London's blue chip index was slightly in the red on Friday midday, while US markets are expected to open higher after a weak start on Wall Street on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index traded down 4.69 points, 0.1%, at 8,255.40. The FTSE 250 was down 48.37 points, 0.2%, at 20,591.86, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.19 of a point at 723.54.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 827.28, the Cboe UK 250...

Stocks in London were in the green on Wednesday morning, as investors prepare for eurozone inflation data and the US interest rate decision this afternoon.UK consumer price inflation and producer price inflation data came out before the London open.According to the Office for National Statistics, the consumer prices index rose by 2.6% in the 12 months to November, picking up pace on-month from...

For anyone who owns a FTSE 100, FTSE 250 or FTSE All-Share tracker fund or ETF, there are one or two changes next week as a result of the latest quarterly index review.Investors in these securities don?t need to do anything themselves as the underlying indices ? compiled by FTSE Russell, part of London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) ? will automatically implement the changes from the start of...

The FTSE 100 dipped into the red at midday on Thursday, as a slew of its heavyweights going ex-dividend weighed.Equities in mainland Europe, meanwhile, were higher, showing no signs of angst ahead of the latest US inflation print, out at 1330 BST.The FTSE 100 index went into Thursday afternoon just 3.58 points lower at 7,583.72. The FTSE 250 was down just 4.05 points at 18,933.15, and the AIM...

Gordon retired in his late 50s after a successful career in media planning including a period working for The Sunday Times. He is a big fan of investing and calls his SIPP (self-invested personal pension) 'my family's future'.Dividing his time between a rented flat in Mexico City and a house in the UK, Gordon's investment journey stems from his interest in the general management of companies,...

- New £1.4 billion entity will be a leading African oil producer- Tullow shareholders own 57% and Capricorn 43% in new group- Plan to pay annual dividend of $60 millionShares in oil explorer Tullow Oil and (TLW) and Capricorn Energy (CNE) rose 2.3% and 3.1% respectively following the announcement of an agreement for a recommended all-share merger.If agreed the new London listed entity would...

Leading UK shares have shrugged-off concerns currently upsetting Wall Street as expectations grow that the Federal Reserve will act more swiftly than previously predicted to try and tame rampant inflation. At the same time, tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to grow, adding another volatile factor into the mix.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 is close on 1.5% ahead at 7,479.13, not far...

UK stocks made little headway on Wednesday despite a spate of earnings reports which on the whole painted a picture of improving corporate health. By 9.30am the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was unchanged at 7,033 points.In Asia, Chinese stocks closed lower after August retail sales data disappointed, sending the CSI index down for a fifth day in succession. In Japan on the other hand, the...

UK stocks fell in early trading on Wednesday after higher inflation data, both at home and in the US, stoked concerns about rising interest rates.At 8.35 am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index and the more domestically focused FTSE 250 were both trading 0.5% lower, at 7,086.31 and 22,818.8 points respectively.The UK consumer price index rose 2.5% in June, ahead of expectations of a 2.2% increase....

London's FTSE 100 finished Wednesday's trading session 0.4% higher at 7,108 points as inflation worries eased and the blue chip benchmark was boosted by a decent start on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 up 0.3% to 4,216.2 by 4.30pm UK time.As in the US, the absence of earnings from big-name companies left the FTSE 100 lacking a bit of inspiration, with the index outshone by the FTSE 250, which...

London's FTSE 100 had retreated modestly from its morning highs by lunchtime as housebuilders slipped back on mixed mortgage data.By 12.20, the blue chip benchmark was 0.2% higher at 7,092.37 points, while the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 was 0.1% easier at 22,854.5.BLOOMSBURY REPORTS RECORD YEARPublisher Bloomsbury (BMY) jumped 8.7% to 336p after it reported a record financial year as...

UK stocks continued their momentum on Wednesday with more solid gains as investors remained upbeat on the global economic recovery.Defying expectations of a flat opening, the UK's benchmark FTSE 100 index moved 0.56% higher to 7,120 while the midcap FTSE 250 index, currently sitting at all-time highs, gained 0.33% to 22,951.It comes after a flat session overnight on Wall Street, where the Dow...

UK stocks posted early gains after the S&P500 index hit more all-time highs yesterday, driven by a strong jobs report and a record high in service sector activity.In addition, UK car sales rose around 11% in the key selling month of March. While showrooms have been closed for most of the past year, dealerships have kept sales afloat thanks to 'click and collect' and delivery services.By 8.30am...

UK stocks underperformed the rest of Europe as basic resources stocks such as BHP Group (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) outweighed gains in consumer stocks. Having surpassed its February high yesterday, at 9am the FTSE 100 had eased back 17 points or 0.25% to 6,713 points.The move down came against a strongly risk-on move in US markets overnight with the Nasdaq 100 having its best day since...

UK stocks reversed direction on Friday, following US markets lower after strong US non-farm payroll data showed the economy added 379,00 jobs compared with economist's expectations of 185,000 which sent bond yields higher.Crude prices remained elevated after the OPEC+ group of oil producers surprised the market by deciding to maintain their supply limits. Markets had expected the cartel to...

UK stocks clawed back early losses on Friday lunchtime ahead of the release of key US employment data with February non-farm payrolls expected to show a gain of 182,000 compared with 49,000 in January.Crude prices spiked as the OPEC+ group of oil producers surprised the market by deciding to maintain their supply limits. Markets had expected the cartel to resume production of up 1.5 million...

There were gains wherever you looked in the oil and gas sector on Friday as oil prices surged following the shock decision by OPEC and its allies not to increase supply (4 Mar).Brent crude is moving close to $70 per barrel in the wake of that call, the last time it traded above that level was pre-pandemic in January 2020 when tensions between the US and Iran hit fever pitch.The increase in the...

The FTSE 100 tumbled throughout trading on Wednesday, closing 1.3% lower to 6,567.37, as investor sentiment was hit by a perfect storm of Covid-19 vaccine troubles, anxiety over the US Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy update and a warning from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).A row over vaccine supplies from pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN) into the EU continued on Wednesday...

UK stocks tumbled throughout morning trading on Wednesday as investors braced for the US Federal Reserve's latest update on monetary policy, due later in the day.The Fed is expected to leave policy unchanged and stick to its ultra-loose stance with near zero interest rates, $120 billion of bond purchases every month and other liquidity relief measures to help the ailing US economy, which is...

UK stocks dipped modestly in early trading on Wednesday after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its global growth recovery forecast but flagged Britain's severe pandemic impact as likely to drag on its own economic bounce-back.The IMF now expects the global economy to grow 5.5% this year, a 0.3% increase from October's forecast, but cut its UK estimates from 5.9% to 4.5% as virus...