After a year-on-year decline of 4.6% in the amount of dividends paid out by UK firms in the first quarter of 2025 (to £14 billion), there was another drop in the total payout in the second quarter according to the latest report by global financial services company Computershare. However, before income investors throw their arms in the air, the headline decline of 1.4% to £35.1 billion masks...

Stocks were higher in Europe on Wednesday morning after the US and Japan announced the agreement of a trade deal, separately pharma firm Shield Therapeutics shot up as it reported a revenue surge. The FTSE 100 index opened up 40.07 points, 0.4%, at 9,063.88. The FTSE 250 was up 84.07 points, 0.4%, at 22,018.33, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.56 points, 0.3%, at 772.70. The Cboe UK 100 was up...

Tariffs, downgrades to earnings and economic forecasts and geopolitical conflict were the defining factors for markets in the first half of 2025. They've caused considerable uncertainty which has affected asset prices, as well as business and consumer confidence. Investors could have made more than twice as much money investing in the UK stock market than in the US so far this year. The FTSE...

Markets around the world have reacted with palpable relief to two major decisions by the Trump administration. First, on 9 April, reciprocal tariffs (except on China) were delayed for 90 days ? which proved the catalyst for the third-largest daily gain for US stocks since the Second World War. Many observers pegged the U-turn on movements in government bond yields which revealed declining...

European stocks traded higher on Monday, despite more US tariffs, while the FTSE 100 outperformed peers on a boost from BP.A report that an activist investor has picked up a stake in BP lifted the oil major. Gold hit a record high, boosting precious metal miners. News of another batch of US tariffs, this time in the aluminium and steel sectors, meant European stocks got off to a slow start to...

London stocks climbed on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 reaching a new high, driven by strong performances from gold miners and upbeat corporate earnings, while investors also assessed weak economic data from the US and eurozone.The FTSE 100 index ended up 89.07 points, 1.0%, at 8,646.88. It had earlier set a new intra-day high of 8,655.19.The FTSE 250 ended up 245.37 points, 1.2%, at 20,802.07,...

London's FTSE 100 made a solid start to 2025, shaking off underwhelming trade in Asia.The FTSE 100 index opened up 17.71 points, 0.2%, at 8,190.73. The FTSE 250 was up just 9.30 points, at 20,631.91, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.11 points, 0.3%, at 721.74.The FTSE 100 added 5.7% over the course of last year.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 821.34, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.1% higher at 18,078.53,...

Stock prices were in the green on Wednesday morning amid optimism that the Federal Reserve in the US might cut interest rates in the future.In the UK, it is the day before election day. Polls have seen Keir Starmer's Labour party take the lead as the Conservatives slip.The FTSE 100 index opened up 42.55 points, 0.5%, at 8,163.75. The FTSE 250 was up 99.58 points, 0.5%, at 20,294.05, and the...

Investors in London showed confidence on Monday, with stocks closing up on hopes on interest rate cuts being around the corner.The FTSE 100 index closed up 3.94 points at 8,424.20. The FTSE 250 ended up 123.43 points, 0.6%, at 20,873.33, and the AIM All-Share closed up 15.92 points, 2.0%, at 809.94.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 840.87, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.6% at 18,250.48, and the...

Stock prices in London were higher at midday on Monday as gold hit a record high ahead of a UK inflation reading later in the week which will be essential for interest rate cut hopes.Amongst individual stocks, gold miner Fresnillo was the top performer of the morning on the FTSE 100 index, climbing with hopes of interest rate cuts. In the FTSE 250 index, Kainos jumped thanks to an increase in...

Blue-chip stocks in Europe and New York struggled on Friday, though there was some impetus from a surge in the gold price, while base metals also shone.That gave a lift to mining stocks in London, though the FTSE 100 still ended lower, making a weekly loss.The FTSE 100 index ended down 18.39 points, 0.2%, at 8,420.26. The FTSE 250 closed down 72.94 points, 0.4%, at 20,749.90, and the AIM...

The FTSE 100 achieved a solid gain and almost hit its best-ever level on Friday, with its mining and oil producing contingent sparing it from declines seen in equities elsewhere.Shares in Frankfurt and New York failed to find their feet as investors fretted over rising tensions and US interest rate worries.The FTSE 100 index ended up 71.78 points, 0.9%, at 7,995.58, closing below the 8,000...

London?s FTSE 100 traded solidly higher at the start of the second quarter, boosted by oil majors and gold miners, ahead of UK data shortly.The FTSE 100 index opened up 48.35 points, 0.6%, at 8,000.97. The FTSE 250 was up 75.55 points, 0.4%, at 19,960.28, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.78 points, 0.5%, at 747.04.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at 800.00, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 17,393.65,...

Equities in London made an underwhelming start to the week, in a sign of investor unease ahead of a key few days on the fiscal and monetary policy fronts.A pre-election budget will be the key event in the UK this week. Eyes will be on whether UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will size up some tax relief. In the eurozone, focus will be on the European Central Bank?s interest rate decision on Thursday....

London?s blue chips closed little changed, after a bright start, ahead of a busy week of data, central bank announcements, and earnings.The FTSE 100 index closed down 2.35 points, marginally down, at 7,632.74. The FTSE 250 ended down 26.86 points, 0.1%, at 19,311.16, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.42 of a point, marginally lower, at 750.28.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% at 762.54. The...

Stock prices in London closed up on Wednesday as private sector expansion proved stronger than expected, and amid a host of strong PMI data from around the world.The FTSE 100 index closed up 41.94 points, 0.6%, at 7,527.67. The FTSE 250 ended up 179.06 points, 0.9%, at 19,171.68 and the AIM All-Share closed up 5.93 points, 0.8%, at 744.85.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 752.68, the Cboe UK...

Equities in London were on the up heading into Wednesday afternoon, with a better UK economic data and measures out of China lifting the mood.The pound climbed on an improved UK purchasing managers? index reading, while miners cheered a move by China?s central bank which it hopes will spark some life into the Asian economy.Over in Frankfurt, SAP was one of the stories of the day. The software...

Despite coming under selling pressure from the slightly hawkish words of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell this afternoon, the FTSE 100 closed in the green on Friday.The FTSE 100 index edged up 4.95 points, or 0.1%, at 7,338.58. The FTSE 250 shed 63.55 points, 0.4%, to 18,131.02, and the AIM All-Share slipped 0.85 of a point, 0.1%, to 733.67.For the week, the FTSE 100 added 1.1%, both the...

In an environment of political, economic and market turmoil, the gold price is within touching distance of record highs and US precious metals miner Newmont (NEM:NYSE) recently sealed a blockbuster $19 billion takeover of Australian rival Newcrest Mining (NCM:ASX), bringing extra pizzazz to the sector.Gold and its miners are clearly in the spotlight and encouragingly for investors who fear...

Mixed precious metals prices and disappointing operational news mean Fresnillo (FRES) shares have had a very poor start to 2023, down more than 17%.Focused on Mexico, the miner is the world's largest producer of silver from ore and has significant gold output. Prices for both metals have been volatile amid an uptick in bond yields on expectations interest rates might be higher for...