights Microsoft (MSFT:NASDAQ) and Alphabet (GOOG:NASDAQ), the micro picture was widely expected to be the main investor focus.As things turned out, a surprisingly weak first quarter GDP (gross domestic product) print and higher-than-anticipated March inflation gave investors and the Federal Reserve further pause