A key rationale for investing in the smallest companies on the UK market is that these businesses have the most capacity for growth.However, for several reasons investing in micro-cap businesses is not for everyone and has, with some notable exceptions, proved less than fruitful in recent years. WHAT IS A MICRO CAP?The definition of what constitutes a micro cap varies. Natalie Bell, fund manager a

London?s FTSE 100 achieved a record close on Monday, as sabre-rattling in the Middle East began to die down, while the pound struggled on renewed hope that the Bank of England is taming UK inflation.Among individual shares, there was some M&A impetus for Tyman and Hipgnosis Songs Fund. A bullish broker note lifted some UK high street and grocer stalwarts, though model train maker Hornby went off t

London stock prices mostly recovered on Thursday from the threat of higher for longer US interest rates, while initial jobless claims remained stable.The FTSE 100 index closed up 29.06 points, 0.4%, at 7,877.05. The FTSE 250 ended up 110.53 points, 0.6%, at 19,450.67, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.17 points, up 0.3%, at 745.29.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 786.93, the Cboe UK 250 closed up

Investors in London were not deterred by continuing concerns of higher for longer US interest rates, as stocks were up heading into the afternoon.The FTSE 100 index was 14.38 points higher, 0.2%, at 7,862.37. The FTSE 250 was up 63.75 points, 0.3%, at 19,403.89. The AIM All-Share was up 0.59 of a point, 0.1%, at 743.71.The Cboe UK 100 was a touch higher at 785.28, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.1% at 16

Stock prices in London opened in the green on Thursday, with some positive corporate updates helping lift the FTSE 100, a far cry from the sell-off New York tech shares suffered overnight.The tech sector comes into focus again, with streaming service Netflix, traditionally one of the FAANG stocks alongside Facebook owner Meta, Amazon, Apple and Alphabet, reporting quarterly earnings later.The FTSE

Full year 2024 earnings at top end of guidanceQ4 like-for-like growth deceleratesHas the UK estate matured?Bargain stores giant B&M European Value Retail (BME) said it expects profits for the year ended 30 March 2024 will be at the ?top end? of previous guidance as the cash-generative discounter hailed a year of ?strong operational execution?.Yet shares in the variety goods value retailer softened

The FTSE 100 was lower on Monday at midday as the oil price declined despite high tensions between Iran and Israel, while the FTSE 250 was a tad higher.The FTSE 100 index was down 33.43 points, 0.4%, at 7,962.15. The FTSE 250 was up 12.21 points, 0.1%, at 19,733.45, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.01 points, 0.5%, at 751.90.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 795.86, the Cboe UK 250 was marginally d

Fund outperforms benchmark in 2023Dividend increases by 7% to 7.65pShares sit at 13% discount to NAVMid- and small-cap UK growth investor Mercantile Investment Trust (MRC) outperformed its benchmark in the year to 31 January, delivering a net asset total return of 4.5% and total shareholder returns of 6.1%.The dividend was increased by 7% for the year to 7.65p per share, comfortably covered by rev

As investors gear up for the latest earnings season, stubbornly resistant inflation continues to dominant the mood music on US markets. After Wednesday?s (10 Apr) hotter-than-expected CPI data and the FOMC minutes, analysts at investment banks Citi, UBS, and Goldman Sachs all said they don?t see the Federal Reserve cutting rates in June, a blow to hopes that the interest rates down cycle will get

Cancer drug gets positive readoutPotential for personalised medicinesModerna has over 45 drugs in developmentUS biotechnology firm Moderna (MRNA:NASDAQ) was the top performer in the S&P 500 on Tuesday (9 April) jumping as much as 10% after its personalised cancer vaccine showed positive results in an early stage trial.The shares closed 6% higher at $11.60, a new three month high, but are down 30%

Trust underperforms benchmarkDividend increased for 42nd consecutive yearManager positive on outlookMerchants Trust (MRCH) served up a 42nd consecutive year of higher dividends, up 2.9% to 28.4p per share, but the portfolio fell 3.1% for the year, lagging the FTSE All-Share?s total return of 1.9%.Chairman Colin Clark described the performance as ?very disappointing? but stressed that the result ?c

Mercadolibre (MELI:NASDAQ) $1,528.95Market cap: $77.5 billionReaders that have come across MercadoLibre (MELI:NASDAQ) before will likely be familiar with the badge some pin on it ? the ?Amazon (AMZN:NASDAQ) of Latin America?. And just like its US peer, the Uruguay-based business has spent the past couple of decades emerging as one of the region?s ecommerce leaders.It may have started out as a mark

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE An equity income option to suit all tastesEquity income offers a breadth of investment options, depending on the regionThe UK is an option for recovery, Asia for growth, and the US for diversificationEquity income strategies may have a tailwind from falling interest ratesThere remains considerable debate over when and by how much interest rates could fall this year.

Stock prices in London fell at midday on Tuesday, as investors nervously looked ahead to interest interest rate decisions from the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England.Amongst individual stocks, Unilever was boosted by cost saving plans. Oil prices also gave BP and Shell a boost.The FTSE 100 index was down 20.42 points, 0.3%, at 7,702.13. The FTSE 250 was down 76.27 points, 0.4%, at 19,410.26, a

Stocks in London opened in the red on Tuesday morning, after the Bank of Japan decided to end its negative interest rate policy.Amongst individual stocks, Unilever jumped after it announced job cuts, as well as the split off of its ice cream division.The FTSE 100 index opened down 1.42 points at 7,721.13. The FTSE 250 was down 12.40 points, 0.1%, at 19,474.13, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.13 o

One of the most popular investment trusts with AJ Bell?s ISA millionaires, City of London (CTY) is a favourite with investors seeking long-term income and capital growth and a gateway to large international companies.However, while the long-run performance record is strong, Curtis? cautious approach means the fund can underperform in some market conditions. On a 10-year share price total return ba

There was interesting market reaction to the recent decision (5 March) by builders merchant Travis Perkins (TPK) to slash its dividend by a whopping 58%.At first the stock was down a little but it quickly rebounded and actually began trading higher as the day progressed. Now it?s important to add some context, the shares had dropped by a quarter over the last 12 months and a cut was widely expecte

Portfolio independently valuedNo dividends in prospectFirm in litigation with founder and adviserShares in music royalties firm Hipgnosis Songs Fund (SONG) slid 15% to a new all-time low of 54p after an independent assessment of its portfolio chopped 26% off the valuation.In response, the firm said it would divert its free cash flow to paying down its debt and there would be no dividends ?for the

Stocks in London were predominantly lower at midday on Monday, as investors remained cautious ahead of a busy week of monetary policy decisions and economic data.The FTSE 100 index was down 33.74 points, 0.4%, at 7,648.76. The FTSE 250 was down 81.03 points, 0.4%, at 19,273.35, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.12 of a point at 741.43.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.5% at 766.27, the Cboe UK 250 was down

Investors looking for continued sales momentumConsensus earnings estimates have been revised upLooking for signs of improving marginsInvestors will be interested to see if sales momentum has continued into the final quarter at global medical technology company Smith & Nephew (SN.) when it reports next week (27 Feb).Running into the Q4 and full-year numbers the shares have started to outperform the