Stock prices in London continued to stay in the red at midday Tuesday as investors await an interest rate decision from the European Central Bank on Thursday, and the UK government's upcoming budget due late this month.The FTSE 100 index was down 45.57 points, or 0.6%, at 8,246.89. The FTSE 250 was down 12.40 points, or 0.1%, at 20,804.79, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.71 points, or 0.1%, at 73

Stock prices in London were mixed on Tuesday morning as new data showed UK wage growth eased in the three months to August, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Monday warned her budget will be 'tough'.The FTSE 100 index opened down 9.83 points, or 0.1%, at 8,282.13. The FTSE 250 was up 31.91 points, or 0.2%, at 20,849.10, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.28 points at 734.05.The Cboe UK 100 was st

Dovish remarks from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey helped to boost the FTSE 100's housebuilders on Thursday at midday, while grocers rose following a strong interim showing from Tesco.The FTSE 100 index was up 21.96, 0.3%, at 8,312.82. The FTSE 250 was down 18.71 points, 0.1%, at 20,765.07, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.26 of a point at 734.04.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 831.77, the

The FTSE 100 opened lower Friday morning despite a boost in retail sales in July, and underperforming against its counterparts in Paris and Frankfurt which traded higher.The FTSE 100 index opened just 3.93 points lower at 8,343.31. The FTSE 250 was down 14.52 points, or 0.1%, at 21,080.53, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.81 points, or 0.1%, at 773.98.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 834.20, the Cbo

Pets at Home (PETS) investors will be hoping the UK pet-care leader's first half results statement (28 November) doesn't set the cat among the pigeons. Any signs that the cost-of-living pressures impacting pet owners' disposable income are slowing its sales momentum or curtailing customer acquisition growth could be harshly punished.Share price weakness at the pet food-to-toys purveyor reflects op

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has floated and announced big policy changes recently from delaying a ban of the sales of new petrol and diesel cares, pulling back on phasing out gas boilers and introducing a New Zealand-style anti-smoking policy.There has also been the public discussion of abandoning or at least curtailing the zero-carbon high-speed railway to the north of England - better known as HS

In the end 2021 proved a rewarding year for stock markets as vaccines were rolled out and economies began to recover from the worst ravages of the pandemic. In the early part of the year, growth was shunned for value before bouncing back into fashion as the year progressed.On the whole, this was a volatile period, with investors contending with concerns over inflation and the rising interest rates

UK shares retreated from positive territory on Monday afternoon, pulled down by weak US markets while oil prices spiked higher.At the London close the US S&P 500 index of leading shares was down 1.4% while the technology focused Nasdaq 100 index was 2.3% lower.Meanwhile Brent crude prices shot up 2.6% to $81.20 per barrel, marking new three-year highs.At the close the FTSE 100 index of leading sto

UK shares traded slightly higher at midday on Monday as gains in oil and mining shares were offset by weakness in financials. At 12pm, the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was up 0.2% to 7,040 points. Brent crude prices were trading 0.4% higher at $79.50 per barrel, close to last week's three-year high.COMPANY NEWSThe auction for supermarket group Morrisons (MRW) ended with CD&R pipping Fortress t

UK stocks started the week cautiously, in spite of a raft of earnings upgrades, after another weak session in Asia where stocks in China and Japan were down 2% and 1% respectively as the Evergrande saga rumbled on.In energy markets, the focus was on the meeting of OPEC+ oil producers for any decision on whether to increase crude production, after a sharp rally in oil and gas prices this year. Bren

UK stocks shrugged off concerns over the country's vaccine programme to continue their upward march so far this week.Medicines regulator the MHRA this afternoon stated under-30s should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca (AZN) jab where possible due to concerns over the link between the vaccine and blood clots.While this is better than an outright ban on use of the vaccine for under-30s,

London's FTSE 100 continued its strong momentum this week with a 0.8% gain to 6,877.86 by Wednesday lunchtime, following on from yesterday's 1.3% increase, as reopening optimism grows among investors.With the UK's lockdown set for another round of easing next Monday, businesses are gearing up for a resumption of trading that saw a flash PMI reading surge last month.The latest IHS Markit/CIPS compo

The UK's major stocks started strongly on Wednesday as the nation starts its Moderna vaccine rollout, the third approved for Brits, reigniting reopening optimism among investors.With the UK's lockdown set for another round of easing next Monday, businesses are gearing up for a resumption of trading that saw a flash PMI reading surge last month. Later today investors will get an idea of the state o

Shares in equipment rental firm VP (VP.) dipped 3.8% to 760p, despite news of a special dividend, after it posted a 24% drop in revenues and a pre-tax loss for the first half to the end of September as the Covid pandemic curtailed activity in most of its markets.Although it faced a near-50% collapse in revenues in the early months of the crisis, many of its businesses were categorized as essential

Equipment rental specialist VP Group (VP.) reported record profits after tax, amortisation and exceptional items, but before adjustments for leases, of £47.1m for the year ended 31 March. Meanwhile return on capital employed remained a healthy 14.5%.However the shares eased 2.4% to 781p on the news that a decision on whether to pay the final 2019 dividend would be postponed until later in the yea

UK stocks rallied on Wednesday after two days of losses with domestically focused banks and insurers the main drivers amid thin corporate news.Leading the gains were Lloyds Bank (LLOY) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) up 3% apiece to 36.3p and 135p respectively, supported by insurers RSA (RSA) and Phoenix (PHNX) up 2% to 423p and 675p respectively.At 9am the FTSE 100 index was up 0.4% to 6,360 poi

Global growth concerns and a sharp sell-off in US technology stocks yesterday put pressure on the FTSE 100 with the index trading down 13 points at 7,170 early on.Grabbing the headlines are shares in Woodford Patient Capital Trust (WPCT), which are trading down 9% to 69.5p following the suspension of the LF Woodford Equity Income Fund (BLRZQ62) yesterday. After today's fall the trust now trades on

Investors in equipment-rental firm VP (VP.) breathe a sigh of relief after the firm delivers a positive set of full year results and an upbeat outlook for this year.Revenues for the year to 31 March are up 26% to £383m thanks to the consolidation of the Brandon Hire business while pre-tax profits are up 9% to £33.6m. Shares rally 8% to 800p on the news.READ MORE ABOUT VP HEREShares in VP have be

Led by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), anti-trust regulators around the world are having a bigger say than ever in corporate affairs. While this is good news for consumers, for investors the regulators represent another level of risk and complexity.There are many current examples involving UK-quoted shares such as news last week that the CMA was opening a full investigation into

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has bared its teeth for the third time this week with the threat of an in-depth investigation into the sale of Mitie's (MTO) pest control business to Rentokil Initial (RTO) in October 2018.This is the latest in a lengthening list of mergers targeted by an apparently more aggressive UK competition watchdog.Other companies to fall foul of the UK regulators