Chip stocks are coming under pressure from investors made nervous by hints of weakening demand during the first half of 2024. During the past week or so there have been warnings from industry bellwethers from Europe and the Far East, dampening enthusiasm just as earnings season gets going in earnest.On 22 April Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM:NYSE), or simply TSMC, the world?s bigg

Q1 revenue misses by ?100 millionChip kit firm?s stock falls more than 4%Underlying market remains supportiveChip stocks have been gunning it this year thanks to booming demand for the most advanced AI (artificial intelligence) technology. The US SOX semiconductor index, which measures the world?s meaningful chips stocks, has rallied 15% since the start of January, so ASML?s (ASML:AMS) revenue mis

Apollo looking to break up businessLeaderless status leaves firm vulnerableActivist Eminence Capital has board seatShares in bookmaker Entain (ENT) topped the FTSE 100, climbing 5% to 826p on rumours private equity groups including Apollo are eying a potential break-up of the Ladbrokes and Coral owner after it initiated a formal review of the group?s structure amid activist pressure.The Times news

Organic growth turns negativeShares fall to post-pandemic low£4 billion wiped off market capAfter missing market forecasts for third-quarter sales last October, FTSE 100 household and personal goods group Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) reported an even more disappointing set of fourth-quarter results with like-for-like sales in negative territory.The shares slumped as much as 10% to £52.54, their lowes

Stock prices in Europe were mixed on Tuesday midday, as investors await US data that could be indicative of future interest rates.The FTSE 100 index was down 10.79 points, 0.1%, at 7,673.51. The FTSE 250 was down 19.91 points, 0.1%, at 19,107.01, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.02 points, 0.1%, at 744.79.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 768.73, the Cboe UK 250 was flat at 16,487.42, and the Cboe

CMA CGM ups offer to 480pWincanton board backs increased bidMystery suitor emergesShares in Wincanton (WIN) accelerated 11.4% to an all-time high of 500p on Monday after agreed buyer CMA CGM upped its offer for the UK logistics company and an unnamed third party threw its hat into the ring.This has set the scene for a bidding war over the Wiltshire-based business.French shipping group CMA CGM, whi

Stock prices in London were mixed on Wednesday morning, as investors looked ahead to US inflation data and weighed continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.The FTSE 100 index opened down 25.03 points, 0.3%, at 7,658.88. The FTSE 250 was up 12.96 points, 0.1%, at 19,306.98, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.27 of a point at 752.93.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 765.32, the Cboe UK 250 was

Energy services firm Hunting (HTG) is in the midst of a transformation which we think continues to be underappreciated by the market. The company has historically been heavily reliant on US onshore rig activity and is coming to the end of a restructuring process aimed at rebuilding profit after a difficult period in the wake of the pandemic.Evidence of its recovery should come through early in 202

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

Stock prices in London enjoyed a festive boost at midday on Monday, following hawkish comments from the US Federal Reserve on Friday.The FTSE 100 index was up 44.87 points, 0.6%, at 7,621.23. The FTSE 250 was up 29.00 points, 0.2%, at 19,237.97, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.84 of a point, 0.1%, at 740.15.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.6% at 760.49, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.2% at 16,692.22, and the Cbo

Just when it seemed inflation was being brought under control, particularly in terms of input costs for businesses like energy and labour, events thousands of miles away are threatening to send prices back up again.While they may seem to have nothing to do with UK consumers or investors, together a drought in Central America and an increase in the terror threat in the Middle East could rekindle in

Stock slumps 8.5% after US market closed on MondayCloud and overall revenue came in shortCEO flags ?astronomical rate? of demand, but challenges awaitA 15% rally since late October is starting to unravel for software database giant Oracle (ORCL:NYSE) after its cloud growth showed further signs of slowing.Oracle?s cloud revenue jumped 25% to $4.8 billion, but that was down from 30% in the previous

Sale is at 14% discount to September valuationInterim results out on 19 DecemberShares down 23% year-to-dateMusic royalty firm Hipgnosis Songs Fund (SONG) revealed it had completed the sale of some 20,000 non-core songs for $23.1 million at a 14.2% discount to the valuation as of 30 September.The shares were barely changed at 66p after the announcement, leaving them down 23% year-to-date. N

Stocks in London opened higher on Tuesday despite a profit miss and share price tumble by BP, as trading sentiment in Europe and the US improved.The FTSE 100 index opened 10.76 points, 0.2%, at 7,338.15. The FTSE 250 was up 134.31 points, 0.8%, at 17,151.90, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.43 of a point, 0.1%, at 679.00.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 732.19, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.9% at 14,910.61

Investors have six months to decide next stepsSale of song catalogue also vetoedSearch begins for new chair and directorShareholders in Hipgnosis Songs Fund (SONG) have voted conclusively against the continuation of the music royalty investment trust at their annual general meeting (AGM) and extraordinary general meeting (EGM).In addition, shareholders voted against the proposed $440 million sale

Stocks closed lower on Friday in London as investors looked increasingly risk averse amid an expectation that interest rates will stay higher for longer and clashes continue in the Middle East.The FTSE 100 index closed down 45.18 points, or 0.6% at 7,599.60 on Friday but finished the week 1.4% higher.The FTSE 250 ended down 381.47 points, or 2.1%, at 17,454.22 and closed the week down 1.6%.The AIM

A combination of a favourable commodity price backdrop and positive operational progress has helped energy services firm Hunting (HTG) to a 20% share price gain in the past six months.As chief executive Jim Johnson explained to Shares an investor day on 13 September was intended to demonstrate to the market the business was about more than its flagship Titan product. This perforating gun is used t

According to data from the AIC, the average investment trust discount to net asset value has widened from 12.2% at the end of 2022 to 14.5% as of 8 September 2023, while sector averages have generally widened. The exception is private equity, which narrowed from 25.1% to 4.5%, skewed by 3i's (III) dramatic swing from discount to premium.While this presents an opportunity to buy into parts of the m

There are two questions being asked by every investor. When are interest rates around the world going to stop rising and what happens to stock markets when they do?No-one knows for sure when rates will peak, but what we can say is there are two different scenarios which could cause central banks to stop raising. As for what happens to markets next, that depends on which of the two scenarios unfold

Updated 13 September 2023. Giant UK microchips designer ARM has filed its highly anticipated Wall Street IPO (initial public offering) prospectus, firing the gun on a long mooted and highly anticipated return to equity markets for the Cambridge-based company that has been owned by Japan's Softbank (9984:TYO) since 2016.ARM by numbersFounded: 1990Headquarters: Cambridge, UKNumber of employees: 6,00