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

There were several trends in the UK stock market this year which, if you managed to identify them, served you well.Most obviously, although it may not have seemed it at the index level, large-cap stocks generally performed better than small- and mid-caps, although for the lucky few the small-cap space has been rife with takeover activity.In terms of sectors, aerospace and defence topped the FTSE 3

Equities surged in the wake of a cooler-than-expected US inflation reading, which for some all but ensures that the Federal Reserve's next interest rate move will be a cut.A hold by the US central bank next month is now completely priced in. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, there was a 15% chance of a hike a day ago, as investors digested hawkish comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell from last

It is a hard fact that a more unstable world is typically a driver of orders and ultimately revenue, profit and cash flow for defence companies.Investors will therefore be watching the tenor of BAE Systems' (BA.) third quarter trading update closely on 13 November now the world is facing up to conflict in the Middle East as well as confronting a grinding war in Ukraine.Since the Russian invasion i

Fidelity Special Values (FSV) investment trust has outperformed the AIC UK All Companies sector over the past year delivering a 13.06% total return to investors compared to a 10.5% gain for the sector.The trust, run by Alex Wright and Jonathan Winton, co-manager since 3 February 2020, has achieved 11% dividend growth over five years. It currently yields 2.7% and trades at a 5% discount to NAV (net

Stock prices in London were stagnant at midday on Tuesday as the UK jobless rate rose unexpectedly and crunch US debt ceiling talks loom.The FTSE 100 index was up 5.94 points, or 0.1%, at 7,783.64. The FTSE 250 was up just 4.46 points at 19,263.42, while the AIM All-Share was 0.57 of a point, or 0.1%, at 814.28.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 778.13, the Cboe UK 250 down 0.1% at 16,818.13, and the

Why the China reopening is a massive boon for BurberryRecent blowout results from rivals such as LVMH raise expectations for Burberry to do the sameTrading above the £25 level, shares in British luxury goods brand Burberry (BRBY) are testing all-time highs as Shares goes to press. But the trench coats-to-cashmere scarves seller will need to deliver an upbeat outlook statement with its full-year r

The FTSE 100 closed higher on Wednesday, as investors hope that a cool-than-expected US inflation reading may indicate that rate hikes may end soon.The FTSE 100 index closed up 39.12 points, or 0.5% at 7,824.84 on Wednesday. The FTSE 250 ended up 46.68 points, or 0.3%, at 19,002.73. The AIM All-Share closed up 2.53 points, or 0.3%, at 819.38.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 782.52, the Cboe UK 250

Blue-chip shares in Europe were on the up on Wednesday afternoon, as attention turns to a US inflation reading, and what it would mean for monetary policy.Ahead of the reading, the dollar gained on the pound, boosting shares in the FTSE 100's international earners.Among individual shares in London, AIM-listed System1 soared as it forecast a return to profit. De La Rue slumped as the banknote print

Rising commodities prices lifted shares in London on Friday at midday, with mining and oil companies leading the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index was up 10.54 points, 0.1%, at 7,757.83. The FTSE 250 was up 59.38 points, or 0.3%, at 19,633.49, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.78 points, or 0.2%, at 853.87.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 776.04, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.2% at 17,135.19, and the Cboe Small C

The FTSE 100 closed higher as a late surge for mining stocks lifted what had been a slow day for London's bluechip index ahead of the US midterm elections.The FTSE 100 index closed up 6.15 points, 0.1%, at 7,306.14. The FTSE 250 ended up 138.32 points, 0.8%, at 18,697.89, and the AIM All-Share closed up 6.32 points, 0.8%, at 831.13.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 730.96, the Cboe UK 250 closed up

Stocks in London were mixed, with the FTSE 100 dragged down by poor performances from GSK and Shell while the FTSE 250 finished up as IWG rose on reports that CVC Capital is attempting to acquire its digital division.The FTSE 100 index closed down 34.85 points, 0.5%, at 7,299.99. The FTSE 250 ended up 218.00 points, 1.2%, at 18,559.57, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.2%, or 9.76 points, at 824.8

Among the strategies that can richly reward those investors with a bit of patience is dividend growth investing.At its heart this involves putting money to work in companies that compound their earnings over time and convert a high proportion of profits into the cold, hard cash needed to fund consistent increases in the shareholder reward.One fan of this investing style is legendary US fund manage

European shares were rising early Friday, aimed toward rounding off another rough week for investors on a high, as the market priced in a slightly lower chance of a full percentage point interest rate hike by the US central bank later this month.In UK company news, Aston Martin's shares rose on plans to raise funds to repay debt and bolster its balance sheet, while Burberry's fell on first quarter

Stocks in London rose above European equities to close higher on Monday, with Vodafone and utility stocks performing well despite dull economic data from China.Poor economic data from China overnight added to a wall of worry faced by equity markets, which have already been weakened by inflationary fears and central bank hawkishness this year.The FTSE 100 closed up 46.65 points, 0.6%, at 7,464.80 o

Given present geopolitical and economic uncertainties and the stock market declines seen year-to-date, the portfolio support provided by dividends remain important to investors.Thankfully this year, we have continued to witness a restoration of dividend payments by an array of companies following the hiatus seen in 2020 when firms suspended payouts to preserve cash at the onset of the pandemic.For

Having briefly touched a two-year high, London's FTSE 100 ended Tuesday's trading session marginally lower, off a mere 0.09% at 7,567.07 points, despite a decent start on Wall Street and as an early boost from oil major BP (BP.) faded by the close.Investors remained cautious in the face of worries over inflation, interest rates and geopolitical tensions and a decline in oil prices acted as a wider

London's FTSE 100 lost some of its early momentum to trade just 0.1% higher at 7,584.12 points by midday on Tuesday.The blue chip benchmark began the session on the front foot, despite a mixed trading session in the US overnight, with investors encouraged by positive results from BP (BP), SSE (SSE) and Bellway (BWY).The most recent BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor also showed continuing resilience a

UK equity markets are higher in early trading on Tuesday despite a mixed trading session in the US overnight. Investors were encouraged by positive results from BP (BP), SSE (SSE) and Bellway (BWY).The most recent BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor also showed continuing resilience among consumers with sales growth of 11.9% in January 2022, compared to 2021. Growth was 7.5% on pre-pandemic 2020 figure

Once upon a time, Irish-headquartered distribution firm DCC (DCC) was a market darling. It traded on an elevated rating for years as it gobbled up competitors, until one day investors began to question the returns they were getting for the price they were paying.Now, the firm is much more focused both in terms of its business areas and its capital allocation policy, with a real emphasis on generat