Aurora Investment Trust (ARR) 243pMarket cap: £185.3 millionInvestors seeking a value-oriented fund focused on avoiding permanent capital losses first and foremost, while offering exposure to the improving consumer outlook among other themes, should buy Aurora Investment Trust (ARR). Managed by long-term value investment firm Phoenix, the dividend-paying trust?s 10.2% discount to NAV (net asset v

The world of fantasy is clearly having a moment. The rise of ?romantasy? authors like Sarah J Maas, who has been a big part of UK publishing outfit Bloomsbury?s (BMY) recent success, have taken the genre out of its previous male-dominated realm to a whole new audience.Bloomsbury?s surging sales and the ongoing phenomenon that is Games Workshop (GAW) are two examples on the UK market which show the

Former publishing industry professional John is in his 50s and has been investing for decades, starting at a very early age.John became an investor in his late teens and has started devoting more time to it over the last 20 years. He has always had an interest in markets, even when he was a young boy of seven or eight.A CHILDHOOD INTEREST IN STOCK MARKET SUCCESSES AND FAILURESHe says: ?I read the

Full year guidance downgradedDemand slows in retail businessReturning accessories to growth a ?key priority?Britons are famously devoted to their pets but a profit warning from Pets at Home (PETS) demonstrates there are limits to the sums they will spend on their furry friends.Shares in the UK pet care leader softened 2% to 287.5p after it said third quarter sales ?didn?t quite hit? anticipated le

Blue-chip stocks in mainland Europe were on the up early Wednesday afternoon, though the FTSE 100 sat this rally out, while the dollar regained some composure with a US gross domestic product reading ahead.China-exposed shares hurt the FTSE 100, and though the pound slipped, some of the index?s heavyweights which also do business outside the UK, were lower.The FTSE 100 index traded down 8.26 point

Investment conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B:NYSE) attracts investor interest in the companies it is buying and selling that is revealed through quarterly 13F filings.These are a regulatory requirement for all firms with more than $100 million in assets under management. At last count on 14 August the publicly traded portfolio was worth $348 billion.In addition the firm holds a record $147 bi

London's FTSE 100 opened the week in the green, with a deal by US lawmakers to avoid a shutdown lifting the mood.If last week was anything to go by, however, it will be a difficult final quarter for equities. Interest rate worries and China growth concerns continue to loom large.The FTSE 100 index opened up 13.28 points, or 0.2%, at 7,621.36. The FTSE 250 was up 100.97 points, or 0.6%, at 18,380.3

The FTSE 100 outperformed in a tepid end to the week for European shares on Friday, with a hawkish hold from the US Federal Reserve still weighing on sentiment.London's FTSE 100 only notched a minor gain, but looked like achieving a more convincing advance, before running out of steam towards the close of play.Stocks in New York endured a miserable session on Thursday but recovered some ground on

It can be hard to look past day-to-day cares and worries and give proper thought to achieving a financially comfortable retirement. However, if you want to enjoy a decent quality of life after you bring your career to a close then you must devote more attention to your pension.Investment trusts, held within a SIPP (self-invested personal pension), can be a useful vehicle to help you achieve your g

The FTSE 100 declined on Thursday, with blue-chip European markets still hurting after a US credit rating cut on Wednesday, though the FTSE 250 recovered after a difficult morning as investors see the end of the Bank of England hiking cycle in sight.The pound climbed despite some less robust BoE base rate expectations, though it did come into Thursday's meeting in bad shape. Interest rate sensitiv

The FTSE 100 was in the red and the pound struggled on Thursday afternoon after the Bank of England raised UK interest rates by an expected 25 basis points.The pound traded at $1.2631 after the BoE decision, down from $1.2659 beforehand, and $1.2707 late Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index was down 45.55 points, 0.6%, at 7,516.08. The FTSE 250 was up 53.25 points, or 0.3%, at 18,866.13, and the AIM All-S

It has been 60 years since both writers and actors have joined picket lines in Hollywood. Back then it was also about how studios would pay out 'residuals' - royalties for their part in films repeated on TV networks as the world of entertainment morphed into something new.Today's dispute is like a re-run. The advent of streaming services has changed the game again as consumers have the power to wa

US consumer strength data takes investors by surpriseWalgreens Boots Alliance S&P 500's biggest loser over the weekDelicate balance between recession miss versus higher for longer ratesSurprisingly bullish economic data across the pond this week handed investors the doubled-edged sword of lower recession risk while stoking the threat of higher interest rates for longer.In a week largely devoid of

It's no surprise that Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ) shares shot to record highs in the hours before the tech giant's much anticipated launch of its augmented reality headset: Vision Pro AR.It's been almost a decade since it unveiled a new toy for devotees to play with and in the middle of a cost of living crisis which is likely to see cash-strapped consumers hanging onto their old handsets and tablets for l

Market attention on Friday turned to the US employment report and, further out, the next interest rate decision by the Federal Reserve, after legislators passed a bill that will prevent the US government from defaulting on its debts.Stocks were higher ahead of the May nonfarm payrolls report, due out at 1330 BST.The FTSE 100 index was up 74.26 points, 1.0%, at 7,564.53 at midday in London. The FTS

Successful investing isn't all plain sailing, and now and again you must take the rough with the smooth.It would be lovely to think you could put your savings in lots of guaranteed winners and never have to worry about looking at your portfolio again until you need to the money, but sadly markets don't work like that.Even the least volatile, most boring investments will occasionally go through per

New Chinese guidance for GDP (gross domestic product) growth has checked some of the optimism over any boost from the country's reopening and hit shares in resources stocks given the implications for commodities demand.China's GDP growth of 3% for 2022 was the lowest since 1976 as it struggled with lockdowns and weakening demand for exports.Many economists were expecting a strong rebound in 2023 a

- Defensive income trumps growth in 2022- 5-for-1 share split proposed- On course for 18th successive dividend increaseDespite choppy financial market conditions throughout 2022, global income star Murray International (MYI) delivered a net asset value (NAV) total return of 8.8% for the year to December.This comfortably outperformed a 7.3% drop in the FTSE All World Total Return index as Murray In

- Portfolio underperformed benchmark in H1- Stock mistakes included salmon farmer Mowi- Discount to net asset value remains wideAlexander Darwall-managed European Opportunities Trust (EOT) underperformed its benchmark in the half to November 2022 as the fund's low exposure to oil and gas stocks and the financial sectors weighed on relative returns.And yet the veteran investor remains 'confident' a

Amid all the frenzied coverage of a possible takeover of Manchester United (MANU:NYSE) - one question occurred to this observer. Why isn't it worth more than the reported price tag of $6 billion slapped on the club by current owners the Glazers?For now, it looks as if the Qataris and their main rival bidder - the owner of chemicals firm INEOS, Jim Ratcliffe - are unwilling to meet this asking pric