FTSE 100 falls as investors eye U.S.-Iran jitters
July 1, 2026, 6:30 AM EDT. The FTSE 100 dipped Wednesday, snapping a winning run that spanned six quarters. Traders took a step back on fresh concerns about a possible U.S.-Iran nuclear deal. Banks and industrials helped curb some of the losses after energy and mining shares slipped. Market nerves over geopolitics kept the index under pressure.
London's FTSE 100 inches lower on Middle E…
AIM Movers: Shearwater jumps on £25m deal, Supreme up revenue as regulatory shifts hit
July 1, 2026, 6:29 AM EDT. Shearwater Group shares surged 17.6% after the cyber security outfit landed a £25 million contract extension running five years, covering packet monitoring and forensic work for a UK telecoms group. Goldplat shares put on 6.35% after the gold recovery business said its outlook for 2025-26 is ahead of previous forecasts. Polar Capital saw revenue climb to £264.3 million and nearly doubled performance fees, holding the dividend at 46p. Ethernety Networks, still loss-making, jumped 23.1% even as sales slipped. Supreme lifted revenue 17% though profit slipped on tougher trading in electricals and household. Pacsco shares were knocked after its asset sale faced delays tied to regulatory signoff. AIM stocks were mixed with contract wins, asset deals and more regulatory drag.
AIM movers: Shearwater wins large contract…
SDCL Efficiency Income Trust Director Buys 50,000 Shares
July 1, 2026, 6:17 AM EDT.Christopher Knowles, non-exec director at SDCL Efficiency Income Trust plc (SEIT), picked up 50,000 ordinary shares on June 26, 2026. The deal amounts to 0.016% of SEIT’s issued share capital and came in at about £17,468 on the London Stock Exchange, with shares at £0.34936 each. SEIT is in the FTSE 250 index and focuses on energy efficiency projects in North America and Europe. The company moved to sell portfolio assets and start a managed wind-down in April 2026. The purchase shows ongoing insider action as SEIT runs through its strategic changes, and SEIT disclosed the deal under UK Market Abuse Regulation rules.
St. James's Place Adds 7,500 Shares to LSE Main Market
July 1, 2026, 6:16 AM EDT. St. James’s Place plc put 7,500 more ordinary shares of 15 pence each on the London Stock Exchange Main Market starting July 1, 2026. After this, the company has 517,495,853 shares out. The shares were issued June 18, 2026, through employee share schemes, covered by an earlier block admission from March 18, 2021. The new shares are fully fungible with the current ordinary shares. This fits with the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024. For more information, contact Company Secretary Jonathan Dale.
US women’s legal status: advances and reversals over 250 years
July 1, 2026, 6:15 AM EDT. The 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence exposes the ups and downs for women’s rights. In 1776, legal doctrine like coverture left married women with almost no property or contract rights-men made the rules. Abigail Adams and other early voices called for change but ran into resistance. That shifted partly in an 1839 Mississippi case, where Chickasaw woman Elizabeth Love won individual property rights under tribal law, cutting through some old barriers. Still, big gaps remained, and the pattern of progress mixed with reversals is still running through US law on women’s rights now.
In its 250 years, the US has seen both pro…
AI Buzz Sends Coding and Software Valuations to Decade Highs, Peel Hunt Says
July 1, 2026, 6:14 AM EDT. Sage Group PLC (LSE:SGE), Craneware PLC (AIM:CRW), and Cerillion PLC (AIM:CER) sit at valuations that haven’t been seen since 2010-2014, as investors mix up coding work with software products amid a rush for AI exposure. Peel Hunt analysts say the line between the two has blurred, sending stocks lower than they should be. With AI changing how firms are viewed, investors are starting to pick apart which firms do real software and which just provide coding services. The shift shows why the tech sector needs tighter definitions to avoid more mispricing and mistakes.
Coding vs software: The AI confusion that …
JPMorgan China Growth & Income PLC Sets Third Quarterly Dividend for 2026
July 1, 2026, 5:58 AM EDT. JPMorgan China Growth & Income PLC said it will pay a third interim dividend of 3.39 pence per share for the year to September 30, 2026. Investors on the books by July 10, 2026 will qualify, with the ex-dividend date on July 9, 2026. The company put net asset value at 338.85 pence per share on September 30, 2025. Shareholders can still choose dividend reinvestment via the DRIP until August 10, 2026. The process is handled by JPMorgan Funds Limited, the company’s secretary.
Ceres Power (LSE:CWR) Spiked 446% in a Year, Then Halved After Raising Cash
July 1, 2026, 5:57 AM EDT. Ceres Power Holdings (LSE:CWR) soared 446% over 12 months, hitting 873p in May 2026 before plunging almost 50% by July. That sharp drop followed a £103 million capital raise at 570p while the company was still posting heavy operating losses-Ceres reported a £47.6 million loss on £32.6 million sales for FY25. The SOFC tech firm is betting on partners like Centrica and Doosan to push its clean energy ambitions, including targeting data center demand. But with a market cap near £1 billion and no profits, investors are now weighing Ceres’s growth pitch against real financial risks.
Up 446% in 12 months! What’s next for the …
How big an ISA do you need for £1,220 in passive income?
July 1, 2026, 5:42 AM EDT. If you want £1,220 in passive income each year from a Stocks and Shares ISA, dividend payers like Standard Life (LSE:SDLF) are an option. The stock yields 6.5% now, and the dividend has gone up by 2.8% a year over five years. Getting £1,220 at that yield would take about £18,770 invested (£1,220 ÷ 6.5%). ISA dividends are tax-free, which bumps up returns. Reinvesting those dividends-a method known as compounding-can boost income more in future years. Investments aren’t without risk, and tax rules depend on your own situation. This setup could work for anyone focused on long-term, tax-efficient income.
How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,…
FTSE 100 holds as defence stocks jump on UK spending boost
July 1, 2026, 5:27 AM EDT. The FTSE 100 was little changed, with investors taking in Middle East peace talks and waiting for central bank comments on interest rates. Defence stocks led the way after the UK said it would boost defence spending-Babcock rose 4%, BAE Systems gained 2%. US-Iran talks stalled, and risk appetite faded. Metals fell as the dollar firmed and traders braced for possible higher US rates. Rio Tinto, Shell and BP were all down about 1%. Sainsbury’s traded higher after a strong update.
FTSE 100 steady as defence stocks rise
Marks and Spencer (MKS.L) admits 505,689 new shares to LSE
July 1, 2026, 5:17 AM EDT. Marks and Spencer Group PLC issued 505,689 new ordinary shares of 1p each, now trading on the London Stock Exchange Main Market. The shares were issued from June 1 to June 30, 2026, through an existing block admission for the company’s SAYE Scheme, set up in December 2023. With this move, Marks and Spencer’s total share count passes 2.06 billion. The new shares are fully fungible and trade the same as existing ordinary shares.
Aberdeen Group PLC Adds 259 Shares in Share Plan Move
July 1, 2026, 5:16 AM EDT. Aberdeen Group PLC said it issued 259 ordinary shares under its Share Plan on June 10, 2026, according to a July 1 statement. The new shares, which come with full voting rights, started trading on the London Stock Exchange Main Market through existing block admissions. After this, issued share capital stands at 1,840,745,774 shares as of June 30, 2026. The company says it holds no shares in treasury. This share plan step is routine and does not change shareholder equity or control.
Maven Income and Growth VCT Lists 321,950 New Shares on LSE After Equity Issue
July 1, 2026, 5:15 AM EDT. Maven Income and Growth VCT PLC put 321,950 new ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange on July 1, 2026, after issuing them through its Dividend Investment Scheme. Each share has a 10p nominal value under ISIN GB0004122858 and matches the existing ordinary shares. After the listing, total securities in issue rose to 207,559,566, all trading on the LSE Main Market. The move is in line with the 2024 Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations. Maven Capital Partners UK LLP acts as company secretary. Details can be found on the company’s website.
CMC Markets (LSE: CMCX) jumps 90% in 2026, raises FY27 outlook above earlier range
July 1, 2026, 5:14 AM EDT. CMC Markets (LSE: CMCX) is up about 90% in 2026, far ahead of the FTSE 100’s 6% climb. The trading platform has raised its FY27 net operating income guidance to at least £550 million, up from £460-480 million. Performance has been strong in its B2B white-label platform, and the company sees better profit margins from operational leverage as steady income covers fixed costs. Ongoing financial market volatility and more trading activity have helped its outlook. Some analysts say CMC Markets looks like a solid medium-to-long-term investment for ISAs or SIPPs. But investors are being told to weigh company fundamentals and broad risks, including tariffs and geopolitical issues, before making moves.
The CMC Markets share price is smashing th…
UK House Prices Flat Again in June as Rate Hikes and Iran Tensions Hit Demand
July 1, 2026, 5:13 AM EDT. UK house prices went nowhere for a second straight month in June, Nationwide said, with the average home slipping to £277,484. Higher interest rates tied to the Iran conflict kept pressure on buyers, and agents warned a summer slowdown looks likely. Mortgage costs stayed high, with average two- and five-year fixes at 5.53%, even after a small drop as oil prices eased. Shares in Barratt and Berkeley fell. Annual prices rose 2.2% overall, with Northern Ireland leading regions at 8.6%. But Nationwide’s chief economist flagged that if energy prices keep falling, the Bank of England might slow rate hikes, letting mortgage rates come down by year end.
UK house prices stall for second straight …
Supermarket Income REIT (LSE:SUPR) dividend yield draws income investors as rates, risks pressure shares
July 1, 2026, 5:12 AM EDT. Supermarket Income REIT (LSE:SUPR) is paying a 7% dividend yield, appealing to income hunters. The REIT has to send out at least 90% of its property income as dividends, so its yield usually tops that of FTSE 100 shares, which sit closer to 3.1%. SUPR buys up UK and French supermarket property, giving investors real estate exposure without direct landlord hassles. Still, higher interest rates and market tensions have pushed up borrowing costs and hit profitability, helping drive the share price down in the past four years. Investors are left to weigh that steady income stream against the risk of more capital loss.
With a 7% yield, is this dividend share a …
Putting £8 a Day Into Dividend Shares May Hit £357,000 Over 30 Years
July 1, 2026, 5:11 AM EDT. Putting £8 a day-about the cost of a typical supermarket lunch-into dividend stocks and reinvesting the payouts could add up to £357,000 after 30 years, a financial analysis says. Compound growth powers this, with gains building each year. Using Supermarket Income REIT Plc as an example, which yields nearly 7.4% right now, the case shows even small, steady sums can get big over time. UK shares, still seen as undervalued by some, stand out despite worries about US tariffs and ongoing global risks. The idea here is that you don’t need a high-paying job for early retirement-just steady investing.
Forget meal deals! Here’s how £8 a day cou…
Commonwealth Bank of Australia: 4 Metrics Investors Watch
July 1, 2026, 4:57 AM EDT. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) trades close to $160.73, with the bank dominating in Australian mortgages, credit cards and personal loans. On metrics, workplace culture is at 3.4 out of 5-better than the ASX banking average of 3.1-supporting staff retention. CBA’s net interest margin runs at 1.99%, ahead of the 1.78% average for the big ASX banks, and 85% of income comes from lending. Return on equity is 13.1% versus the sector at 9.35%. These numbers point investors to where CBA stands on growth and profit.
4 best numbers to value CBA shares
JD Sports Drops After Nike Signals Demand Troubles
July 1, 2026, 4:56 AM EDT. JD Sports Fashion PLC shares fell Wednesday after Nike Inc posted disappointing sales, putting fresh pressure on the sportswear trade. Nike’s softer revenue outlook hit confidence in partners like JD Sports. The stock move shows worries returning to retail and sports apparel as the consumer picture stays shaky. As a big Nike partner, JD Sports faces renewed investor questions after Nike’s signal for weaker growth ahead.
JD Sports falls on read-across from Nike w…
Indivior (INDV.L) to pull Sublocade opioid treatment from Australia by end of year
July 1, 2026, 4:42 AM EDT. Indivior said it will stop selling and marketing Sublocade, its long-acting opioid dependency injection, in Australia by December 31. The product has been on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme since 2020 and is viewed by some doctors as an advance over daily treatments like methadone, with many patients benefiting from the longer dosing window. Indivior called it a commercial decision, echoing a recent move by AstraZeneca over similar concerns about viability. Health Minister Mark Butler pointed to ongoing pricing uncertainty in the sector, saying US pricing policy is driving turmoil for pharma firms globally. The government said it wants to keep patient access but cannot force private suppliers to stay in the market.
‘Life saving’ drug for people with opioid …
Deutsche Bank Keeps Buy on London Stock Exchange, Cuts Target
July 1, 2026, 4:40 AM EDT. Deutsche Bank’s Benjamin Goy is sticking with a Buy rating on London Stock Exchange, but trimmed the target price to 11,000 GBX from 11,900 GBX. Goy stays positive on the name, though the cut signals less conviction on the upside.
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE : Deutsche Bank rema…
Resolution Capital Reports 0.19% Prologis Stake, Details Interests in SEGRO
July 1, 2026, 4:26 AM EDT. Resolution Capital Limited has disclosed it holds 1,788,986 ordinary shares, or 0.19%, in Prologis Inc as of June 30, 2026, according to Takeover Code Rule 8.3. The filing also shows interests in SEGRO Plc, based in the UK, pointing to ongoing focus on major REITs. The firm listed no shorts or derivatives. The disclosure is meant to inform on shareholdings above key thresholds in listed property names.
REG – Pinnacle Inv. Mgmnt Prologis, Inc. S…
Coles eyes Greencross buy, Xero slumps, fund managers fuel ASX 200 rally
July 1, 2026, 4:25 AM EDT.Coles is getting close to a deal for Greencross, which is owned by TPG Capital, knocking about A$4 billion off the Australian IPO pipeline and dimming 2026 listing prospects. Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) shares have dropped 37.5% for the year as investors keep an eye on its US push and financial results. The cloud accounting group posted $1.7 billion in revenue, up 26.4% on the year, with net profit swinging to $175 million. ACG Metals hiked gold recovery rates at its GEDIKTEPE mine in Türkiye to 85%. The ASX 200 kicked off the financial year with a rally, led by fund managers and drawing in speculators. Forrestania Resources (ASX:FRS) jumped 8.2% following plans to buy Ramelius Resources’ Edna May gold assets for $300 million, backed by a $310 million raise.
UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 0…
Shape Australia (ASX: SHA) Gives ASX Update on New Share Escrow Terms
July 1, 2026, 4:24 AM EDT. Shape Australia Corporation Limited (ASX: SHA) told the ASX about changes to voluntary escrow terms for its recent share issue. The new terms will keep some major holders from selling shares for a set time. The company said the revised lock-up is meant to back market confidence after the issue. Shape Australia pointed to the voluntary escrow as a sign of shareholder commitment during possible volatility and said it’s part of efforts to support orderly trading after the deal.
Shape Australia updates ASX on voluntary e…
Coles Nears Greencross Deal, Trimming ASX IPO Prospects
July 1, 2026, 4:04 AM EDT. Coles is in advanced talks to buy Greencross, cutting around A$4 billion from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) IPO pipeline. Greencross, owned by TPG Capital, runs Petbarn and Greencross Vets. The move weakens hopes for a major ASX listing in 2026. Coles is working with Goldman Sachs, while TPG Capital has Jarden as adviser. Firmus is still aiming for a float in the September quarter, keeping some investor interest alive as the broader IPO space stays quiet.
Who let the dogs out? The ASX just lost it…
Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) Slides 37% YTD; Growth, Margins, and US Push in Focus
July 1, 2026, 4:03 AM EDT. Xero Ltd (ASX:XRO) is down 37.46% since the start of the year. The cloud accounting firm, which started in New Zealand in 2006, targets small businesses and their accountants. Xero pulled in $1,714 million revenue, averaging 26.4% annual growth over three years. Gross margin sits at 88.2%. Net profit reached $175 million, a turnaround from losses seen three years ago. Xero finished the period with $306 million net cash, keeping more cash than debt. The debt-to-equity ratio is 87.9%. Traders are eyeing XRO for its financial numbers and growing presence in the US.
A quick way to value the XRO share price
ACG Metals lifts gold recovery to 85% at Gediktepe mine
July 1, 2026, 4:02 AM EDT. ACG Metals Ltd said commercial gold recovery at the Gediktepe mine in Türkiye rose to about 85%, compared with nearly 75% previously. The company pointed to better efficiency in its gold extraction. Gediktepe is a key asset for ACG Metals, which trades on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ACG) and over the counter (OTC:ACGAF). The move may affect how investors view the shares as market conditions shift.
ACG Metals sees higher gold recovery at Ge…
ASX 200 jumps at FY open as fund managers lead surprise buying
July 1, 2026, 4:01 AM EDT. The ASX 200 kicked off the financial year with an unexpected rally, as fund management stocks led gains after being out of favor. These stocks, which move with broader market conditions, posted strong advances. The buying spree raised questions about what triggered the move and why now. Funds management names drew sudden interest, putting the sector back in focus.
PPT ASX: The fund manager rally on the ASX…
Forrestania Resources (ASX:FRS) Jumps 8.2% on $300m Edna May Gold Buy; NuEnergy Gas (ASX:NGY) Soars on Indonesian Contract
July 1, 2026, 4:00 AM EDT. Forrestania Resources (ASX:FRS) is buying Ramelius Resources’ (ASX:RMS) Edna May gold assets in WA for $300 million. The deal comes with a $310 million capital raise at a 5.9% discount, supported by investors. The Edna May operation has a 2.9 Mtpa plant and holds close to 945,000 ounces of gold. Shares in FRS closed up 8.2%. Forrestania expects the acquisition to bulk up its Lake Johnston hub, aiming for a mill restart in the first half of next year. Gold resources for the company are set to hit roughly 2 million ounces after the deal. NuEnergy Gas (ASX:NGY) finished 46% higher after landing an $88 million contract for field services at its Tanjung Enim CBM project in Indonesia.
