London stocks were mixed at midday on Wednesday, with investors cautious after the Federal Reserve struck a measured tone on interest rates. The FTSE 100 index was down 9.73 points, 0.1%, at 9,213.59. The FTSE 250 was down 6.06 points at 21,689.29, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.81 of a point, 0.1%, at 782.06. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 923.90, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.1% at 18,984.25,...

Pre-tax profit jumps over 50%Firm cites higher-margin ordersOutstanding long-term returnsPrecision engineering firm Goodwin (GDWN) was the standout performer by a country mile on a grey day for the UK market, posting a strong increase in six-month earnings and orders.The shares, which were up 12% year-to-date head of today's report, jumped as much as £12.40 or 18% to £80 before settling up...

Stock prices opened in the red in London, Paris and Frankfurt on Tuesday, as investors await eurozone trade balance and US industrial production data.The Office for National Statistics reported that UK unemployment, in the three months to the end of October, remained unchanged at 4.3% compared to the three months to the end of September. Growth in average earnings including bonuses picked up...

Over the longer term, UK small caps have historically outperformed their larger cap brethren, but prevailing investor sentiment towards smaller companies remains poor due to stubborn inflation, higher interest rates and recessionary fears. It won't be like this all the time.One smart way to gain exposure to the asset class ahead of an eventual rally, with a turn in inflation among the likely...

One of the biggest takeaways from the UK's new 'Energy Security Strategy' announced on 7 April was that nuclear power would be a crucial part of the Government's plan for secure and sustainable energy.The issue has become particularly pressing amid surging energy costs and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In this article we will look at how the UK's plans sit in a global context and...

UK markets held on to gains throughout Wednesday to end the session higher as investors cling to hopes of a stimulus package being agreed by US lawmakers and that UK and EU negotiators can pull a last-ditch trade agreement out of the fire.The UK's post-Brexit trade deal transition period ends on 1 January 2021.Meaningful progress on either the stimulus or Brexit fronts could help markets rally...

UK markets continued their positive run through midday on Wednesday as investors cling to hopes of a stimulus package being agreed by US lawmakers and that UK and EU negotiators can pull a last-ditch trade agreement out of the fire.The UK's post-Brexit trade deal transition period ends on 1 January 2021.Meaningful progress on either the stimulus or Brexit fronts could help markets rally in the...

Engineering business Goodwin (GDWN) has won a long-term contract to make and supply secure storage units for nuclear waste clean-up.The multi-year deal, with an unnamed client, is the largest purchase agreement ever signed by Goodwin and follows extensive behind the scenes work.That effort has now paid off with the company saying that the contract is expected to result in 'significant...

London's FTSE 100 traded 0.22% lower at 6278.68 early on Monday as a rising number of COVID-19 cases, including in the US and China, stoked fears of a second wave of global infections.Sportswear giant JD Sports Fashion (JD.) cheapened 3.7p to 643.3p after confirming it has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators to its struggling Go Outdoors division with the courts, although it...

London's FTSE 100 edged 8.6 points higher to 7,549.4 on Thursday with investors in cautious mood ahead of the holiday season and the Bank of England's interest rate decision at midday, with no change to the cost of borrowing anticipated. Markets seemed to shrug their shoulders following the impeachment of Donald Trump, who became only the third President in US history to be...

How often should companies report their financial results? In the UK it is every six months and it appears the US could be heading in the same direction after US president Donald Trump used his favourite communication tool, social media network Twitter, to say he has asked the US stock market regulator (the SEC) to consider abandoning quarterly reporting.In this situation, the UK could become...

By: Steven Frazer, Daniel Coatsworth, James Crux, Tom SieberBuy family-run businesses if you want to beat the market. It's a bold statement and credible one, according to various bits of research we'll discuss later.Many of these studies categorise a family company as one where the family owns at least a 20% stake in the business and has at least one member on the board.Global brands such as...

With the oil price now down nearly 60% from the June 2014 highs anything remotely connected to the oil and gas world has seen its value plummet over the past few months.While the sector as a whole has been decimated, oil equipment and services companies have generally been hit twice as hard as integrated oil majors. Share prices of many industrial engineering groups with significant exposure...

Castings and valves maker Goodwin (GDWN) may be vulnerable to profit-taking in the short-term after a 92% advance in the last 12 months. Last week's large sale by a key family board member is a potentially useful cue for those considering getting out early.Amid a number of smaller director purchases a £487,500 divestment (23 Apr) by Matthew Goodwin stood out. Established in its Stoke on Trent...

As foreshadowed by Shares, premium branded cookers specialist AGA Rangemaster (AGA) warms up 4.75p to 177.75p on well-received full-year figures and an upbeat outlook statement. Operating profits surge 26.2% to £8.2 million at the operationally-geared group as the housing market revival boosts second-half sales.Troubled engineer Redhall (RHL:AIM) is raising £7.5 million in a discounted share...

Glencore Xstrata (XTA) rises 4.1% to 334.5p as it provides a significant amount of information on its future plans to investors in a day-long presentation. The market likes the news of $2 billion of synergies from buying Xstrata earlier this year, significantly ahead of the initial $500 million merger guidance. Also pleasing investors is a bullish stance on commodities in general, saying there...

On a day in which London's FTSE 100 eases back 14.87 points to 6,573, following on from a 32.5 points fall to 6,587.95 in the previous session, integrated energy firm BG Group (BG.) advances 1.7% to £12.05 on better-than-expected second quarter numbers. We previewed the results here earlier this month. The slight beat on consensus, allied to a 10% hike in the dividend and confirmation the...