Stocks in Europe were higher on Monday afternoon, despite political uncertainty in France, while gold reached a record high and stocks in the US are set to open in the green amid dovish Federal Reserve expectations. The FTSE 100 index climbed 14.32 points, 0.2%, at 9,222.53. The FTSE 250 was up 141.48 points, 0.7%, at 21,717.02, and the AIM All-Share added 6.79 points, 0.9%, at 772.42. The...

Aviva CEO and husband snap up shares Costain directors make confidence purchase Morgan Advanced Materials director buys 25,000 shares CEO Amanda Blanc of insurance group Aviva (AV.) and a person closely connected with her, Kenneth Blanc have bought 25,736 shares at 623p, for a total value of £160,335 on 4 September. The Blanc's purchases reaffirm confidence in the company. The insurance group...

Operating profits increase Cash generation disappoints Rebranding as Standard Life After a strong run year-to-date, life insurer and asset manager Phoenix Group (PHNX) met profit-taking after posting a mixed first-half trading update. The shares fell as much as 43p or 6.4% to 627p before stabilising around 637p for a loss of 32p or nearly 5%, leaving them with a gain of 25% since January. >...

Stocks opened higher at the start of the week, with gold performing well in the aftermath of Friday's US jobs data, while focus was on Japan and France amid political uncertainty. Japan's prime minister announced he will step down and the future of his French counterpart hangs in the balance also. In the UK, eyes remain on Westminster after UK PM Keir Starmer last week completed a reshuffle of...

London's blue chip index ended the day lower on Friday, despite earlier advances, as a weaker-than-expected US employment report sparked fears that its jobs engine might be stalling. 'The [US] labour market is in a precarious position,' said analysts at Wells Fargo, putting the Federal Open Market Committee in a position 'where it will imminently start cutting the federal funds rate.' The FTSE...

Stocks were higher on Friday afternoon as investors await US unemployment numbers for August, meanwhile Angela Rayner quits as deputy prime minister of the UK and as deputy leader of the Labour Party. The FTSE 100 index was up 21.94 points, 0.2%, at 9,238.81. The FTSE 250 was up 58.36 points, 0.3%, at 21,533.04, and the AIM All-Share was up 5.31 points, 0.7%, at 767.31. The Cboe UK 100 was up...

Firm sticks to current earnings guidance FY26 and FY27 profit around £450 million Shareholder returns to continue to 2030 Residential developer Berkeley Group (BKG) brought a small ray of light to the housebuilding sector with its latest trading update and confirmation of its medium-term profit goals. The shares, which have lagged the FTSE 100 year-to-date with a loss of nearly 7%, inched up...

European stocks were higher on Friday morning with Peel Hunt shares up as it announced a 'strong start' to its current financial year; meanwhile average UK house prices reached a record high in August. The FTSE 100 index opened up 22.84 points, 0.3%, at 9,239.71. The FTSE 250 was up 67.35 points, 0.3%, at 21,542.03, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.47 points, 0.5%, at 765.47. The Cboe UK 100 was...

London's blue chip index made gains on Thursday, supported by retailers and insurers, as investors look to Friday's nonfarm payroll data coming out of the US and what it might mean for rates. The FTSE 100 index closed up 38.88 points, 0.4%, at 9,216.87. The FTSE 250 ended 161.61 points higher, 0.8%, at 21,474.68 but the AIM All-Share finished down 6.47 points, 0.8%, at 762.00. The Cboe UK 100...

Full year profit ahead of expectations Record free cash flow Accelerated Chinese JV Animal genetics company Genus (GNS) reported better than expected full year profit and announced an accelerated porcine joint venture in China, sending the shares up 10% to £27.45. If the gains hold the shares will have notched up an advance of almost 80% so far in 2025, comfortably ahead of the 4% return in...

Stocks in Europe were mixed at Thursday midday, as investors await the US ADP jobs report followed by US weekly jobless figures, and US trade balance; meanwhile the price of gold eased. The FTSE 100 index was up 18.07 points, 0.2%, at 9,196.06. The FTSE 250 was up 166.04 points, 0.8%, at 21,479.11, and the AIM All-Share was down 7.40 points, 1.0%, at 761.07. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at...

Market share gains in UK and Nordics Strong recurring services revenue growth Comfortable with £170 million consensus Shares in Currys (CURY) sparked up 19% to a two-year high of 129.7p after the technology products retailer reported a strong start to the year and showed confidence in its growth prospects and cash generation by launching a new £50 million buyback on top of a previously...

Stocks in London were mostly higher on Thursday morning just before the release of UK construction purchasing managers' index data, however Jet2 shares fell as it expects annual earnings before interest and tax at the lower end of a consensus range. The FTSE 100 index opened up 17.91 points, 0.2%, at 9,195.90. The FTSE 250 was up 115.05 points, 0.5%, at 21,428.12, and the AIM All-Share was...

Trading trends at cut-price clothing chain Primark and the synergies promised by a planned merger of Kingsmill-owning Allied Bakeries and Hovis will be in focus when Associated British Foods (ABF) updates the market on 10 September. The FTSE 100 foods-to-fashion conglomerate's shares are down 13% on a one-year view with discount fashion arm Primark finding life tougher on home turf and its...

Investment trusts have a history of more than 150 years and over that time, have constantly reinvented themselves to meet investors' needs. The first ever trust, F&C (FCIT), was launched back in 1868 and in the intervening 157 years, the sector has survived wars, recessions and myriad market crashes. In a clear demonstration of the sector's ability to move with the times, BlackRock American...

Murray International (MYI) 295p Market cap: £1.75 billion Investment trust Murray International (MYI), part of the Aberdeen Asset Management stable, delivered a solid set of half year results on 15 August, cementing itself in the eyes of investors as delivering income and long-term capital growth. Over the six months to 30 June, the company delivered an NAV (net asset value) total return of...

London's blue chip index ended Wednesday in the green, as easing bond yields and service sector growth helped to ease pressure on the UK chancellor. The FTSE 100 index closed up 61.30 points, 0.7%, at 9,177.99. The FTSE 250 ended 150.18 points higher, 0.7%, at 21,313.07 and the AIM All-Share finished up 2.90 points, 0.4%, at 768.47. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 920.63, the Cboe UK 250...

Stock prices in Europe were higher at Wednesday midday while bonds globally were under pressure, meanwhile UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves set November 26 as date for her much-awaited autumn budget. The FTSE 100 index was up 51.75 points, 0.6%, at 9,168.44. The FTSE 250 was 118.24 points higher, 0.6%, at 21,281.13, and the AIM All-Share was up 4.00 points, 0.5%, at 769.57. The Cboe UK 100 was 0.5%...

Full year guidance cut Robust first half Inventory build ahead of Christmas Meat and fish packing business Hilton Food (HFG) slumped as much as 19% despite reporting a robust first half after flagging temporary headwinds in seafood and lowering full year profit guidance to below consensus expectations. If the losses hold it will mean the shares have lost around a quarter of their value so far...

Assets above forecasts Net inflows resumed Profit marginally light Shareholders in FTSE 100 asset manager M&G (MNG) will be quietly pleased with the firm's first-half results and in particular the resumption of fund inflows. Saying that, the shares dipped 4p or 1.5% to 253p on a slight miss at the operating profit level, but after a 27% gain year-to-date, investors will hardly have noticed the...