Wednesday, 4 November 2026
- FIVE AT FIVE: London posts its best day in six weeks, M&S more than doubles profit and Weir slumps 7.7%
That's your five for Wednesday
- UBS raises AI spending forecasts but tells investors to spread their bets
UBS has raised its forecasts for artificial intelligence (AI) spending, but warned investors not to rely too heavily on a handful of technology stocks.
- Investors buy the chip dip and pile into gold as October turbulence hits
Investors bought into the sell-off in semiconductor shares in October and also turned to gold and UK blue chips as markets wobbled, according to purchase data…
- M&S shares rise as brokers split over clothing recovery
Marks and Spencer Group PLC shares rose 2.3% to 424p as brokers gave mixed verdicts on its first-half results.
- Weir Group underwhelms as shares fall 7.5% after update
Weir shares fell 7.5%, dragging engineering peers BAE Systems, Babcock and Melrose down with them, after a third-quarter update that left the City distinctly…
- FTSE 100 LIVE: London flat as M&S reassures Update
The FTSE 100 was marginally higher in early trading, with Marks & Spencer offering the morning's best read on how the high street is holding up.
- Wetherspoon comfortable with profit forecasts after strong start to the year
J D Wetherspoon, the pub chain, says it is comfortable with market profit expectations for the year after a good start, though sales growth has eased in recent…
- Metro Bank reaffirms profitability targets as business lending surges
Metro Bank, the high street lender, has reaffirmed all its guidance, including a target return on tangible equity (RoTE) of more than 13% in the final quarter…
- Smith+Nephew cuts full-year guidance as US hip and knee sales slide
Smith+Nephew, the FTSE 100 medical technology group, has cut its full-year guidance after weaker than expected sales of hip and knee implants in the US.
- Barratt Redrow holds guidance but warns affordability is squeezing buyers
Barratt Redrow, the UK's largest housebuilder, has kept its guidance for the year to June 2027 unchanged, but warned that the market remains difficult as…
- Marks & Spencer keeps full-year profit on track as food carries a first-half rebound
Marks & Spencer, the high street retailer, expects full-year adjusted pre-tax profit to be in line with market expectations, after a first half in which food…
- Weir stays on course for full-year forecasts as mining aftermarket orders climb
Weir, the FTSE 100 mining equipment maker, expects to deliver full-year revenue and operating profit in line with market expectations, backed by a growing…
- Trainline sticks to full-year guidance as CMA fees probe hangs over shares
Trainline, the online rail ticket seller, has kept its full-year guidance unchanged, but flagged the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into…
- FTSE 100 LIVE: London headed lower after Asia sell-off and midterm 'bluewash' for Trump Update
The FTSE 100 looks set to open 38 points lower after another sell-down of tech stocks in Asia as investors digested the impact of the 'bluewash' midterm defeat…
- FTSE 100 LIVE: Asian markets fall as US midterm result hits AI trade
Asian markets were mostly lower on Wednesday as investors assessed the US midterm election results and their potential impact on artificial intelligence…