With markets and financial commentators seemingly obsessed with the notion of big companies getting bigger - Apple being a prime example, having doubled in value to a record-breaking $2 trillion just in the last two years - investors shouldn't overlook the long-term attraction of smaller companies.It's well established that small companies tend to grow faster than big companies. Partly this is dow

The FTSE 100 is on the front foot as European worries seem to have subsided from earlier this week. The index is up by 18 points to 7,707 after a strong showing on Wall Street overnight.Coach and rail company FirstGroup (FGP) sheds 13% to 96.2p as its full year results to 31 March show a pre-tax loss of £327m. The company has also parted with chief executive Tim O'Toole, who says 'the time is rig

Anyone seeking exposure to very small companies on the UK stock market via the funds route should look at LF Livingbridge UK Micro Cap Fund (GB00B55S9X98) which has a great record of outperformance.Managed by Ken Wotton, it has generated annualised trailing returns of 17.35% and 20.85% on a three year and five year basis respectively, according to Morningstar.The brains behind the fund is asset ma

Business jet services company Gama Aviation (GMAA:AIM) enjoys a 3% share price hike to 255p as its reveals a revenue increase of 45% to $291m in the six months to 30 June.A large part of this improvement is thanks to a revenue increase of around 74% in its US air services arm, reflecting the company's game-changing management merger with part of BBA Aviation and the growth of the Wheels Up contrac

Gama Aviation (GMAA) results beat analysts' forecasts but the share price is still down by over 5% at 211p. Analysts at broker WH Ireland continue to believe that the market is failing to fully recognise the company's bright prospects. Their 340p share price target certainly gives potential investors something to think about.Gama's chief executive officer (CEO) Marwan Khalek says he gave up trying

The AIM market has come out of the blocks in 2017 like Usain Bolt, leaving the mainstream stock market indices trailing in its wake. This article contains some of our best AIM stock ideas and explains why the market has been racing ahead.The FTSE AIM All-Share index has rallied 7.9% year to date to close at 910.38 on 1 March 2017, the highest the junior index has been since 2011. That compares to

Midcap aviation services firm BBA Aviation (BBA) is planning to merge its charter business with Gama Aviation's (GMAA: AIM) US aircraft management division.Shares in Gama are flying 11.7% higher, while BBA remains broadly flat at 285.7p.The combined entity, called Gama Aviation Signature Aircraft Management, will become one of the world's largest charter businesses with approximately 200 aeroplane

Stocks in London open 2017 in the black with deal-making action at London Stock Exchange (LSE), Britvic (BVIC) and BBA Aviation (BBA) dominating news flow.FTSE 100 shares trade 0.27% higher at 7,162 after closing 2016 at an all-time high.Despite a rash of acquisitions and disposals, Intercontinental Hotels (IHG) is the biggest gainer on the blue chip index, gaining 3.8% to £37.75Intercontinental'

London's FTSE 100 rebounds on Monday, up 82.15 points to 6,792.43, recovering from Friday's banking stock-led falls. The market is drawing strength from a rally in Asian stocks triggered by a firmer oil price and brushing aside caution ahead of this week's Federal Reserve policy meeting.In corporate news, the session's main casualty is outsourcing giant Mitie (MTO), which slumps 26.5% to 197.6p fo

Investors appear to be holding fire ahead of tomorrow's call on UK interest rates rather than taking their cue from strong gains in the US and Asia overnight with the FTSE 100 down 0.26% at 6,663.24.Housebuilders post modest falls as Barratt Developments (BDEV) posts a positive pre-close update but sounds a downbeat tone on Brexit noting 'the immediate outlook for our industry is less clear and it

Having posted a 100% increase in operating profit in its first set of prelims since its reverse takeover of Hangar8 in January 2015, aviation services provider Gama Aviation (GMAA: AIM) is offering an encouraging prognosis for the coming financial year.Maiden results from the £115.3 million cap reflected the raft of synergies achieved through the Hangar8 integration but also strong organic growth

Four directors of Gama Aviation (GMAA:AIM) have invested a combined £147,400 in the aircraft operator, which we take to be a very positive sign. This comes less than a month since stockbroker Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded earnings expectations for the company. Buy at 265p.The £114.8 million cap is engaged in the chartering of aircraft to third parties, provision of insurance, operational support an

While the UK's economic recovery remains frustratingly halting, the general direction of economic momentum still remains skewed to the upside.Granted, there are some ominous headwinds on the horizon; China's gathering slowdown will almost certainly prove to be a long tail event that catches up with the world's developed economies. When this is likely to occur remains the subject of intense specul

A strong April update from business aviation services specialist Gama Aviation (GMAA:AIM) suggests the £125 million cap will meet management's operational and financial targets for the full year.A combination of additional new contract aircraft, a competitive global fuel deal and planning submitted for a new facility in Aberdeen to serve the Scottish east coast, point to continued organic growth

One of the key attractions of AIM stocks is their ability to help avoid paying inheritance tax (IHT). In a nutshell, if you invest money in AIM shares that meet certain criteria set by the taxman for at least two years, that money can be passed on to third parties, such as your husband or wife, upon your death without that windfall cash being taxed.Our favourite stocks that presently qualify for I

Eagle Eye (EYE:AIM) 165pAIM is littered with strugglers chasing the mobile commerce dream but Eagle Eye is off to a decent start. SMS marketing and vouchers space has potential, but this is also high-risk territory.Earthport (EPO:AIM) 45.25pNew management is key to ending years of failure and cash calls. Making rapid progress to promised global platform for medium-sized cross-border payments goal.