Stock prices in London closed largely up on Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 shrugged off hotter-than-expected UK inflation data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 27.63 points, 0.4%, at 7,847.99. The FTSE 250 ended down just 4.40 points at 19,340.14, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.84 points, or 0.7% at 743.12.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 785.06, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.1% at 16,784.15, and the Cbo

Q1 revenue falls less than expectedUS market share maintainedNew CEO could be announced imminentlyAfter a challenging couple of years amid pressure from activist investors to improve performance, bookmaker Entain (ENT) said first quarter net gaming revenue including its 50/50 joint venture with BetMGM fell 3%.Consensus analyst expectations compiled by the company were looking for a bigger drop in

First half revenue up 8%Strong pipeline of new centresGood progress in CanadaThe UK and Canada?s largest tenpin bowling group Hollywood Bowl (BOWL) said first half revenue increased 8% to a record £119.2 million as UK revenue tipped over £100 million for the first time.The shares dipped 1.3% to 331p in a tough session with the mid-cap FTSE 250 index in the red to the tune of 1.5% after a sell-of

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Abby Glennie and Amanda Yeaman, managers of abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth TrustThe long-awaited turnaround in smaller companies is unlikely to happen just because shares are lowly-valuedHowever, an improving economic and interest rate backdrop could spark renewed interest in the sectorM&A activity is also providing support for the smaller companies sectorInvest

Our portfolio of picks for 2024 is off to a solid start in what proved an uneven first quarter for the stock market as a whole.Our return of 9% is comfortably ahead of our FTSE All-Share benchmark at 3.9%. It?s a tale of feast and famine, however, with half of our selections achieving double-digit gains while 40% are in the red.THE BIG WINNERSAt the end of 2023, shares in biotech specialist Purete

The shrinking UK stock market is a worry for fund managers and has wider implications for the UK as a listing venue as well as the UK?s economic growth, say analysts at Peel Hunt.This article explores the so-called de-equitisation of the UK stock market, or plainly put the substitution of debt for equity via share buybacks and cash acquisitions.More than 45 companies exited the UK market in 2023 d

In a world of thousands of stocks, certain people just want to focus on ones that are doing well. If these stocks are part of a group with a snappy acronym or label, they must surely matter, right? That is the widespread view among the investment community.Investors love a narrative and what better way to hook people in than with a label that says, ?look at me?. The Magnificent Seven is the latest

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE An equity income option to suit all tastesEquity income offers a breadth of investment options, depending on the regionThe UK is an option for recovery, Asia for growth, and the US for diversificationEquity income strategies may have a tailwind from falling interest ratesThere remains considerable debate over when and by how much interest rates could fall this year.

The end of the tax year is fast approaching and with it the opportunity to maximise your £20,000 ISA allowance for the year.In this article we have identified six names from a list of some of the most consistent funds and fund managers in the UK which could be a good fit for your tax wrapper. While we have aimed for a balance across different investment styles and asset classes this is not intend

Most of us will be aware of the need to plan for our retirement, however far or otherwise we might have got with doing so. After all, when we stop working we all still want to enjoy a decent quality of life. In this article we will explore how much money you will need and the level of pension pot required to achieve it as well as providing some investment ideas for people at the start of the proce

After a stellar rally in the final quarter of last year, markets are on the back foot in 2024 as hopes of a round of interest rate cuts early in the spring have faded following higher-than-expected inflation data in the UK and stronger retail sales figures in the US.While economists had penciled in a 0.1% fall in the rate of UK inflation to 3.8% last month, the official data showed a 0.1% rise to

De-equitisation pace is ?relentless?AIM received largest number of bids last yearFund flow reverse ?can happen quickly?Broker Peel Hunt (PEEL:AIM) has warned that the ?relentless? pace of de-equitisation driven by depressed UK stock market valuations will likely continue unless action is taken and ?impacts quickly?.Low valuations are making the UK stock market an attractive hunting ground for acqu

Ten-pin bowling operator Hollywood Bowl (BOWL) is a super-resilient, cash-generative company whose growth potential in the UK and Canada looks underappreciated by the market based on its current valuation.Bowling is an affordable, family-friendly leisure activity with a defensive bent and Hollywood Bowl has scope to beat consensus estimates as robust customer demand, site refurbishments and select

AdobeIt may look like odd timing to back Adobe (ADBE:NASDAQ) just after lukewarm guidance, but we think this is a great opportunity.The creative digital software firm called for fiscal 2024 earnings per share of $17.60 to $18 on $21.3 billion to $21.5 billion revenue, a little light compared with the consensus of $18 and $21.7 billion revenue respectively.The shares plunged 7%, which seemed harsh

Record annual revenues amid 4.5% like-for-like growthSpecial dividend and buyback announcedLong-term potential for 130 centresThe UK?s largest tenpin bowling operator Hollywood Bowl (BOWL) delivered another strong year of sales and profit growth and revealed an enhanced shareholder return policy including a special dividend and share buyback.Shares in Hollywood Bowl gained 2% to 288p, a new 12-mon

London?s FTSE 100 underperformed on Friday, with its heavyweight pharmaceutical firms among the worst performers, as a post-Federal Reserve decision rally gave way to some profit taking.There were also some hawkish words from a US policymaker which kept enthusiasm to a minimum, though stocks in New York made a strong start.The FTSE 100 index gave back 72.62 points, 1.0%, at 7,576.36. It had surged

The UK hospitality sector has been one of the biggest casualties of the pandemic and the slowest to rebound.Enforced closures during lockdowns, surging energy, labour and commodity prices post pandemic and ongoing train strikes mean hospitality has faced more than its fair share of obstacles over the last three years.The extra challenges mean hospitality has been slower than other sectors to regai

Investors in bank note and passport printing firm De La Rue (DLAR) are enjoying a rare period of calm as the shares continue their recovery from their all-time lows of 30p over the summer.With the stock currently trading at a nine-month high of 74p, and the firm having issued a pre-close update in early October, the first half results announcement on 19 December should be a formality.Adjusted oper

Ten Entertainment 411pGain to date: 90.9%Original buy at 214.7p on 29 September 2022Just over a year ago we argued that tenpin bowling and entertainment group Ten Entertainment (TEG:AIM) was a great company trading at a great price.Not many hospitality and leisure businesses have been able to hold their prices below 2019 levels, drive footfall, increase spend per head and at the same time increase

Recent dovish discourse from the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve boosted investor sentiment across Europe on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 25.54 points, 0.3%, at 7,515.38. The FTSE 250 ended up 179.20 points, 1.0%, at 18,666.73, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.44 points, 0.2%, at 718.12.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 751.85, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 1.1% at 16,183.77, an