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%...

Stability in UK luxury watch market No material impact from US levies, yet Roberto Coin brand 'performing strongly' Concerns over a weaker luxury market and the impact of tariffs have sent Watches of Switzerland's (WOSG) shares down almost 40% year-to-date. However, the high-end timepiece seller clocked up a 7.5% gain to 343p on 3 September after stating it doesn't anticipate 'any material...

Stocks in London ended higher on Thursday as easing bond yields and support for Chancellor Rachel Reeves reassured investors, while upbeat UK services data added to signs of economic resilience. The FTSE 100 index closed up 48.51 points, 0.6%, at 8,823.20. The FTSE 250 jumped 250.09 points, 1.2%, at 21,702.58, and the AIM All-Share rose 8.49 points, 1.1%, at 776.25. The Cboe UK 100 closed up...

Stocks were higher in London at Thursday midday, after data showed the UK service sector grew at the fastest pace for 10 months in June, ahead of key US jobless, unemployment and trade data. The FTSE 100 index was up 29.68 points, 0.3%, at 8,804.37. The FTSE 250 was up 132.92 points, 0.6%, at 21,585.41, and the AIM All-Share was up 6.19 points, 0.9%, at 773.95. The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at...

US business drives growth UK returned to growth Margin guidance spooks market High-end timepiece retailer Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) clocked-up record sales for the year ended 27 April 2025 thanks to much-improved second-half trading, and the FTSE 250 firm also delivered a positive outlook on full-year 2026 revenue. Unfortunately, the Rolex-to-Patek Philippe purveyor also guided for a...

Return to growth in UK and US Demand outstripping supply Management 'mindful' of potential US tariff changes It has been a far from easy time for the luxury sector but high-end watch retailer Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) has bucked that trend. Shares rallied 3% to 406p after the resilient Rolex-to-Patek Philippe purveyor reported much stronger second-half trading with a return to growth in...

Ongoing weakness in Asian demand Spirits sales especially poor -17% Diageo owns 34% of Moet-Hennessy Investors hoping for a rebound in luxury stocks faced disappointment after France's LVMH (MC:EPA) posted weaker-than-expected first-quarter sales due mainly to softer demand in Asia. LVMH shares fell €35 or 7% to a four-year low of €495, dragging with them shares in British luxury...

Defensives hold up in sell-offNew appetite for growth stocksBanks unable to shake off lossesAs the dust settles from the three-day 'Liberation Day'-inspired sell-off, the list of winners and losers makes for interesting reading.Not everything which held up during the market meltdown is being sold off, and not everything which racked up big losses is rebounding, unlike in previous recoveries,...

Following a tumultuous two-and-a-half year period in which the stock price plunged, Watches of Switzerland's (WOSG) shares have rallied the best part of 40% in six months with the UK luxury watch and jewellery markets having bottomed out and US market share gains exciting investors.Having spooked investors with a profit warning at the turn of the year, the absence of any further shocks from...

The FTSE-100 index was down on midday Thursday as fragile consumer confidence hurt Frasers Group and UK housebuilding activity declined at its sharpest pace since the summer.The FTSE 100 index fell 3.86 points at 8,331.95. The FTSE 250 eased 13.28 points, 0.1%, at 20,991.87, and the AIM All-Share dropped 1.67 points, 0.2%, at 736.54.The Cboe UK 100 was slightly higher at 837.15, the Cboe UK...

First-half pre-tax profit downBut EBIT beats forecasts'Strong start' to Christmas quarterShares in Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) rallied 8% to 540p after the luxury timepiece retailer clocked up better-than-feared first-half earnings and left full-year 2025 guidance unchanged, drawing confidence from recently-improved sales momentum and some large showroom openings to come.There was relief...

Shares in luxury timepiece retailer Watches of Switzerland's (WOSG) got a modest boost on news it had acquired publishing firm-to-luxury watch platform Hodinkee.The purchase of a media company by a retailer might look a bit odd at face value. However, the Patek Philippe-to-Audemars Piguet seller clearly believes that by doing so it can accelerate online growth and grab a greater share of...

Luxury watch enthusiast site acquiredDeal to drive online and US growth'Undisputed destination' for luxury watch enthusiastsWatches of Switzerland's (WOSG) shares ticked up 2% to 466p on news it has acquired publishing firm-to-luxury watch platform Hodinkee as the Patek Philippe-to-Audemars Piguet seller seeks to accelerate online growth and grab a greater share of America's expanding high-end...

Strong demand in UK and USUK luxury watch market stabilisedOn track to deliver FY25 guidanceWhile the broader global luxury market continues to slow, Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) believes the market for high-end timepieces and jewellery has bottomed out in the UK.Shares in the Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet purveyor rallied 11.3% to 419p on a reassuring trading update in which the...

Stock prices in Europe opened in the green on Tuesday morning, with investors awaiting a manufacturing PMI print from the US later in the day.The FTSE 100 index opened 6.38 points, or 0.1%, at 8,370.22. The FTSE 250 was up 34.51 points, or 0.2%, at 21,015.02, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.94 points, or 0.3%, at 768.84.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 837.86, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.1% at...

Defence and banks stocks top tableM&A wave creates big winnersConsumer stocks on the skidsIt hasn't been a vintage year for the UK stock market, but there are signs investors are coming back attracted by the cheap valuations on offer compared with the US as well as decent earnings prospects for UK companies.The FTSE 350 index is up 5.5% year-to-date, with the FTSE 100 large-cap benchmark up...

Luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) is one of the worst performers in the mid-cap FTSE 250 index over the last six months, with its shares falling by around a third.The bulk of the share price losses came in January after the timepiece retailer downgraded full year 2024 revenue guidance by 8% at the mid-point of the range and reduced operating margin expectations to a range of...

Shares leap on trading updateSales improve in final quarterChief executive expresses optimismWatches of Switzerland?s (WOSG) shares surged 11% to 374.5p on a reassuring fourth-quarter update in which chief executive Brian Duffy said the high-end watch and jewellery retailer entered the new financial year with ?cautious optimism?.This followed a strong finish to the year to 28 April 2024, with...

The FTSE 100 started poorly on Thursday, despite Wednesday?s record closes across the pond, as Sage Group and easyJet offset a boost from BT.The FTSE 100 index opened down 31.09 points, 0.4%, at 8,414.71. The FTSE 250 was up 34.30 points, 0.2%, at 20,809.93, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.2 of a point at 791.81.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 840.90, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 18,152.47,...

?Milestone? deal in luxury branded jewellery strategyRoberto Coin is sixth biggest jewellery brand in USEarnings and margin-enhancing acquisitionWatches of Switzerland (WOSG) has splashed out $130 million (£104 million) to buy Italian handcrafted jewellery business Roberto Coin Inc in a deal that skews the FTSE 250 firm?s sales mix a bit more towards the lucrative branded jewellery...