The FTSE 100 index of leading UK equities marked the last trading session ahead of the Christmas festivities by hitting a new high for the year of 7,389 points, up 0.25% or 16 points, before reversing at the last moment to finish flat.The move up followed a broadly positive showing from US markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Index, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite all finishing in...

The UK equity market started the final trading session ahead of the Christmas festivities on a positive note, with both the blue chip FTSE 100 index and the mid-cap FTSE 250 index moving higher.This followed on from a broadly positive showing from US markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Index, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite all finishing in positive territory.However China stocks...

Micro-cap residential property developer Trafalgar New Homes (TRAF:AIM) is under some pressure after confirming it will post no revenue in the second half of its March 2017 financial year. The guidance stems from the fact it is yet to sell a unit at two developments in Kent. Marketing began in February and sales from the sites are expected to contribute to the financial year ending March 2018....

The FTSE 100's rise this week finally appears to have run out of steam, the blue-chip benchmark being 26.7 points down at 7342.9 early on. Spread betters appear to have seen this coming, with one firm expecting a 23 point drop this morning. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index is up 12.3 points to 3222.5, although still someway off Monday's high of 3280.5.However, John Menzies (MNZS) jumps...

UK shares surge in what some market watchers are calling a dead cat bounce with investors still largely concerned about macro growth issues. The FTSE 100 index shoots up 98 points, or about 1.67%, to 5,970 in what could be a reaction to several sessions of selling over the past week or more.In corporate news, the big story comes from the tech sector as computer designs software supplier AVEVA...

UK stocks make solid gains in early deals Thursday, matching the strong progress of Wall Street overnight after the Federal Reserve calmed nerves over monetary policy tightening. The benchmark FTSE 100 index is trading roughly 50 points higher, or 0.7%, at 6,389, its third straight trading session of gains, easing investors concerns after the recent sell-off on falling oil prices and other...

House prices in the UK have run up to multi-year highs, but experts are split on what will happen next and whether spread betters should be long or short on the sector. Against this backcloth, here's the factors to consider if you plan to trade companies serving this industry.The direction of house prices will be heavily influenced by the actions of the Bank of England (BOE) in coming months....

After less than two years as chief executive officer, Lance Batchelor has resignedfrom Domino's Pizza (DOM) to take up a job with an undisclosed private equity-backed business. He leaves in April. The market is nervous about potential troubles inside Domino's given that chief financial officer Lee Ginsberg handed in his resignation just five months ago. The shares fall 8.6% to...

Those looking for a play on the growing ebullience in the housing industry across the Southeast might find niche house-builder Trafalgar New Homes (TRAF:AIM) offers some value.The £11.1 million cap builds for the middle-to-upper end of the residential property markets on relatively small individual sites. The Kent firm's proposition leaves it ideally positioned to take on the kind of...

Indebted Hovis-to-Bisto maker Premier Foods (PFD) perked up 13% to 87p as rumours swirled surrounding a private equity bid significantly north of 130p a share. Shareholders include private equity group Warburg Pincus and hedge fund Paulson & Co.A push on the retail sector by investment bank Nomura helped to lift Dixons Retail (DXNS) by 1.9% to 43.4p. The stock is a running Shares Play of the...