5 things to watch on the FTSE 350 on Thursday

We’ve had wild swings on the FTSE 350…

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

The FTSE 350 plunged in early trading Wednesday, but recovered to finish the day slightly ahead. Place your bets for Thursday.

UK market volatility continues

Those expecting market volatility Wednesday were not disappointed. UK markets fell early in the day after the International Monetary Fund issued extraordinary criticism of chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s tax-slashing policies and urged a rethink.

Things stabilised later in the day after the Bank of England stepped in to start buying up government debt. The FTSE 100 ended the day back above 7,000 points, but only just, with a 21-point rise to 7,005. The FTSE 350 regained 10 points to finish at 3,855.

If anyone expects a calm day Thursday… well, it might be wise not to hold one’s breath.

US markets picking up

With no mini-budget crisis to deal with, US markets had a good day Wednesday. The S&P 500 put on 2% to reach 3,719 points.

The Nasdaq, meanwhile, climbed back above 11,000 points, with another 2% rise to end the day at 11,052. The technology stock index is still way down on last July’s peaks.

US Gross Domestic Product figures are due. But other than that, there seems to be little that might upset Thursday markets at the moment.

High street fashion news

Fashion chain Next will deliver first-half results, and going on August’s update they should be decent. With full-price sales up 5%, the company lifted its full-year profit guidance by £10m to £860m. What the latest economic upsets will do to that is anybody’s guess.

Pub and restaurant chain Mitchells & Butlers will give us a fourth-quarter trading update. At Q3 time, things were looking reasonable, with just a modest 1.5% decline in like-for-like sales in the first nine months. Full-year results are due in November.

Ex-dividend stocks

Thursday is ex-dividend day for a number of companies, and we shouldn’t be surprised to see their share prices drop accordingly.

Hays, the recruitment specialist, is going ex-dividend with respect to its full-year ordinary dividend plus a special, amounting to a total of 9.22p per share. Housebuilder Barratt Developments also reaches full-year ex-dividend date. Both are currently engaged in share buyback programmes too.

It’s interim ex-dividend date for a number of companies. They include Smurfit Kappa Group, Computacenter, Games Workshop Group and Rightmove.

Dividend payments coming

Companies sending out interim dividends Thursday include HSBC Holdings, Mondi and M&G, all in the FTSE 100.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

The Motley Fool UK has recommended Games Workshop, HSBC Holdings, and Rightmove. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

3 reasons the Rolls-Royce share price could soar over the next decade

Sustainable aviation fuel, narrow-body aircraft, and small nuclear reactors could all keep the Rolls-Royce share price climbing over the next…

Read more »

British flag, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and British flag composition
Investing Articles

Here’s how much income I’d get if I invested my entire £20k ISA in cheap BT shares

BT shares are on the up but still cheap, while the FTSE 100 telecoms stock offers a good yield too.…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 FTSE dividend shares yielding more than 6% with P/Es of less than 9!

Harvey Jones picks out two brilliant FTSE 100 dividend shares that yield more than 6% but are selling at strangely…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Up 105% in a year! Is this rocketing FTSE bank the perfect pick for my Stocks and Shares ISA?

Harvey Jones is drawing up a shortlist of stocks to purchase inside his Stocks and Shares ISA allowance. This FTSE…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Down 78%, is this once-hot AI growth stock set to explode like the Rolls-Royce share price?

Our writer asks if he should invest in Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:SMCI) following the growth stock's massive recent decline.

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is it madness to buy Palantir shares after Q3 earnings?

Palantir stock's surging again after the firm's Q3 earnings report. But after a 150% gain, is it too late to…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

£6,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d aim to turn that into £1,032 a month of passive income!

A small investment in high-dividend-paying stocks with the returns used to buy more shares can generate big passive income over…

Read more »

Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Investing Articles

As Lloyds’ share price tumbles 14%, is this an unmissable opportunity for me to buy at a bargain-basement price?

The Lloyds share price is substantially below its year high, but decent earnings prospects should drive its price and dividend…

Read more »