BUSINESS LIVE: GSK raises guidance; Next exceeds forecasts; Aston Martin losses nearly double

With the FTSE 100 achieving record highs and notching up a second consecutive month of gains in April, it looks like investment firms have been reaping the rewards.

Hargreaves Lansdown issued a strong quarterly trading update highlighting good momentum through Isa season into the new tax year.

Pessimism about the economy is ‘in retreat’ as business confidence returns and mortgage lending bounces back.

In an upbeat survey published today, the Institute of Directors (IoD) said its economic confidence index is at its highest level since May last year.

The Duke of West- minster’s property company paid out over £50million in dividends – despite posting an annual loss.

Grosvenor, which owns large parts of London’s Mayfair and Belgravia, notched up losses of £28.6million in 2023, having made a profit of £110.4million the year before.

Deltic Energy has lashed out at the UK’s ‘hostile political environment’ as it warned it may have to pull out of a major North Sea project.

Shares in the Aim-listed exploration company plunged by 47 per cent, or 18.1p, to 20.4p on the update, which related to Deltic’s 30 per cent stake in the Pensacola well, which is majority-owned and operated by Shell.

Anglo American’s chairman has vowed to meet with shareholders to discuss a looming takeover battle for the miner.

City grandee Stuart Chambers, who has form selling off blue-chip companies, yesterday said he will hold talks with the firm’s top 30 investors.

The pound at 8am was $1.2469 compared to $1.2516 at the previous close.