Previous Close | 7,197.01 |
Open | 7,197.01 |
Volume | 0 |
Day's Range | 7,185.23 - 7,261.63 |
52 Week Range | 6,536.50 - 7,903.50 |
Avg. Volume | 720,994,329 |
Executive pay has long caused conflict between shareholders and boards but generous pension deals are expected to be the main battleground this AGM season. UK investors are increasingly irate at the difference in benefits between company bosses and ordinary workers. In some cases, FTSE 100 chief executives receive retirement benefits worth more than half of their salary while staff are lucky to get a tenth of their pay as a pension contribution.
European stocks finish sharply higher Friday, helping the pan-European benchmark produce its best weekly gain since early November, as investors cheer signs of progress on a U.S.-China trade deal.
The midcap index meanwhile saw online trading platform Plus500 fall sharply on a report that it may have "misled" investors over losses. The FTSE 100 added 0.6 percent and the midcaps closed 0.1 percent higher, with investors seeing little change in the Brexit backdrop after Prime Minister Theresa May's latest defeat in parliament on Thursday.
London’s main stock index was headed for its third straight week of gains, rising modestly on Friday after data that showed strength in retail sales.
U.S. equity futures edged higher Friday, following solid gains in Europe, on reports that officials from both the U.S. and China will continue trade talks next week in Washington, raising hopes of a near-term ...
This year’s Super Bowl may be over, but Wall Street is still in need of the equivalent of the “Hail Mary” pass that has such a special place in American football. Earnings growth for S&P 500 companies is expected to grind to a virtual halt in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2018, when the effect of the corporate tax cuts kicked in.
The FTSE 100 added 0.1 percent, outperforming its U.S. and European peers, though the FTSE 250 was down 0.4 percent as ConvaTec tanked after reporting what its CEO called "disappointing results". Investors also kept an eye on the ongoing parliamentary turmoil over Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan. "The fact that there will now be another meaningful vote on Feb. 27 has taken the pressure off today's vote ... but Theresa May's 'my deal or no deal' doesn't look like it will make it into next month," London Capital Group analyst Jasper Lawler said.
European shares gave up three-month highs on Thursday after a surprise sharp decline in U.S. retail sales pulled stocks lower in afternoon trading, spoiling an initially upbeat session that saw blue-chips such as Nestle shine on strong earnings. Wall Street opened in the red, albeit moderately, after data showing the largest drop in retail sales since September 2009, when the economy was emerging from a recession. "The market’s fragile optimism was undermined on Thursday after a truly horrendous set of retail sales figures out of the U.S.," wrote Connor Campbell, an analyst at Spreadex.
London stocks posted modest gains on Thursday, as investors continued to look to global trade talks for inspiration, while balancing some grim economic news from Europe.
U.S. equity futures turned sharply red Thursday after data showed the weakest reading for December retail sales in nine years, erasing earlier gains linked to progress in trade talks between Washington and Beijing and data showing a surprise jump in January China export activity. Retail sales fell 1.2% in December from the previous month, the Commerce Department, the biggest drop since September 2009 and well shy of the 0.2% gain that was forecast by economists. Although data was partially impacted by the 35-day government shutdown, the weakness in such a key metric of U.S. economic health -- consumer spending is responsible for around two thirds of GDP growth -- triggered sharp reversals in U.S. equity futures.
Most European markets rose modestly on Thursday morning, as weak German economic data failed to entirely damp positive sentiment on hopes of progress in U.S.-China trade talks.
U.S. equity futures suggest solid gains on Wall Street amid signs of potential progress in U.S. China trade talks and data showing that country's exports rebounded firmly in the first month of the year. China's U.S. trade surplus eases to $27.3 billion, the lowest since May 2018, as imports fall 42% thanks in part to steep declines in soybean purchases. Global oil prices rise for a third session as China data showed crude imports rose 4.8% and topped the 10 million barrel per day mark for third consecutive month.
Global stocks traded cautiously higher amid signs of potential progress in U.S. China trade talks and data showing that country's exports rebounded firmly in the first month of the year. China's U.S. trade surplus eases to $27.3 billion, the lowest since May 2018, as imports fall 42% thanks in part to steep declines in soybean purchases. European stocks book solid gains, as the euro slips to a three-month low after data showed Germany's economy avoid recession, but recorded no growth over the final three months of the year.
Investing.com - Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Thursday, February 14:
Opinions divide between those coloured by the acquisitive group’s financial strategy, buying undervalued software groups, and greyer types who disagree with buying mature tech companies offering low growth. Chief executive Stephen Murdoch paints a pretty picture of hefty shareholder returns. Mr Murdoch could promise more handouts because Micro Focus had plenty of free cash flow by the end of October.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up around 0.3 percent during mid-morning trade, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory. China reported stronger-than-anticipated trade data on Thursday, offering a welcome relief to investors concerned about a global economic downturn. European stocks were higher on Thursday morning, amid a flurry of earnings results, while market participants anxiously wait on any signs of progress in the latest round of U.S.-China trade talks.
Many of the letters tell of how people entered schemes with no idea that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) considered them tax avoidance “disguised remuneration” vehicles. Most people who contacted us requested anonymity, with several saying they feared reprisal from HMRC if they identified themselves publicly. Almost every letter FT Money received spoke of the personal distress that living under the shadow of the loan charge was causing for them and their immediate family.
Investing.com -- It’s all about growth.
The FTSE index increased 0.8 percent after touching its highest level since Oct. 10, handily outperforming its European peers, while the midcaps were also up 0.8 percent. British lawmakers will face a choice between Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal or a long extension to the March 29 deadline for leaving the European bloc, May's chief Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins was overheard saying in a Brussels bar.
London stocks were climbing Wednesday, driven by growing optimism over a trade deal between the U.S. and China that kept global stocks on a positive path.
Recent inflation data in the UK put pressure on the pound. GBPUSD has turned to decline from 1.29 after the release of disappointing inflation data for January.
European indexes gained ground on Wednesday morning, with positive results and outlooks from chemicals manufacturer Akzo Nobel, Dutch brewer Heineken and French asset manager Amundi helping to lift sentiment. The Stoxx Europe 600 (XX:SXXP) rose 0.4% to 364.1 on Wednesday morning, putting it on course for a third consecutive day of gains. In the U.S., President Donald Trump said he was willing to postpone next month’s deadline for imposing further 25% tariffs on trade with China “if we’re close to a deal”.
The FTSE index was up 0.4 percent and the midcaps were 0.7 percent higher by 0950 GMT. Housebuilders Persimmon, Barratt and Taylor Wimpey - among those most vulnerable to a no-deal Brexit - were among the biggest gainers after midcap Galliford Try reported higher first-half profit that topped Liberum estimates.
The pan-European Stoxx-600 was up around 0.3 percent during mid-morning deals, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory. On the data front, British inflation fell to a two-year low in January, slipping below the Bank of England's target in the process. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he could be tempted to push back the March 1 deadline for reaching a trade agreement with China if the two sides were close a deal.
Investing.com -- Stock markets in Europe are following the U.S. and Asia higher after comments from U.S. President Donald Trump gave cause for optimism on two grounds.