Markets are all about pricing in expectations, so when the range of potential outcomes narrows, there is naturally some relief that the worst case didn't materialise. That helps explain the positive reaction to the framework trade agreement announced at the weekend (27 July) between the European Union and the US. Futures markets gapped higher at the start of trading in Asia which followed...

Stocks in Europe were in the red at Wednesday midday, with risk sentiment turning somewhat cautious despite the Israel-Iran ceasefire, before Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell takes centre-stage with his testimony in front of US lawmakers later. The impetus from an Israel-Iran ceasefire faded, with stocks that had climbed after the geopolitical optimism, returning progress. Defence stocks...

The Nasdaq 100 index has been one of the best performing indices of the last 25 years, returning 8.8% since January 2000. To put that in pounds and pence, £10,000 invested in the index would now be worth £84,473, even throwing some shade on the broader US stock market in the form of the S&P 500, which is itself no slouch on the performance front. The Nasdaq 100 index is comprised of the...

London stocks rounded off the week in the green, after stronger-than-expected US nonfarm payrolls data, while eyes stateside were also on the feud between US President Donald Trump and Tesla boss Elon Musk. The FTSE 100 index rose 26.87 points, 0.3%, at 8,837.91. The FTSE 250 ended up 87.90 points, 0.4%, at 21,157.28, and the AIM All-Share climbed 2.42 points, 0.3%, at 756.88. For the week,...

Continuing reverberations from President Tump's redrawing of the global world order saw the UK government announce its SDR (Strategic Defence Review), aimed at moving the UK to a position of 'war fighting readiness.' Having already committed to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP (gross domestic product) by 2028, on 1 June Prime Minister Starmer revealed plans to increase spending to 3%...

In what could be one of the biggest listings of the year, Cobalt Holdings ? a company set up to buy and hold cobalt, as its name suggests ? said it intended to float in London next month through a $230 million issue of new equity partly underwritten by mining giant Glencore (GLEN). The company, which will seek admission to the commercial companies segment of the official list, claims it will...

London's FTSE 100 bounced back on Tuesday, ending a four-day losing streak, as gains in defence and insurance stocks helped offset ongoing nerves over US-led trade tensions. The FTSE 100 index closed up 208.45 points, 2.7%, at 7,910.53. The FTSE 250 ended 583.96 points higher, 3.3%, at 18,349.15. The AIM All-Share rose 17.24 points, 2.8%, at 641.66. The Cboe UK 100 ended up 2.8% at 787.57, the...

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,...

Company warns of delays2025/2026 sales growth cutBuyback upped to £200mShares in QinetiQ (QQ.) were on course to suffer their biggest single-day loss since listing in 2004, with the shares slumping as much as 20% after the defence group warned delays in UK and US contracts would impact 2025 revenue.The shares are now trading down 1% year-to-date, although over the last 12-months they are up...

Three recent interventions by the Trump administration are having a major impact on financial markets.First, plans for a cryptocurrency strategic reserve were announced, helping to light a fire under Bitcoin and other digital assets.Those gains were soon erased however when, against hopes of a last-minute reprieve, 25% tariffs were introduced on Canada and Mexico along with a 10% levy on...

BAE Systems shares climb 15%European stocks sharply higherUK and France discuss Ukraine dealThe European defence sector enjoyed its biggest one-day rally since 2020 after the Trump administration refused to offer any security guarantees, leading investors to bet on European governments ramping up their defence spending.Shares in BAE Systems (BA.) jumped 210p or 15% to £16.15, pulling with...

European defence stocks are becoming hot property again as governments across the continent signal an urgent need to increase military spending. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed the session on 17 February 0.54% higher, lifted by a 4%-plus jump in the Stoxx 600 Aerospace and Defence index.With geopolitical tensions intensifying and European governments committing to increased military...

Full year sales and profit up 14%Guidance underwhelmsDividend hiked by 10%Meeting consensus expectations is often not enough to satisfy investors and that appears to be the case with aerospace and defence group BAE Systems (BA.), whose shares flipflopped between losses and gains despite delivering double-digit full year sales and profit growth.The shares have doubled since the Russian invasion...

Stocks in Europe were mixed on Tuesday afternoon, with London's blue chip index boosted by miners and defence as talks between the US and Russia continue, though the pound surrendered some earlier progress as the Bank of England governor warned on tepid economic growth.The FTSE 100 index rose 14.82 points, 0.2%, at 8,782.83. The FTSE 250 fell 34.80 points, 0.2%, at 20,903.88, and the AIM...

The FTSE 100 opened in the green on Monday despite geopolitical concerns and tariff worries continuing to hang over equities.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.43 points, 0.2%, at 8,745.89. The FTSE 250 added 64.96 points, 0.3%, at 20,977.97, and the AIM All-Share rose 1.33 points, 0.2%, at 727.39.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 877.63, the Cboe UK 250 also added 0.3% to 18,333.89, and the Cboe Small...

Stock prices in London and Frankfurt opened in the red on Friday, as investors prepare for eurozone economic data and digest another tariff plan from the US president.In London, NatWest faced some selling pressure despite better-than-expected results. Hermes boosted Paris, keeping the CAC 40 in the green.The FTSE 100 index fell 30.67 points, 0.4%, at 8,734.05. The FTSE 250 added just 2.35...

Higher-than-expected ordersSpaceX driving upgrade cycleAerospace and defence market penetration excites analystsShares in Filtronic (FTC:AIM) rose 7% to an all-time high of 96.5p on 13 January after the communications equipment specialist upgraded guidance for the year to May 2025 once again amid ongoing positive order momentum.In a brief update, the County Durham-based firm announced that...

Shares gain 289% over the past yearFurther contracts expected in space marketsTechnology roadmap progress madeShares in Filtronic (FTC:AIM) were up 8% to 77p in morning trading as the communications kit designer said it expects strong half-year results for the six months ending 30 November.It has been a stellar year for the firm which has seen its shares rise 289% due to a strong order flow...

London's FTSE 100 was largely flat, though the FTSE 250 made a more sizeable move heading into Friday afternoon, as M&A activity continued.The FTSE 100 index added just 3.66 points to sit at 8,284.88. The FTSE 250 registered a more convincing 31.63 point gain, 0.2%, at 20,794.41, and the AIM All-Share added 1.49 points, 0.2%, at 732.40.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.1% at 832.14, the Cboe UK 250 added...

The defensive lean to London's FTSE 100 index served it well on Tuesday, as tensions mounted in the Middle East amid reports that Iran is planning an imminent missile attack on Israel.The FTSE 100 index ended up 39.70 points, 0.5%, at 8,276.65. The FTSE 250 closed 112.46 lower, 0.5%, at 20,940.73, and the AIM All-Share shed 3.63 points, 0.5%, at 736.80.The Cboe UK 100 ended 0.5% higher at...