Stock prices in Europe were generally lower on Friday morning, after optimism from rate cuts in the US and UK wore off, as China unveiled a huge support package under which it will raise the local government debt ceiling.China's top lawmakers have approved a proposal to increase the debt ceiling for local governments by $840 billion, state media said as a key meeting wrapped up in Beijing.Meanwhil

There was a certain degree of investor bemusement last month when shares in US electricity generation company Constellation Energy (CEG:NASDAQ) soared on news technology giant Microsoft (MSFT:NASDAQ) had signed a 20-year power purchase agreement.This was no ordinary deal, however, as it paves the way for the restart of Three Mile Island 1 ? not the reactor which famously melted down in 1979, but a

Equity markets are buoyant, fixed income markets seem more nervous judging by the way yields are rising (at least for government-issued in the developed West), and commodity prices continue to march to their own beat, with gold and silver surging, industrial metals largely flat and oil and gas remaining subdued.The relative calm pervading hydrocarbon prices is in many ways surprising, given the on

Stock prices in London opened mostly lower on Friday morning as China posted its slowest growth in a year and a half, while UK retail sales performed better than expected last month.The FTSE 100 index opened down 28.63 points, or 0.3%, at 8,356.50. The FTSE 250 was down 37.28 points, or 0.2%, at 21,063.64, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.39 points, or 0.2%, at 743.78.London's FTSE 100 had hit a fiv

Stock prices in Europe were lower on Thursday morning, ahead of an interest rate decision from the European Central Bank and weekly jobless data from the US.The FTSE 100 index was down 5.63 points, or 0.1%, at 8,323.44. The FTSE 250 was down 16.90 points, or 0.1%, at 20,962.60, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.56 points, or 0.2%, at 740.99.The Cboe UK 100 was slightly lower at 834.39, the Cboe UK 25

Stock prices rose on Monday morning in London despite reports of new restrictions on the UK gambling sector and disappointing data from China, ahead of US consumer inflation expectations.The FTSE 100 index opened up 5.62 points, or 0.1%, at 8,259.69. The FTSE 250 was up 8.14 points at 20,772.98, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.78 points, or 0.1%, at 734.63.The Cboe UK 100 was down slightly at 826.7

Banks and oil majors kept the FTSE 100 in the green at the London close on Monday, while other stocks slipped, joining peers across the pond.The FTSE 100 index closed up 22.99 points, 0.3%, to 8,303.62. The FTSE 250 ended down 46.87 points, 0.2%, at 20,853.21, and the AIM All-Share closed up just 0.25 of a point at 738.61.The Cboe UK 100 edged up 0.2% to 830.70, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.4% at

Stocks were mixed in London at midday on Monday, with blue-chips benefiting from an oil price rise, but FTSE 100 constituent Endeavour Mining tumbling amid concerns in Burkina Faso.The FTSE 100 index was up 30.29 points, 0.4%, at 8,310.88. The FTSE 250 was down 85.54 points, 0.4%, at 20,814.54, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.55 of a point, 0.1%, at 738.87.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 831.49, the

Oil output target dropped amid strategy resetBP had aimed for 25% cut by 2030Shell raises upstream and gas volume guidanceEnergy major BP (BP.) has reportedly abandoned its target to cut oil and gas output by 2030 as new chef executive Murray Auchincloss scales back the FTSE 100 giant's energy transition strategy in order to win back the market's confidence.He wants to arrest the decline in BP's s

Prime minister Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves have made no bones about making 'painful' decisions in order to stabilise public finances and grow the economy, so investors are right to be nervous over what might be included in the Labour party's first Budget since 2009 at the end of this month.Top of the list of investor concerns is that rather than raising income tax, national insurance

Equities were higher during midday trade on Friday, as mining stocks continued to climb, tracking the strength of gold amid a pull-back of the dollar.The FTSE 100 index climbed 19.03 points, 0.2%, at 8,260.00. The FTSE 250 was up 138.55 points, 0.7%, at 20,834.33, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.61 points, 0.4%, at 743.97.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 826.32, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.7% to 18,356.40,

The recent escalation between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah offered the latest reminder of what a tinderbox the Middle East is right now and the implications that has for oil prices.The black stuff moved back through $80 per barrel after a period of weakness, offering a reminder of why forecasting oil prices is often a fool's errand.Nonetheless, there are plenty of professionals who

Gold prices remain within touching distance of the all-time highs of $2,510 set recently amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.The precious metal is up around 20% year-to-date outperforming most other asset classes. WHY HAS GOLD HIT NEW HIGHS It is not hard to see why investors have flocked to gold due to the crises in the Middle East, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, worries about expected interest

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

Palate-pleasing first half growthCoke bottler lifts guidanceEPS miss weighs on sharesBeverages behemoth Coca-Cola HBC (CCH) raised its full-year guidance after serving up strong growth with further market share gains in the half ended 28 June 2024.However, shares in the FTSE 100 firm failed to fizz higher on the positive news, softening 3.2% to £26.52 as investors focused on a modest first half E

The price of gold has a reputation for going through spurts. Over the past five years it has jumped, then pulled back, and then jumped again, on repeat. This year has seen a strong rally for the precious metal price, leading investors to ask if there is more to come.At $2,424 per ounce, gold returned 17.4% year-to-date which is more than three times as much as the FTSE 100's 5.5% performance. It i

Investors can expect some earnings fizz and potentially a round of upgrades when Coca-Cola HBC (CCH) serves up first half results on 7 August.The positive setup heading into the print for the consumer packaged goods group, a strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company (KO:NYSE), follows forecast-beating second quarter earnings (23 July) and raised guidance from the latter, which controls C

Stocks in London stormed higher on Wednesday, as US tech stocks leapt, ahead of interest rate decisions either side of the Atlantic.While the Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged, it may hint at an easing of policy at its September meeting. In London, a rate cut from the Bank of England is possible on Thursday, although this is viewed as a close call.The FTSE 100 index clo

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

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