Tag Archives: Category:Market Pulse

London’s FTSE 250 was up 0.3% at 21,576.49 in afternoon trade on Thursday. Insurer Beazley was the standout gainer after it posted a better-than-expected surge in full-year pre-tax profit as three of its six divisions achieved double-digit growth. In the year to the end of December, pre-tax profit surged 250% …

London stocks were set to rise at the open on Thursday amid signs of easing trade tensions between the US and China. The FTSE 100 was called to open 55 points higher at 7,537. CMC Markets analyst David Madden said: “In a bid to improve China-US trading relations, overnight Beijing …

Kaz Minerals rallied as copper prices advanced. Science and engineering company Qinetiq pushed up as it said it continued to perform in line with its expectations in the third quarter and announced the acquisition of Newman & Spurr Consultancy for £14m. Electrocomponents was on the rise as its trading statement …

A widely-followed gauge of US consumer sentiment picked up more quickly than anticipated at the start of 2020, pointing to a still solid outlook for spending. The Conference Board‘s consumer confidence index rose from December’s upwardly-revised print of 128.2 to 131.6 (consensus: 128.0). A sub-index tracking consumers’ assessment of current …

At home, foreign trade data for November are scheduled to be published on Monday, followed by readings on consumer prices and retail sales in December set to follow on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. Investors will be scrutinising those reports for further signs of weakness which might cement expectations in financial …

London’s FTSE 250 was 0.20% higher at 20,706.34 in afternoon trade on Thursday, with Dunelm leading the charge upward. Shares of the homeware retailer surged after it said full-year pre-tax profit was set to come in higher than previous expectations. AJ Bell analyst Russ Mould said: “A lot can happen …

Analysts at Capital Economics forecast that the cartel and allied producers will only agree to roll-over their existing production curbs due to Saudi balking at the risk of seeing its share of the global oil market being eroded further by ‘free riders’. “If we are right and OPEC+ simply rolls …

Survey results due out on Monday for factory sector conditions in China, the UK, US and euro area will set the tone for trading over the remainder of the week, with investors keen for the most up-to-date readings possible. They will be followed later in the week, on Wednesday, by …

London’s FTSE 250 was down by 0.32% at 20,956.09 in afternoon trade on Friday, with Victrex leading the index lower. Royal Mail was also weaker following a downgrade to ‘market perform’ at Bernstein, while the stock was also in focus after the Court of Appeal rejected a union appeal against …

London’s FTSE 250 was higher by 0.26% at 21,008.02 in afternoon trade on Thursday, with shares of Virgin Money UK leading the index higher. The Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank owner surged even as it said full-year losses had widened and scrapped its dividend. AJ Bell analyst Russ Mould said: “Expectations …