Valuations for the small-cap asset class have returned to levels last seen during the Global Financial Crisis, and history shows that when valuations have plunged to similarly low levels in the past, stellar returns have ensued for small caps over the subsequent five years.A savvy way to gain differentiated exposure to this structurally-inefficient part of the market is through value-focused inves

The idea behind value investing is to buy shares for less than they are worth in the hope they reach their so-called 'fair' value and generate a better than market return.This article explores popular yardsticks used to find value shares, explains how they are used and highlights the advantages and drawbacks.Before starting it is worth bearing in mind that none of the metrics discussed are perfect

One of the biggest takeaways from the UK's new 'Energy Security Strategy' announced on 7 April was that nuclear power would be a crucial part of the Government's plan for secure and sustainable energy.The issue has become particularly pressing amid surging energy costs and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In this article we will look at how the UK's plans sit in a global context and the

UK stocks started the shortened trading week in good spirits with the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks up 60 points or 0.8% at midday to 7,432, having touched a new year-high of 7,457 points in early trading.Leadership shifted from consumer-oriented stocks in early deals to healthcare and engineering stocks by lunchtime.In Asia, shares fell overnight as investors continues to fret over the spread

In the second part of our two-part feature we get another fascinating range of responses on what did and didn't work out for top fund managers during a tumultuous 2020 and which stocks they are most excited about now.Interestingly computer games firm Codemasters (CDM:AIM) features as both a success story in the eyes of one manager and a disappointment in the eyes of another. Read on to discover mo

UK stocks staged a recovery in the afternoon session on Thursday spurred on by strength in US markets with the technology focused Nasdaq index rising 2% and the Russell 2000 small cap index extending its three-day gain to 8%.Also helping sentiment was better than expected data from the December US ISM services data.Bitcoin continued its march higher, up 10% on the day to $39,280 capping a 1046% re

UK stocks slipped into negative territory at midday Thursday as profit taking took hold after market gains of almost 5% in the first week of the new year.The tilt towards 'value' names such as retailers and materials stocks continued while banks, the biggest risers on Wednesday, handed back some of their gains.At 12pm the FTSE 100 of leading shares was down 0.66% at 6,803 points.CHRISTMAS BOOM FOR

UK stocks inched higher in early trade on Thursday after posting strong gains yesterday, with the FTSE 100 index up 6 points to 6,848 points.The tilt towards 'value' names such as retailers and materials stocks continued, while banks, the biggest risers on Wednesday, handed back some of their gains.Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index hit a record high overnight on the Democratic win in the Senate run-off

UK stocks closed in positive territory on Friday, capping a strong 5% rebound from the previous week. The monthly jobs report from the US showed a strengthened labour market with jobs increasing by 638,000 in October, above the 580,000 estimate complied by economists.Meanwhile Joe Biden was tantalisingly close to being crowned the 46th President of the US.At 4:35pm the FTSE 100 index was a smidgen

UK and European gave back ground on Friday after a strong week for risk assets as investors began to focus on the state of the global economy and the prospect of central bank stimulus.Away from the election, eyes were turned towards the US non-farm payrolls and unemployment data due out later today.The FTSE 100 index traded down 22 points or 0.4% to 5,884 points with gains in financial stocks offs

UK stocks erased earlier losses and tipped into positive territory on Friday afternoon despite US non-farm payrolls data showing the weakest gain since the recovery in jobs began in May with 0.66 million new jobs created last month compared with 1.5 million in August.The FTSE 100 closed 0.4% higher at 5,902.CORPORATE NEWSLogistics company Wincanton (WIN) rallied 5% to 223p as it stuck by its recen

UK stocks traded lower at midday on Friday following weaker European markets as risk aversion was the order of the day amid rising volatility after news that Donald Trump tested positive for Covid-19, adding an extra element of political uncertainty in the US just a month before the presidential election.At 12:00, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 0.8%, at 5,835 points.Trump, 74, and first lad

After rallying over 1% this morning, the FTSE 100 swung the other way on Tuesday afternoon to close deeply in the red, as a surging pound and plummeting US consumer confidence dragged the index down.The UK's benchmark index closed 1.11% lower to 6,037.01, with the exporter-heavy index - full of companies who report in US dollars - hit by the pound's rise against the dollar.Also weighing on markets

The FTSE 100 gave back most of its early gains on Tuesday as enthusiasm faded and investors turn their attention to Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's speech on Thursday.At the annual Jackson Hole central banking conference, Powell is expected to signal a move towards average inflation targets, giving the bank more policy flexibility.At lunchtime the FTSE 100 was 0.2% higher at 6,118 points and

Shares in marine services provider James Fisher and Sons (FSJ) fell 5.1% to £11.67 after it became the latest firm to cut its dividend and report a fall in profit amid the coronavirus pandemic.The FTSE 250 company was hit by the plunging oil price in the first half of the year, as prices were first adversely impacted by over production relative to real demand, which was then quickly followed by t

The FTSE 100 opened 1% higher on Tuesday alongside European stocks as the US and China signalled progress on the first phase of their trade deal. Vaccine hopes also played a part with US firm Moderna saying it is close to agreeing to supply the European Union with a least 80 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate.In Asian trading the MSCI Asia Pacific index edged up 0.4%, Japan's Nikkei 2

UK markets slipped into reverse in early trade on Thursday as the UK continues to struggle with lockdown conditions. This despite a largely positive performance on Wall Street yesterday after President Trump unveiled an economic stimulus package worth up to $2trn.That saw the S&P 500, the US's main benchmark index, rally more than a full 1% to 2,475.56 with the Dow Jones also firmer. The tech heav

Despite better than expected results and no visible exposure to the coronavirus, marine engineer James Fisher & Sons (FSJ) still found itself caught up in the market sell-off on Thursday.Shares in the FTSE 250 company dropped 1.4% to £17.88 even though full year earnings were ahead of analyst expectations across the board.For the year to 31 December, the firm reported a 10% jump in revenue to £6

UK stocks opened lower on Friday with the FTSE 100 off 36.1 points to 7,400.6 early on after the coronavirus continued to spread outside China, particularly in South Korea, where more than 200 cases have been confirmed.European equities opened weaker as they took their cue from a soft session in Asia, while increasingly nervous investors chased the gold price to north of $1630.In corporate news, p

The FTSE 100 got off to a slow start this morning after US president Donald Trump signed into law a bill backing Hong Kong's protesters.Stock markets around the world fell sharply on the news, fearing that China will retaliate. Beijing has consistently warned the US and other countries against interfering in what it sees as its internal affairs.The UK's benchmark index no different to other stock