Leading UK shares ended lower on Wednesday but off their weakest level after Russian president Vladimir Putin said the country would increase the amount of gas it will send to Ukraine via Europe, reining in surging gas prices that contributed to market weakness.At the close, the UK benchmark FTSE 100 was 81 points, or 1.15%, lower at 6,995.87, above the session low of 6,946.The more UK focused FTS

London's major shares continued to plunge through late morning trading on Wednesday, even after supermarkets giant Tesco (TSCO) posted bumper profits. Investors are clearly worried increasingly about rising US bond yields and soaring energy prices that have been stoking inflation threats, and possibly, sooner than expected interest rate rises.Oil prices were camped above $82 per barrel after produ

London's FTSE 100 traded almost 1% lower at 7,007.53 early on Wednesday, even after supermarkets giant Tesco (TSCO) posted bumper profits, as rising US bond yields and soaring energy prices stoked inflation fears.Oil prices were camped above $80 per barrel after producers' cartel OPEC failed to increase output and natural gas continued to touch record highs, leaving investors fretting that rising

Inkjet printing technology specialist Xaar (XAR) fell 12.3% to 190p after posting a deeper first half loss as rising revenue was offset by increased expenses, including higher R&D spending.This, plus a highly caveated outlook statement, appeared to prompt fears of an eventual profit warning, despite the company sticking with full year guidance for now.Often a weak first half creates a situation wh

Get ready for inkjet print head designer Xaar (XAR) to deliver a sharp recovery in earnings.The appointment of a new management team with deep industry experience is successfully reinvigorating the group's business model.The group is benefiting from a strong product pipeline, coupled with a plethora of new innovative offerings that have been well received by customers.Management has facilitated th

UK shares closed lower on Tuesday as nervousness set in ahead of the interest rate decision by the US Federal Reserve tomorrow and key earnings updates after the market close from technology heavyweights Microsoft and Alphabet.Analysts are expecting a 27% increase in Microsoft's third quarter earnings to $1.78 per share, with a 16.6% rise in revenue to $40.85 billion.Investor reaction will likely

UK shares dipped into negative territory at midday Tuesday as investors awaited the two-day policy meeting of the US Federal Reserve where it is expected to reiterate its easy monetary policy.However, there are lingering worries that rising inflation expectations and higher commodity prices could push the bank into earlier than expected tightening.At 12pm, the FTSE 100 was 0.2% lower at 6,948 poin

UK stocks eked out modest gains in a subdued start to trading on Tuesday as various mining stocks created a headwind and investors digested a mixed batch of earnings releases, including positive updates from BP (BP.) and HSBC (HSBA) and disappointing ones from Whitbread (WTB) and Aveva (AVV).By 8.20 am, the FTSE 100 traded a mere 0.1% higher at 6,970.55 points while the FTSE 250 was down 0.1% at 2

After an extraordinary year we look back at some of the top performers in different size categories from the heavyweights all the way down to sub £100 million market cap stocks at the bottom of the market and examine what has driven them higher in 2020. We have excluded investment trusts.£4 billion + market capShare price movements in mining companies can be about exposure to the commodities the

UK stocks ended the day marginally lower amid confusion in global markets following the unexpected decision by president Trump to suspend negotiations over further stimulus to the US economy until after next month's elections.US indices fell sharply overnight but rebounded again strongly during the European session. London's FTSE 100 index fell 4 points 5,946 at the close as gains in retailers off

UK stocks were largely unchanged at lunchtime as global markets reacted to the unexpected decision by president Trump to suspend negotiations over further stimulus to the US economy until after next month's elections.US indices fell sharply overnight on the news although futures recovered some of their lost ground during the European morning. London's FTSE 100 index traded sideways at 5,950 points

London's FTSE 100 opened higher on Wednesday after groceries giant Tesco (TSCO) delivered a rise in first-half profits and upped its dividend.At 8.30 am, the blue chip benchmark was up a modest 5.6 points at 5,955.5, while the FTSE 250 edged ahead 0.17% to 17,828, despite Donald Trump's decision to abruptly end talks with Democrats on a new Covid-19 stimulus package.Britain's biggest supermarket T

The deadline for payment protection insurance (PPI) claims may have just passed but judging by the new provisions revealed by the high street banks many of us waited until near the August deadline before applying for compensation.With the average compensation payment standing at £1,700 according to the Financial Conduct Authority, and sometimes running to several multiples of this figure, a PPI p

London's FTSE 100 shed 9.1 points to trade at 7,273 on Tuesday as political uncertainty caused sterling to drop below $1.20 for the first time since 2017. This weighed on the UK-focused FTSE 250, dragging it back by 26 points to 19,456 and is also bad news for UK domestic FTSE 100 stocks including the housebuilders, supermarkets and various banks.Plumbing and heating products distributor Ferguson

UK stock markets are on the front foot in early trade on Friday as investors are somewhat soothed by a bounce on Wall Street overnight.The leading FTSE 100 index rises by nearly 100 points to 6,683.60 at 10am, recovering some of the losses chalked-up during pre-Christmas trading sessions. Much of that can be related back to action across the pond in New York, where major US markets regained a posi

The FTSE 100 is down 35 points to 7,422 not aided by a poor showing from the mining sector. There is also continued trepidation over the US' trade talks with Canada which are not buoying the markets.Mining giant BHP Billiton (BLT) is down 1.3% to £16.13 after buying a 6.1% stake in Solgold (SOLG). This move is the latest tit-for-tat exchange BHP is having with Newcrest Mining for control over Bri

The FTSE 100 is down 48 points to 7,514 as positive trading in the US fails to cross the pond to the UK. As the pound continues to make gains against the dollar, the overseas earning constituents of the main index feel the strain.FTSE 250 staffer Hays (HAS) is down 2.7% to 197.35p on release of its full year results. The company's pre-tax profits grew by 17% to £238.5m and raised its core and spe

The FTSE 100 made a steady start after US president Donald Trump softened his rhetoric on trade overnight and a big draw in US inventories boosted oil prices. The latter gives a lift to index heavyweights BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and the FTSE is up a handful of points in early trading.Premier Inn and Costa Coffee owner Whitbread (WHB) ticked up 1.1% to £39.35 as it unveiled first qua

The FTSE 100 is down slightly by 18.74 points to 7042.28 as the market eagerly awaits the US Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates. The consensus view is that the US will keep its rate hiking policy on track with a 0.25% interest rate rise.In corporate news, Screwfix-owner Kingfisher (KGF) dips 7.9% to 311p on news that its pre-tax profits are down 10% to £682m for its 2017 year to 31 Janu

UK shares come under selling pressure in early trade on Wednesday following a bleak overnight session in the US. Wall Street suffered its worst trading day this year as investor concerns about whether President Donald Trump will be able to deliver promised tax cuts weigh on confidence.That dragged both the Dow Jones and S&P 500 lower with banks, which have helped to propel share markets to record