UK stocks opened stronger on Monday and were continuing to hover just under multi-year highs touched in January, as investors looked past fears over hot inflation to focus on global recovery hopes.By 8:42 am, the FTSE 100 index was up 0.1% at 7,524.03 points, while the FTSE 250 traded 0.2% higher at 21,753.76.Miners were in demand, as an ongoing inflationary environment should be positive for...

London's FTSE 100 finished in positive territory on Friday, even as Brexit talks revealed few signs of a breakthrough and new lockdowns to combat climbing coronavirus cases weighed on sentiment.Prime Minister Boris Johnson caused jitters by stating that talks with the EU are 'over' and it is time for Britain to 'get ready' for no-deal, though markets were boosted by Pfizer's plans to apply for...

London's FTSE 100 rebounded strongly on Friday as a bit of optimism over Brexit returned, with the EU stating it is willing to continue negotiations, although new lockdowns to combat climbing coronavirus cases kept a lid on gains.At 11.40 am, the blue chip benchmark was up 1.28% at 5,907.01.SERCO SOARS ON UPGRADED GUIDANCEThe biggest riser was services group Serco (SRP), soaring 17.2% to 139p,...

The FTSE 100 rebounded strongly after yesterday's major losses as a big fall in the pound helped exporters.As coronavirus cases continue to climb investors rushed to the relative safe haven of the US dollar, helping companies which report in dollars, while the pound also took a hit following reports suggesting Prime Minister Boris Johnson could walk away from talks with the EU over a...

UK markets fell sharply during the Friday session following a weak opening on Wall Street as ups the ante in his pandemic spate with China. The US President claims to have seen evidence that the coronavirus emerged from Chinese labs, yet US Intelligence officials distanced themselves from those allegations.Dismal UK manufacturing data weighed on the investor mood, adding to the gloomy economic...

Shopping centre marketing specialist SpaceandPeople (SAL:AIM) is up nearly 60% in a week to 37.9p. It has guided fora £1m pre-tax profit in 2017 and a healthy net cash position of £1.25m. The shares last September crashed after a dividend cut and poor sales of its retail merchandising units. These are modules with shelving, signage, storage and an internet connection that allows retailers...

Investors are running out of patience with shopping centre marketing specialist SpaceandPeople (SAL:AIM) after poor trading in December hit sales in its retail merchandising unit (RMU).RMUs are modules with shelving, signage, storage and an internet connection that allows retailers to sell products in shopping centres.The company is having a tough time on the market as it recently cut its...

Currency movements help lift the FTSE 100 0.3% to 7231.12, continuing the early 2017 bull run in the index.Sterling hits its lowest level against the dollar since October giving a boost to dollar earning commodities stocks. Glencore (GLEN) is up nearly 2% at 294.1p.The biggest FTSE 100 faller is outsourcer Babcock International (BAB), down 3.3% to 909p as Deutsche Bank downgrades its rating to...

Glasgow shopping centre marketing specialist SpaceandPeople (SAL:AIM) falls 29.1% to 28.1p as it confirms alongside interims that, for the first time since joining AIM in 2005, it will not pay a dividend.The news shows the risk of blindly buying a company for a high yield. Based on Friday's close and the previous consensus dividend estimate the stock was yielding a generous looking 5% but...

London's FTSE 100 follows Asian markets down on Monday, despite a slight recovery in oil prices, with the blue chip benchmark 67.9 points lower at 6,841.5 as anticipation builds ahead of tonight's first televised US Presidential debate.The market is in part weighed down by UK supermarkets, which head south as German discounter Aldi announces record sales and plans for a £300 million...

The ability of micro cap stocks to deliver super-sized returns in super quick time is exemplified by Catalyst Media (CMX:AIM).The £12.3 million cap's main asset is a 20.5% stake in provider of broadcasting services to bookies Satellite Information Services (SIS) and it is up 63.9% in the space of a week to 50p after SIS secured (23 Sep) a new five year deal with Racecourse Media commencing...

UK markets make steady progress in early trade on Friday with a mixture of corporate news, takeover gossip and financial data lift the mood of investors. The FTSE 100 is 23 points higher, or 0.3%, at 6,820, just off year-long resistance at around 6,875, but nudging ever closer to that magic 7,000 marker. Mid caps also rally, the FTSE 250 index putting on around 90 points, or 0.5%, to 16,468,...