The recent wave of takeovers and mergers in the quoted UK commercial real estate sector has continued this week with the proposed all-share takeover of UK Commercial Property (UKCM) by Tritax Big Box (BBOX).The deal, which values UKCM at 71.1p per share or a 10.8% premium to the previous day?s closing price, would create the UK?s fourth-largest REIT (real estate investment trust) by market cap wit

Equities in London were on the up heading into Wednesday afternoon, with a better UK economic data and measures out of China lifting the mood.The pound climbed on an improved UK purchasing managers? index reading, while miners cheered a move by China?s central bank which it hopes will spark some life into the Asian economy.Over in Frankfurt, SAP was one of the stories of the day. The software firm

As we approach the end of the year it is an opportune moment to shine a light on some of this year's least-loved stocks.Rather than look at the stocks which have lost the most, we have collected together those trading at or near their lows for the year along with those with the fewest friends in the analyst community and those which the hedge fund community thinks are outright shorts.If we first t

Two China trusts to mergeTwo Troy trusts also to mergeFocus on costs and liquidityWith investment trust shares in the doldrums and discounts to NAV (net asset value) at their widest level for some time, we have been predicting a wave of mergers among sub-scale funds.Expect 2024 to see more mergers of sub-scale investment trustsToday we had further confirmation that consolidation is the way forward

We would hesitate to call it a wave of consolidation - maybe a ripple would be more appropriate - but this year has seen a number of mergers among investment trusts.There is a long tail of sub-scale funds and trusts in the UK all desperate to attract more investors, but with the average discount to net asset value hitting 18% at the end of October, according to research from Winterflood Securities

Combined market value just over £1 billionCombined assets close to £2 billionUK property sector ripe for consolidationThe UK property sector received a jolt this morning with the news UK Commercial Property REIT (UKCM), managed by investment group abrdn (ABDN), and independently-run Picton Property Income (PCTN), were in all-share merger talks.If the talks are successful, the merged company woul

Having only been promoted to the FTSE 100 index last December, fund management firm Abrdn (ABDN) is looking to be a leading candidate for demotion from the large-cap benchmark at the next quarterly review. Confirmation of the changes to the index were due as this edition of Shares was being finalised.Since 27 July, the shares have fallen by more than 30% despite the group posting 4% growth in firs

Quarterly review due in weeks Four likely winners and losersA further three stocks could drop outWe may only be half-way through the third quarter, but already it looks as though there will be quite a few changes to the benchmark FTSE 100 index when the topic comes up for review next month.Promotion to, and demotion from, the index can have a big effect on the share prices of the firms concerned a

Newly published research names and shames the funds which have failed to deliver for investors over three consecutive 12-month periods.The latest 'Spot The Dog' report has identified 56 equity funds as serious and persistent underperformers - a 27% increase on 44 dog funds exposed in the last report in January 2023.The amount of assets held in dog funds has more than doubled from £19.1 billion in

Abrdn shares tumble almost 10% on updateQuilter shares jump 13% on raised outlook Abrdn the most unloved UK stockShares in fund management group Abrdn (ABDN) slid to the bottom of the FTSE 100 leaderboard with a drop of 9.5% to 198p after it revealed a drop in total assets in the first half.In contrast, shares in FTSE 250 wealth management firm Quilter (QLT) rallied over 13% to 80.5p as assets inc

Out-of-favour Asia Pacific-focused trusts plan mergerEnlarged Asia Dragon to qualify for FTSE 250Shareholders to benefit from lower charges, improved liquidityFund management giant abrdn (ABDN) has proposed the merger of investment trusts abrdn New Dawn (ABD) and Asia Dragon (DGN) in a move that would create an enlarged fund with combined net assets north of £700 million and a market cap big enou

Another week, another takeover - this time it is alternative asset manager Gresham House (GHE:AIM), which is being bought by private equity firm Searchlight for £470 million.At £11.05 per share, 63% above the previous closing price and 10% above the all-time high a year ago, the purchase price represents an enterprise value of almost 16 times last year's earnings before interest, tax, depreciati

Deal sees veteran Pease bow outConsolidation gathering paceListed UK firms could be vulnerable to takeoversCompetition for customers and the need for economies of scale are driving another round of consolidation in the UK wealth management industry with the announcement this week of yet another deal.Yesterday it emerged that hedge fund Lansdowne Partners had agreed to acquire equities specialist C

According to fabled US stock market trader Jessie Livermore 'the big swings make the big money'.Livermore was used by Edwin Lefervre as the basis for the character of Larry Livingstone in his investment classic Reminiscences of a Stock Operator. The bestselling book, dedicated to his memory, was published a century ago but this same truth of the importance of the big picture is evident in the domi

- Three new faces in the FTSE 100- Five stocks join the FTSE 250- Changes take effect from 19 DecemberIndex compiler FTSE Russell, owned by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), has just released the results of its December quarterly review.Three stocks are being promoted to the FTSE 100 large-cap index, meaning three stocks are leaving to join the FTSE 250 mid-cap universe, as Shares explains.WHO I

On 5 September, asset manager Abrdn (ABDN) announced that veteran and very successful fund manager Harry Nimmo will retire from the firm and the industry at the end of 2022 after the best part of four decades with the company.The news will have certainly set the nerves of investors in Abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust (AUSC) and Abrdn UK Smaller Companies (B7FBH94) jangling, given that Nimmo

- Index changes to be announced tonight- Three new names to join the FTSE 100- Four new faces in the mid-cap FTSE 250Investors with FTSE tracker funds will be keenly waiting for details of the latest index reshuffle due to be published after the market close tonight.As well as changes to the FTSE 100 big-cap index there are expected to be several changes to the FTSE 250 mid-cap benchmark and the F

In bear and bull markets, economic expansion or recession, income is rarely out of fashion with retail investors. Evenlode Income (BD0B7D5) has become one of the UK's favourite fund options, a £3.34 billion actively managed fund that has outstripped its UK equity income category almost three-to-one over the past decade.In a year of red-hot inflation and interest rates rising from historic lows, t

Shares in asset management firm Abrdn (ABDN) fell 4% to 196p despite the announcement of full year results that were in line with consensus estimates.Net redemptions continue to be an area of concern, and while they have slowed from £29 billion in 2020, outflows reached £6.2 billion in 2021.The shares have fallen 25% over the last six months.Adjusted earnings before interest and tax of £323 mi

This year's new VCT (venture capital trust) offer season, where investors can apply for new shares and enjoy immediate tax benefits, is in full swing. Each year, VCTs seem to attract money faster than the previous year, meaning interested investors need to act fast once offers go live, although it is important to understand all the risks involved before making an investment decision.Experts believ