Blue chip stocks in London and Paris were lower at midday Thursday, but up a notch in Frankfurt amid hopes of big investments from the incoming German government.The European Central Bank 'is expected to cut rates having been given a freer hand as inflationary pressures have eased,' AJ Bell's Russ Mould noted.The FTSE 100 index was down 82.84 points, 1.0%, at 8,673.00. The FTSE 250 was down 33.31

Three recent interventions by the Trump administration are having a major impact on financial markets.First, plans for a cryptocurrency strategic reserve were announced, helping to light a fire under Bitcoin and other digital assets.Those gains were soon erased however when, against hopes of a last-minute reprieve, 25% tariffs were introduced on Canada and Mexico along with a 10% levy on Chinese g

Investors are getting conflicting signals when it comes to the future direction of oil prices, and this week's fall to three-month lows off the back of crude producers' cartel OPEC+'s decision to boost output is unlikely to be the end of the story.The introduction of tariffs on neighbouring countries by the Trump administration could stoke inflation, which would typically be reflected in higher en

European stocks were mixed on Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 eased slightly despite a boost for miners from higher metal prices and hints some sectors may be left out of US tariffs.The FTSE 100 index ended down 3.16 points at 8,755.84. The FTSE 250 climbed 177.23 points, 0.9%, at 20,127.73, and the AIM All-Share gained 3.61 points, 0.5%, at 690.48.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 877.63, the Cboe UK 2

European indexes sank on Tuesday as fears of a full-blown trade war grew after increased tariffs were imposed against Canada, Mexico and China by the US.The FTSE 100 index ended down 112.31 points, 1.3%, at 8,759.00. The FTSE 250 slumped 431.79 points, 2.1%, at 19,950.50, and the AIM All-Share fell 14.93 points, 2.1%, at 686.87.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.6% at 875.00, the Cboe UK 250 declined 2.

Stock prices in Europe were in the red at Tuesday midday, with airline stocks hit badly in particular, as European countries intend to boost their militaries amid a US freeze on aid for Ukraine.'Investors were desperately hoping that Trump would delay tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China at the eleventh hour, yet the US president has stuck to his guns and brought them into power,' commented AJ Bell

London stocks closed in the green on Monday, as shares in defence firms surged across Europe amid expectations of heightened defence spending.Shares in Thales were 17% higher in Paris, Leonardo climbed 16% in Milan, BAE Systems jumped 14% in London and Rheinmetall leapt 15% in Frankfurt.On the FTSE 250, Babcock was up 8.9% and Qinetiq up 11%.JPMorgan increased share price targets by an average of

London's FTSE 100 edged higher on Monday, driven by a rally in BAE Systems as defence spending optimism lifted sentiment.Meanwhile, investors awaited US manufacturing data to be released later today.The FTSE 100 index was up 58.45 points, 0.7%, at 8,868.19. The FTSE 250 was up 23.20 points, 0.1%, at 20,349.58, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.20 points, 0.2%, at 705.03.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at

BAE Systems shares climb 15%European stocks sharply higherUK and France discuss Ukraine dealThe European defence sector enjoyed its biggest one-day rally since 2020 after the Trump administration refused to offer any security guarantees, leading investors to bet on European governments ramping up their defence spending.Shares in BAE Systems (BA.) jumped 210p or 15% to £16.15, pulling with them sh

London stocks opened slightly higher on Monday as investors assessed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's return from high-stakes diplomatic meetings and awaited the UK manufacturing PMI, following similar releases from other regions.The FTSE 100 index opened up 34.18 points, 0.4%, at 8,843.92. The FTSE 250 was up 56.11 points, 0.3%, at 20,382.49, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.54 points, 0.2%, at 705.37

Stocks in London were mostly in the red at Thursday midday, as investors await US jobless data, while insurer Aviva rose as it increased its dividend.The FTSE 100 index was up 30.65 points, 0.4%, at 8,762.11. The FTSE 250 was down 160.11 points, 0.8%, at 20,435.79, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.54 points, 0.4%, at 708.96.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 877.53, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.9% at 17

Blue chip stocks in London, Paris and Frankfurt opened lower on Thursday, with shares of London-based advertising agency WPP diving as client spend weakened late last year.The FTSE 100 index opened down 30.83 points, 0.4%, at 8,700.63. The FTSE 250 was down 196.86 points, 1.0%, at 20,399.04, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.94 points, 0.4%, at 708.56.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 871.39, the Cb

Shares in Centrica (CNA) hit a new 12-month of 151p (24 February) not long after the British Gas owner announced better-than-expected results and a £500 million share buyback.Although the FTSE 100 company's EBITDA (earnings before interest taxation depreciation amortisation) for the full year ending 31 December 2024 were lower than 2023, a bumper year for the company, shareholders were rewarded w

Blue chip stock prices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were comfortably in the green at Wednesday midday, with Lloyds up after it received higher price targets from Deutsche Bank Research and Barclays.In UK news, the defence secretary has suggested the real-terms increase in defence spending year-on-year will be only around half the £13.4 billion figure cited by the prime minister.John Healey said

Blue chip stocks were up a bit in London, Paris and Frankfurt at Tuesday midday, with banks and defence stocks in the UK enjoying a boost.The UK's aviation regulator has noted the 'benefits to consumers' of England's Gatwick airport expanding. The Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, made the comments as it announced support for the West Sussex airport's proposed new commitments over the next four years

The DAX 40 shone amid broadly mixed stocks in Europe on Monday, in the aftermath of Germany's election result, while London's FTSE 100 remained subdued.The FTSE 100 index closed down just 0.39 of a point at 8,658.98. The FTSE 250 ended down 129.50 points, 0.6%, at 20,484.39, while the AIM All-Share closed down 7.14 points, 1.0%, at 710.88.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 866.11, the Cboe UK 250

The FTSE 100 was up a notch, while the CAC 40 in Paris was down mildly and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was up comfortably following the German federal election.Meanwhile across Europe, eurozone consumer price inflation picked up last month, numbers from Eurostat confirmed.The euro area consumer price inflation rate accelerated to 2.5% year-on-year in January, from 2.4% in December, in line with the la

The FTSE 100 in London and the CAC 40 in Paris opened lower on Monday morning, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was up a bit after the centre-right conservative party in Germany won the federal election.The FTSE 100 index opened down 2.07 points at 8,657.30. The FTSE 250 was up 3.54 points at 20,617.43, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.70 points, 0.1%, at 717.32.The Cboe UK 100 was down at 866.71, th

The FTSE 100 closed lower on Thursday, weighed down by ex-dividend stocks like AstraZeneca and BP, while a sell-off in US markets and reports of planned US defence cuts hit sentiment.The FTSE 100 index closed down 49.56 points, 0.6%, at 8,662.97. The large-cap benchmark was hit by the likes of AstraZeneca and BP, who traded lower as shares went ex-dividend.The FTSE 250 ended down 95.02 points, 0.5

Results beat expectations as buyback unveiled2025 outlook unchangedShares gain 12% over the past yearShares in Centrica (CNA) were in demand on better-than-expected results and the unveiling of a share buyback. The stock was up more than 10% to 149p in morning trading despite a fall in EBITDA (earnings before interest taxation depreciation amortisation) to £2.3 billion for the full year ending 31