Vaping supplier shares down over 6%UK ban on disposable vapes announcedVape sales have grown in recent yearsShares in vaping supplier Supreme (SUP) were down over 6% to 98.50p and Chill Brands (CHLL) fell more than 20% to 3p in morning trading as the UK government announced its intention to ban disposable vapes.Last year prime minister Rishi Sunak said at the Conservative Party conference that he

Shares gain on all-cash 450p per share offerBid price equivalent to 52% premiumTop five shareholders own a third of the companyLogistics firm Wincanton (WIN) was one of the biggest gainers in London on Friday, surging almost 50% to 438p after receiving an all-cash offer worth 450p per share from a unit of French shipping giant CMA CGM.Directors are unanimously recommending the offer, which values

Value stocks have outperformed growth stocks by 12% since Pfizer (PFE:NYSE) announced the first effective Covid-19 vaccine on 9 November 2020. That's comparing the MSCI World Value index against the MSCI World Growth index.We have reason to believe the value investing style could soon deliver even bigger outperformance given the shift in the backdrop from cheap money to more normalised interest ra

I suspect I'm not alone in having opened an email in the past week detailing the plans for this year's works Christmas do.While current cost pressures are having an impact on budgets, in a post-Covid world many employers just want the chance to show their appreciation to their workforce for a job well done in what has been a particularly difficult year for many of us.But before I could pick out my

It seems barely a week goes by without a UK firm falling prey to an opportunistic takeover approach. Typically, the bidders are non-UK and the targets are small and mid-cap companies.Many UK stocks trade on cheap valuations and unless the market recognises their attractions and bids up the price, they could be vulnerable to takeovers.Private equity companies, in particular, are sitting on lots of

The FTSE 100 outperformed European peers during uninspiring trade early Thursday, amid geopolitical concerns and caution ahead of a US labour market reading.China issued a robust response to a meeting between key political figures in the US and Taiwan.The dollar found some support as focus turns to Friday's US nonfarms reading.In early corporate news, recruitment company Robert Walters reported a

Fears for the health of the banking sector battered European stocks again on Friday, with a spike in Deutsche Bank's credit default swaps the catalyst for another chaotic session for equity markets.The lender ended sharply lower and dragged down peers in Paris and London with it. It was also a poor day for oil producers, tracking spot crude prices lower.There was some joy for JD Wetherspoon, howev

Banking stocks were leading another severe market decline early Monday, as last week's turmoil continued into the new week, despite a takeover agreed for troubled Swiss lender Credit Suisse.The FTSE 100 index opened down 115.03 points, 1.6%, at 7,220.37. The FTSE 250 was down 405.08 points, or 2.2%, at 18,065.75, and the AIM All-Share was down 9.52 points, or 1.2%, at 794.51.The Cboe UK 100 was do

A return of worries about the health of the global banking industry wiped out a positive start to Friday for equities, with another sell-off of the shares of Credit Suisse sending European indices lower by midday.Miners and oil companies supported the FTSE 100 and ensured it outperformed continental peers, but Wall Street was called to open lower.The FTSE 100 index was down just 0.26% at 7,409.77

Bank shares were back under severe selling pressure on Wednesday, with some suspended from trading, after yet more bad news for Credit Suisse reawakened worries caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.Just a handful of FTSE 100 stocks were in the green around midday UK time, all largely 'safe' utilities or pharmaceutical firms.While stocks made a tepid start to the day, they managed to hang

Finally, everyone is talking about UK stocks. The spotlight is back on the country after the UK's FTSE 100 was one of the few major indices globally to record positive returns in 2022 and this year it has broken through the 8,000 level and hit a new record high. Hopefully, this will lead to the return of foreign investors who have shunned the UK since the Brexit vote in 2016.Investors can either b

Stocks were lower at midday in London on Monday, as the prospect of a pivot in central bank policy away from rate hikes seemed to recede into the future, while a new source of conflict between the US and China was hurting oil prices.'Having hit a new all-time high last Friday, the FTSE 100 opened the new trading week with a hangover...Throwing cold water over the party were stronger than expected

(Alliance News) - The FTSE 100 finished at an all-time high on Friday, beating its 2018 record and ending the week on a positive note following a slew of central bank interest rate decisions.The FTSE 100 index closed up 81.64 points, or 1.0% at 7,901.80 on Friday - a record for the index and the highest since 2018. It hit an intraday record high of 7,906.58. The index finished the week as a whole

London's FTSE 100 made a fast start to the new year, thought it was shaping up to be a slower day in New York, with stocks there falling after the first hurdle following a poor US PMI reading.Housebuilders led the way among London blue-chips, though leisure stocks fell as the sector deals with rail strike action at the start of the year. Elsewhere, Cineworld was in focus again, and AIM-listed GENi

Stock markets were starting 2023 positively despite multiple reminders of the economic challenges facing the world this year, while the pound was faring less well, falling below $1.20.The FTSE 100 index was up 115.51 points, 1.6%, at 7,567.26 midday Tuesday in London. The FTSE 250 was up 290.58 points, 1.5%, at 19,143.58, and the AIM All-Share was up 5.98 points, 0.7%, at 837.31.The Cboe UK 100 wa

London shares rose strongly at the start of the new year, but the pound dropped against the dollar, as rail strikes threatened the UK economy and weak economic data from China raised concerns about global demand.The FTSE 100 index opened up 133.78 points, 1.8%, at 7,585.52. The FTSE 250 was up 295.61 points, 1.6%, at 19,148.61, and the AIM All-Share was up 7.28 points, 0.9%, at 838.61.The Cboe UK

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (ASL)£13.12Gain to date: 5.5%We said to invest in Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (ASL) on 22 July 2022 because of its value-focused credentials and the fact you could effectively buy its portfolio for 12.5% less than the market value of its holdings.With a lot of the macroeconomic bad news already priced into markets we could see the potential upside for a ski

- Chairman of carmaker tops up holdings- Eagle Eye stake changes hands- Swiss asset manager backs Seeing MachinesWHO HAS BEEN BUYING AND SELLING?It has been a busy month for the board at luxury carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda (ASL), with billionaire Canadian businessman and company chairman Lawrence Stroll and non-executive director Michael de Picciotto increasing their stakes.Having already added t

Markets finished higher in London on Friday, although a fall in oil prices meant London's oil majors weighed on the FTSE 100's progress.Despite the weak performance from oil companies, gains for Legal & General and retailers Frasers and JD Sports, who benefitted from a read across from a New-York listed peer, lifted the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index ended 38.98 points higher, 0.5%, at 7,385.52 on Fr

Shares acknowledges there could be further volatility to come from small caps, an asset class hit by indiscriminate selling as investors fret over surging inflation, rising rates and a likely recession in 2023.Yet with much bad news already priced in, taking advantage of the stock-picking skills of a proven small cap-focused fund manager could pay off for the patient investor.We like Aberforth Sma