The FTSE 100 closed lower on Wednesday, hampered by weakness in airline stocks due to geopolitical shocks, and in retailers following a poorly-received trading update from Associated British Foods. The FTSE 100 index closed down 17.14 points, 0.2%, at 9,225.39. The FTSE 250 ended 62.61 points lower, 0.3%, at 21,534.10 and the AIM All-Share finished down 6.29 points, 0.8%, at 762.01. The Cboe...

Primark like-for-likes still negative Grocery profit below expectations Sugar earnings recovery delayed Associated British Foods (ABF) was the biggest FTSE 100 faller on 10 September, shares in the food-to-fashion combine plunging as much as 300p or 13% to £19.42 on news of another period of negative like-for-like sales at discount fashion chain Primark and the absence of guidance on the...

Shares in London were largely higher on Wednesday, with expectations of Federal Reserve cuts continuing to support equities. Well-received earnings from Oracle overnight also offered some impetus. Airline shares struggled on geopolitical worries, though that failed to dampen the wider equity market. A US inflation data double-header will be in focus. Producer price data is released on...

Stock prices in Europe and Asia were supported by the tantalising prospect of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, shaking off geopolitical worries. Jobs data revisions in the US added to the conviction that the Fed will cut this month. Elsewhere, earnings from Oracle impressed overnight. The FTSE 100 index rose 23.65 points, 0.3%, at 9,266.18. The FTSE 100 has risen every day this week. The...

The FTSE 100 closed higher on Tuesday after Anglo American announced a deal to combine with Canada's Teck Resources, while the price of oil has risen following Israeli strikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar. The FTSE 100 index closed up 21.09 points, 0.2%, at 9,242.53. The FTSE 250 ended 87.74 points lower, 0.4%, at 21,596.71 and the AIM All-Share finished down 1.43 points, 0.2%, at 768.30. The...

European stocks were largely higher midday Tuesday, and counterparts in the US are called to open in the green, despite downbeat expectations ahead of US payroll revision numbers later in the afternoon. Before US producer and consumer price index readings on Wednesday and Thursday, Tuesday afternoon has the benchmark revision announcement for US jobs data for the year to March. The FTSE 100...

Deal to create $50 billion mining giant Big bet on copper Estimated $800 million cost savings Global miner Anglo American (AAL) leapt more than 9% to top of the FTSE leaderboard after announcing a merger of equals with Canadian copper miner Teck Resources (TECK.B:TSE), in one of the biggest mining deals in a decade. If initial gains hold, they will take the 12-month advance in Anglo American...

Stock prices in Europe were higher on Tuesday despite French President Emmanuel Macron losing another prime minister, as investors brace for more US labour market data in the form of benchmark revisions this afternoon. The FTSE 100 index rose 15.38 points, 0.2%, at 9,236.82. The FTSE 250 was up 62.91 points, 0.3%, at 21,747.36, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.79 points, 0.2%, at 771.52. The...

London stocks closed higher on Monday, with the FTSE 100 supported by rising oil and gold prices, while European stocks outperformed it ahead of a confidence vote which looks set to oust France's prime minister. The FTSE 100 index closed up 13.23 points, 0.1%, at 9,221.14. The FTSE 250 ended 108.91 points higher, 0.5%, at 21,684.45 and the AIM All-Share finished up 4.10 points, 0.5%, at...

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...