DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ FTSE 100 falls as Ocado sinks; still set for best Feb in six years
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) lost 0.6% with shares of Ocado (OCDO.L) plunging 10.5% on the online supermarket and technology group's worse-than-expected full-year loss. "Ocado is in the eye of the cost-of-living storm because its offering isn't synonymous with being the best value," said Sophie Lund-Yates, lead equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. Lund-Yates said Ocado is a higher-end option, without the same benefits of enticing people with tangible, physical goods like peer Marks & Spencer (MKS.L). Despite recent volatility, the exporter-heavy FTSE 100 is on track to record its best February performance since 2017 as higher earnings and weakness in the pound earlier in the month made equities more attractive. On the flipside, hedge fund firm Man Group (EMG.L) gained 7.9% after posting a higher full-year core pretax profit and beating expectations on assets under management.

☆ Upbeat earnings help FTSE 100 rebound from last week's selloff
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Bunzl, Associated British Foods up after resultsRolls-Royce top of FTSE 100 after price target raiseFTSE 100 up 0.8%, FTSE 250 adds 0.4%Feb 27 (Reuters) - The UK's FTSE 100 rose on Monday after upbeat earnings reports from Associated British Foods and Bunzl helped pull the index up from last week's battering on worries about high U.S. interest rates. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.8%, after recording its worst weekly performance so far this year as hotter-than-expected U.S. consumer spending data on Friday sparked a selloff on both sides of the Atlantic. Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF.L) climbed 1.3% after raising its outlook for the full year 2022-23 for the clothing retailer. The FTSE 100 has had a stellar start to the year so far, rising 6.4% as strong earnings and a steady rise in commodity prices helped the index outperform major global peers, outweighing a gloomy economic outlook. The more domestically-inclined FTSE 250 midcap index (.FTMC) rose 0.4%, with a near 16% slump in shares of Dechra Pharmaceuticals(DPH.L) capping gains.

☆ FTSE 100 falls as ex-dividend trades weigh; Rolls-Royce soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Rolls-Royce jumps on upbeat forecastMajor banks and healthcare stocks trade ex-divFTSE 100 down 0.3%, FTSE 250 adds 1.0%Feb 23 (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 index fell on Thursday, as banking and healthcare majors traded ex-dividend, although a surge in Rolls-Royce after it reported higher profit limited further losses. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) was down 0.3%, on track for its third straight session of decline. Some banks, including Barclays (BARC.L) and Standard Chartered (STAN.L), and healthcare majors AstraZeneca (AZN.L) and GSK (GSK.L) traded without entitlement for dividend payout. The exporter-heavy FTSE 100 has had a strong start to the year, helped by some positive earnings and a stir in commodity prices, hitting record highs and breaching the 8,000 barrier level. Among individual stocks, Mondi (MNDI.L) hit the bottom of the FTSE 100, falling 6.7% after reporting its full-year results.

☆ London stocks fall as rate hike worries linger, Lloyds drags
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) lost 0.9%, hitting its lowest level in over a week. The banking sector (.FTNMX301010) lost 1.4%, with shares of HSBC (HSBA.L) off 1.2% and Prudential (PRU.L) down 2.3%. London-listed shares of Rio Tinto (RIO.L) slumped 2.5% after the global miner posted a 38% drop in annual profit and more than halved its dividend. Those worries remain in focus ahead of the release, later in the day, of the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest meeting. Despite the session's losses, the exporter-heavy FTSE 100 has had a strong start to the year, helped by some positive earnings and a stir in commodity prices.

☆ UK's FTSE 100 rises on miners boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.1%, FTSE 250 adds 0.1%Feb 20 (Reuters) - UK's exporter-heavy FTSE 100 gained on Monday as mining stocks rose on a bet on demand recovery in top consumer China, and retailer Frasers Group jumped after announcing a share buyback. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) gained 0.1% at 8:25 GMT, trading above the 8,000 point mark after breaching a record high last week. Frasers Group (FRAS.L) climbed 3.8% after the sports goods retailer said it intends to commence a new share buyback programme. Miners Rio Tinto (RIO.L) and Anglo American (AAL.L) were amongst top gainers, rising close to 1% each. The more-domestically focussed FTSE 250 midcap index (.FTMC) rose 0.1%Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in BengaluruOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Stock market still not fulling pricing in recession risks , says BofA's Jill Carey Hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailStock market still not fulling pricing in recession risks , says BofA's Jill Carey HallJill Carey Hall, head of small and midcap strategy at Bank of America Global Research, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss year end targets, nearterm downside risks, and markets not fully pricing in recession.

☆ FTSE 100 at record high on positive Centrica, StanChart earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 hits record high, trading above 8,000 pointsCentrica, StanChart, Relx jump on upbeat resultsVodafone rises on report of looking at options for Africa unitFTSE 100 up 0.3%, FTSE 250 adds 0.4%Feb 16 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 rose to a record high on Thursday, underpinned by corporate earnings from Centrica and Standard Chartered, while higher commodity prices drove up heavyweight miners. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) gained 0.3%, trading comfortably above the 8,000-point mark it had breached in the previous session. The exporter-heavy FTSE has had a stellar start to the year as positive corporate earnings and rising commodity prices supported the index. Shares of Centrica (CNA.L) jumped to top the FTSE 100, adding 4.2%, after the British gas owner's annual profit more than tripled and as it announced an extension of its share buyback programme. Standard Chartered (STAN.L) rose 1.8% after the lender reported a 28% rise in annual pretax profit and unveiled a $1 billion share buyback programme.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with BofA's Jill Carey Hall on lessons from earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with BofA's Jill Carey Hall on lessons from earnings seasonJill Carey Hall, head of small and midcap strategy at Bank of America Global Research, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss year end targets, nearterm downside risks, and markets not fully pricing in recession.

☆ Small caps are on a tear this year. Here’s how investors are playing the rally.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"A regime change, if you will, is taking place in the market, where small caps are going to do better," said Francis Gannon, co-chief investment officer at Royce Investment Partners, which focuses on small caps. Now investors are pointing to the recent rally as proof that small caps are on the verge of a prolonged period of outperformance. 'Massively outperform' Michael Sesser, equity portfolio manager of the $558-million DWS Small Cap Core fund, believes small caps will "massively outperform" large caps over the next five to 10 years. Cantaloupe , a retail service digital payments company with a $373 million market cap, and medical imaging provider RadNet ($1.2 billion market cap) are among Sesser's picks. DWS Small Cap also owns metallurgical coal producers serving the steel industry, namely Alpha Metallurgical Resources ($2.7 billion market cap), Arch Resources ($2.6 billion market cap) and Peabody Energy ($4.2 billion market cap).

☆ London's FTSE 100 muted as bank stocks fall; weaker pound limits losses
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 0.1%, hovering near a record high. British lender Barclays (BARC.L) slid 8.3% to the bottom of the FTSE 100 and was set to post its biggest drop in nearly a year after reporting a 14% slump in full-year profit. The FTSE 350 banking index (.FTNMX301010) fell 1.9%, on track for its biggest one-day drop in more than two months. The pound edged lower after data showed British consumer price inflation fell more than expected in January and there were also drops in underlying measures of inflation that are being closely watched by the Bank of England. The FTSE 100 has had a stellar start to the year boosted by upbeat corporate earnings, rising more than 6% so far this year.

☆ How to Invest in the S&P 500
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

The S&P 500 index, short for Standard & Poor’s 500 index, is one of the most widely traded and talked about stock indexes in the world. The Largest S&P 500 Index Funds Ticker Symbols Expense Ratio Fund Size Vanguard S&P 500 Index Fund VOO, VFFSX, VFIAX 0.010%-0.040% $792 billion SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY 0.095% $380 billion Fidelity 500 Index Fund FXAIX 0.015% $374 billion iShares Core S&P 500 ETF IVV 0.030% $307 billion Vanguard Institutional Index Fund VINIX, VIIIX 0.020%-0.035% $238 billion Morningstar DirectS&P 500 mutual funds vs. S&P 500 ETFsAnother thing to consider is whether you want to buy a traditional mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund, which trades like a stock. Equal weight, value or ESG S&P 500 fundsMoreover, if you’re concerned about the heavy weighting of certain sectors in the S&P index you can invest instead in an equal weight S&P 500 index fund or add those shares to your portfolio. Alternatively, you can buy an S&P 500 value fund, which represents stocks that are considered undervalued or an S&P 500 growth fund, which represents the fastest-growing companies in the S&P 500. Another variation on the S&P 500 index theme incorporates ESG (environmental, social and governance) values while maintaining similar overall industry group weights as the S&P 500.

☆ Earnings, M&A chatter lift FTSE 100 to record high, Entain tumbles
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Sruthi Shankar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.7% to touch a record high of 7,943.68, while the midcap FTSE 250 index (.FTMC) inched up 0.1%. AstraZeneca (AZN.L) jumped 4.3%, set for its best day in nearly a year, after the drugmaker forecast earnings growth in 2023. Unilever (ULVR.L) rose 0.4% after the consumer goods giant reported quarterly underlying sales growth above expectations. Watches of Switzerland Group (WoS) (WOSG.L) slumped 13.1% after it gave its quarterly trading update. (This story has been corrected to say Watches of Switzerland Group gave quarterly trading update, not full-year in the third bullet and last paragraph.)

☆ Will the stock market rally last? Analysts share their predictions — and strategies
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But is this just a bear market rally or the start of a bull market ? The rally has some way to go, said Trivariate Research analysts, led by founder Adam Parker, in a Feb. 5 note. "It means there is further upside potential to this rally," Parker wrote. But markets could go through some range-bound trading before a "big rally," Hatfield told CNBC Pro. In light of the volatile market, Niles said investors should continue staying invested in cash — his "favorite investment" for this year.

☆ These midcap stocks are cheap and expected to see booming earnings growth in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In a year when corporate earnings are broadly expected to deteriorate , some midcap names with cheap valuations are forecast to see strong earnings growth. However, the blended S & P earnings decline for the fourth-quarter is -5%, per FactSet. Midcap stocks are faring slightly better, with the S & P 400 MidCap up nearly 8% year to date. Each is also expected to post earnings growth of at least 20%, per FactSet. Earnings growth at $8.3 billion market cap company is expected to expand by nearly 32% and it has a P/E of 10.4.

☆ This fund crushed it last year in part by heavily betting on one unique oil stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The fund isn't tied to any index, nor does Schwartz try to mimic a specific sector weighting. About 40% of the fund's investments today are in energy, Schwartz said, with no bets on the consumer defensive and utilities sectors, according to Morningstar data. Then a trust, many people steered clear of the large Texas land owner, which owns land often used for oil and gas drilling, and traded at around $150 a share. Schwartz's bet on energy extends to a more traditional stake in Chevron , (4.3% of the fund) which he calls a premiere integrated oil and gas company. But Schwartz started accumulating energy stocks well before the latest rally, when crude oil plummeted during the pandemic.

☆ Wall St Week Ahead Stock swoon resets valuations but recession risk, rates cloud outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The S&P 500 tumbled 19.4% in 2022, as the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes designed to tamp down 40-year high inflation punished asset prices. The market's 2022 slide cut the ratio of price to forward earnings estimates to around 17 from about 21.7 a year ago, according to Refinitiv Datastream. S&P 500 forward price-to-earnings ratio over timeValuations may still be too high if a recession comes to pass, as many on Wall Street expect. Combined with an expectation of weakening earnings estimates, that would lower the S&P 500 to 3,200, UBS said, roughly 16% below current levels. The 2022 surge in interest rates also could undermine stock valuations by making relatively safe assets like U.S. Treasuries more attractive alternatives.

☆ FTSE 100 rises on Next boost; recession worries loom
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) climbed 0.4%, extending gains to a third straight session and outperforming most regional peers. British clothing retailer Next (NXT.L) surged 7.4% after raising its pretax profit forecast for the current year, pushing the broader retailers index (.FTNMX404010) to a more than four-month high. Oil majors BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) rose more than 1% each as crude oil prices rebounded amid dollar weakness. Britain's services sector ended 2022 in a lacklustre fashion, with new orders falling and hiring frozen during December, a survey showed, highlighting the likelihood that Britain is already in recession. Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V and Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ In an income-obsessed world, dividends that are too high could turn into a dry well
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Scott Schnipper | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Income and yield, dividends and royalties. After all, analysts' forecast yield on the S & P 500 as a whole in 2023 is still only about 1.8% today. To find red flags among high-payers, CNBC Pro searched the S & P 1500 Index, consisting of the S & P 500, Midcap 400 and Smallcap 600 indexes. The result is five stocks with dividends ranging as high as 15.2%, but no lower than 5.5%. More optimistically, however, its dividend coverage ratio stands at a reasonable 2.0.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Netflix, Cal-Maine Foods, Southwest and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Cal-Maine Foods — Cal-Maine shares shed 15% after reporting earnings that fell short of Wall Street's expectations even as the egg producer reported record sales. Southwest Airlines — The airline stock rose more than 3%, paring back losses from the previous session when it dropped more than 5%. Severe disruptions at Southwest Airlines have drawn outsized criticism from frustrated travelers, who have dealt with thousands of canceled flights from airlines this week because of winter weather. Southwest Airlines canceled another 60% of its flights on Wednesday. Apple — The iPhone maker's stock rose more than 3% after hitting its lowest level since June 2021 earlier in the week.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Tesla, Cal-Maine, Southwest and others
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Peter Schacknow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) – Cal-Maine slid 4.9% in premarket trading after its quarterly earnings came in below Wall Street forecasts. General Electric (GE) – GE spin-off GE HealthCare Technologies will join the S&P 500 when it begins trading as a separate public company on Jan. 4. Vornado will replace logistics company RXO (RXO), which will move to the S&P SmallCap 600. GE HealthCare — trading on a when-issued basis — rose 1% in the premarket, while Vornado was marginally lower and RXO jumped 3.3%. Apple (AAPL) – Apple is up 1% in premarket trading after closing Wednesday at a 1-1/2 year low.

☆ FTSE 100 falls as consumer, commodity stocks drag on China COVID worries
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 eyes worst day in two weeksFalling crude drags oil giants lowerFTSE 100 down 0.4%, FTSE 250 off 0.3%Dec 29 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 fell on Thursday, with energy and consumer stocks leading declines, as optimism over China's reopening fizzled out in the face of surging COVID-19 cases in the world's second largest economy. The blue-chip index (.FTSE), down 0.4%, will post its biggest single day drop in two weeks if losses hold. Commodity prices broadly fell as surging COVID cases in China dimmed hopes of a recovery in fuel demand for the world's largest crude oil importer even as it began dismantling strict COVID curbs. Oil majors BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) lost 1.2% and 0.8%, respectively, on Thursday as crude prices fell more than 2%. Consumer stocks such Unilever (ULVR.L) and British American Tobacco (BATS.L) weighed on the FTSE 100, slipping nearly 1%.

☆ This week's best performers include Moderna and two homebuilders
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

As of Friday's open, these are some of the stocks poised to buck this week's negative trend. This week's top performer was vaccine maker Moderna , with shares up nearly 17% as of Friday's open. Homebuilding stocks Lennar and PulteGroup are also on pace to finish the week on a positive note. Shares of both stocks are down more than 19% this year, but were on pace to gain about 6% for the week as of Friday's open. About 47% of analysts say shares are a buy, offering 10.6% upside from Thursday's close.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Moderna, First Solar, Pinterest, Norwegian Cruise Line and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Vials with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine labels are seen in this illustration picture taken March 19, 2021. Moderna – The drugmaker saw its stock soar 19.6% after the company issued promising data about its cancer treatment. First Solar – The solar stock added 4.5% following an announcement on Monday that it will replace Fortune Brands Home & Security in the S&P 500 . Pinterest – Shares of the social media company climbed 11.9% after Piper Sandler upgraded Pinterest to overweight from neutral. Norwegian Cruise Line – The cruise giant shed 2.8% after UBS downgraded the stock to neutral from buy.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves in the premarket: Oracle, Boeing, Moderna and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Peter Schacknow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Boeing (BA) – Boeing rose 2.2% in premarket action after United Airlines (UAL) announced a 200-jet order that includes 100 787 Dreamliners and 100 737 Max jets, with options for further purchases. Moderna (MRNA) – The drugmaker announced that its experimental melanoma vaccine combined with Merck (MRK) cancer treatment Keytruda cut the risk of skin cancer recurrence by 44% compared with a treatment of only Keytruda. First Solar (FSLR) – First Solar rose 1.1% in premarket trading following news that it will replace Fortune Brands Home & Security (FBHS) in the S&P 500. Mirati Therapeutics (MRTX) – Mirati Therapeutics surged 8.6% in premarket trading after the drugmaker's new lung cancer treatment adagrasib received Food and Drug Administration approval. Fiverr (FVR) – Fiverr added 1.1% in premarket trading after Citi initiated coverage of the stock with a "buy" rating.

☆ UK's FTSE 100 rises ahead of key Federal Reserve speech
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 up 0.3%, FTSE 250 adds 0.3%Nov 30 (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 rose on Wednesday, helped by consumer discretionary and energy stocks, though investors were cautious ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve Chair's speech later in the day. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) gained 0.3% by 0821 GMT and was on track for its best month in two years. Consumer discretionary shares like Flutter Entertainment (FLTRF.L) gained 2.1% after JP Morgan raised the company's price target. Energy stocks (.FTNMX601010) took an early lead, gaining 0.2% as crude oil prices climbed on falling U.S. crude inventories and a weaker greenback. Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Search resuls for: "midcap"

25 mentions found