FTSE 100 down more than 3% at 7,763.65 Defensive and utilities stocks hold steady Entain and Taylor Wimpey 'winners' UK housebuilder Taylor Wimpey (TW.) and gambling firm Entain (ENT) bucked the trend by falling less than the blue-chip FTSE 100 index. Taylor Wimpey and other housebuilders were perhaps anticipating the possibility of the Bank of England cutting interest rates this year as a...

London's FTSE 100 closed lower on Tuesday, underperforming European peers, as index heavyweight AstraZeneca held back the large-cap benchmark.Eyes now turn stateside, hours before the closing of polls across the US - where Donald Trump and Kamala Harris lock horns in the presidential election.The FTSE 100 index closed down 11.85 points, or 0.1%, at 8,172.39. The FTSE 250 ended down 91.25...

European equities were on the decline early Friday, with water utilities hurting the FTSE 100, but NatWest limiting the damage.The FTSE 100 index traded down 6.76 points, 0.1%, at 8,262.62. The FTSE 250 was down 22.47 points, 0.1%, at 20,768.08, and the AIM All-Share was up just 0.12 of a point at 725.81.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 827.45, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.3% at 18,324.35, and...

Shares have been out of favourOfwat ruling seen as positiveThames Water in special measuresHaving lagged the market all this year, water utilities were the star turn following an announcement from the regulator Ofwat that the firms could raise their bills over the next five years.In the FTSE 100, Severn Trent (SVT) gained 66p or 2.5% to £26.85 and United Utilities (UU.) added 25p or 2.3% to...

Stock prices in London were mixed on Thursday morning while water companies enjoyed a boost from Ofwat announcing an increase in water prices for customers in England and Wales.The FTSE 100 index opened up 13.36 points, 0.2%, at 8,206.87. The FTSE 250 was down just 0.88 of a point at 20,926.88, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.30 points, 0.4%, at 776.15.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 818.38, the...

£7 billion rights issueInvestment to double2023 earnings lowerMultinational electricity and gas provider National Grid (NG.) surprised the market with the launch of a £7 billion fund-raise to finance investments in its network to the end of the decade.The shares, which had enjoyed a strong run from the £10 level in April up to £11.40 last week, went into reverse falling 103p or 9% to...

Stocks in London were up on Thursday midday, with JD Sports shares in the FTSE 100 jumping as it outlined its financial 2025 profit forecast, while water utilities struggled.The FTSE 100 index was up 20.39 points, 0.3%, at 7,952.37. The FTSE 250 was up 52.23 points, 0.3%, at 19,862.89, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 743.40.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 794.61, the Cboe UK...

Fevertree director snaps up nearly £130,000 sharesUnited Utilities boss Louise Beardmore sells upSafestore director buys just under £100,000 sharesKevin Havelock, non-executive director of posh tonics maker Fevertree (FEVR:AIM) has taken advantage of the recent dip in the share price to buy 10,243 at £12.69 for the total value of £129,984 on 14 September.Earlier on in the week Fevertree...

The potential collapse of Thames Water and a mooted move into public ownership amid spiralling debts has put the spotlight on the contingent of water utility firms on the UK stock market.Saddled with their own significant borrowings and with investment required to fix the UK's ageing water infrastructure, questions are being asked about their ability to continue to pay generous dividends to...

- Dividends to be linked to performance and resilience- Regulatory powers to take action- Better transparency of credit rating changesThe UK's water regulator Ofwat (Office of Water Services) announced new powers on Monday to prevent companies paying dividends if it risked their financial resilience and to take enforcement against water companies which don't link dividend payments to...

- Mike Ashley writes £8 million of put options- United Utilities' CEO retires, sells sharesMIKE ASHLEY SELLS £8 MILLION OF CFD PUT OPTIONSBillionaire founder of Frasers Group (FRAS), Mike Ashley has sold put options over the equivalent of 1 million shares with an 800p strike price and September 2023 expiry.It means Ashley has an obligation to buy the shares at the strike price from the...

- Reckitt chief lands top job at Starbucks- Shell head said to be readying departure- 18 FTSE 100 bosses off to pastures newWhile investors are still mulling over the quarterly FTSE index reshuffle, which saw around a dozen companies change places, the game of boardroom musical chairs seems to have picked up momentum again.Hot on the heels of yesterday's news that the chief executive of...

- Flags higher interest and other costs in year ahead- Dividend 0.6% higher year-on-year- Full-year profit down 20%Full-year results from water and wastewater outfit United Utilities (UU.) revealed the company is not immune to the challenges posed by rising prices - undermining its appeal as a stock which can provide inflation protection.The company, which owns and operates water...

The utilities sector has historically attracted investors for its defensive and reliable revenue streams which in turn funded a decent level of dividend income.More recently, several connected factors have shaken up this industry. These include a transition away from fossil fuels into renewables in the face of a climate emergency, greater appetite for investments in ESG (environmental, social...

For now, the escalating conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of easing. After the initial shock, markets were hopeful the economic impact of the war might be contained as the West's opening salvo of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion (24 Feb) were weaker than some had anticipated.However, any relief soon dissipated as Ukraine put up stiff resistance against the Russian invaders and...

Stocks received a lift heading into the weekend with the release of official figures showing the UK economy performed much better than expected in November.On a monthly basis, GDP (gross domestic product) is estimated to have grown by 0.9% in November against forecasts of a 0.4% increase, taking it above its February 2020 pre-pandemic level for the first time.Growth was broad-based, with...

UK shares continued to climb on Wednesday with the FTSE 100 rising 0.5% back above the 7,300 level thanks to buying of oil majors and mining stocks.Meanwhile, investors were awaiting the release of minutes from the US Federal Reserve's latest Open Market Committee meeting, due after the market close, for clues as to the pace of interest rate hikes after recent strong inflation and jobs...

UK stocks dropped at the open on Tuesday as the fuel crisis sweeping the country showed no signs of easing. To make matters worse, Brent crude oil prices surged to a three-year high over $80 per barrel, pushing up prices at the pump, and UK and European natural gas price hit new records.By 8.45am the FTSE 100 index was down 30 points or 0.4% to 7,035 points as weakness in miners and...

UK stocks started the week on the front foot with the FTSE 100 index gaining 0.8% to 7108.53 in early trading led by energy companies as oil prices continued their recent surge. Shares in BP (BP.) gained 2.2% to 327p and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) added 2.8% to £15.72.Brent crude traded 62 cents firmer at $78.71 per barrel, its highest level in over a year, as rising demand around the world in...

UK stocks recovered some of their afternoon losses despite US Treasury yields moving higher after weekly jobless claims from the Labour Department were lower than the market was expecting.US markets also turned positive, hanging on yesterday's pronouncement from Fed Chairman Jay Powell that he would support the economy - and not take away the punch bowl - for 'as long as necessary'.At the...