It must be maddening for analysts that every time they?ve put forecasts for Darktrace (DARK) into the market, they?re forced to tear them up and start again. It happened for the third time already this year earlier this month (11 April), in the wake of a surprisingly strong third fiscal quarter update (to 31 March) that the company predicts will mean an extra $2.4 million of ARR, or annual recurri

In retrospect, it seems clear the tipping point for AI (artificial intelligence) was the release in November 2022 of OpenAI?s free-to use ChatGPT system.Until that point, most AI products were being developed privately and weren?t widely available to the public, added to which most were fairly clunky whereas ChatGPT was able to interact in a conversational way, answering questions, challenging inc

Record year for sales and profit2024 seen second half-weightedFull year dividend up 3%Despite delivering another record year of revenue and profit, shares in IT reseller Computercenter (CCC) fell 7% to a two-month low of £27.41 after the firm gave a cautious outlook.The FTSE 250 company said although it expects 2024 to be another year of progress, it sees growth weighted to the second half of the

Merged firm valued at £10 billionMondi sees ?substantial? synergiesMondi board to dominate new firmThe UK M&A (mergers and acquisitions) juggernaut rolls on with confirmation today of more consolidation in the paper and packaging sector after DS Smith (SMDS) agreed to a revised bid from rival Mondi (MNDI).Shares in DS Smith gained 7% to 350p while Mondi shares eased 2% to £13.53. SUBSTANT

Total revenue growth up 12% to £273.1 millionUnderlying revenue growth of 7%Private equity firm Inflexion snaps up healthcare stakeShares in GlobalData (DATA:AIM) were marginally higher at 180p in morning trading as the London-based data analytics and consulting company said statutory pre-tax profit was up 8% or £3 million to £41.5 million for the year ending 31 December 2023.Over the past six

Frasers increases stake to 8.9%Sports Direct-owner a ?strategic shareholder?Opportunity to sell more products via GAME chainMike Ashley-controlled Frasers (FRAS) has shunted its way up the shareholder register at model trains-to-planes maker Hornby (HRN:AIM) as the deal-hungry conglomerate pounces on yet another retail name going through tough times.Shares in Hornby leapt 40.5% to 29.5p on news Fr

UK mid caps are seemingly under siege with a noticeable increase in takeover approaches from overseas suitors in recent months.The latest target is leading UK TV and laptop-to-washing-machine retailer Currys (CURY), providing further evidence that valuations are attractive across the sector argue analysts at Peel Hunt.This week, Currys rejected a £700 million offer (62p per share) from Elliot Par

New £80 million buybackJD Sports warning a recent overhangN Brown stake tops 20%Mike Ashley?s Frasers (FRAS) has launched a fresh £80 million share buyback to address a near-10% year-to-date share price pullback at the retail powerhouse behind sporting goods chain Sports Direct as well as House of Fraser and Flannels.Analysts at Liberum believe shares in the FTSE 100 conglomerate have suffered d

Most of us will be aware of the need to plan for our retirement, however far or otherwise we might have got with doing so. After all, when we stop working we all still want to enjoy a decent quality of life. In this article we will explore how much money you will need and the level of pension pot required to achieve it as well as providing some investment ideas for people at the start of the proce

According to London Stock Exchange data there were just 23 IPOs (initial public offerings) in total on the UK market in 2023, only slightly more than half the number the preceding year and the lowest since the exchange started publishing records in 1995.For the first time since the financial crisis just one company joined the market in the fourth quarter, and that was a new listing rather than an

The FTSE 100 started the week lower on Monday, weighed down by oil majors and mining companies.The FTSE 100 index opened down 23.43 points, 0.3%, at 7,666.18. The FTSE 250 was up 64.06 points, 0.3%, at 19,274.45, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.4 of a point, 0.1%, at 750.83.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 765.81, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.4% at 16,782.47, and the Cboe Small Companies was flat at

While the present-day incarnation of Currys (CURY) is a technology products specialist selling everything from whizzy gadgets to white goods, the retailer's origins can be traced back to 1884 when one Henry Curry founded the Curry Cycle Co bicycle-building business.In 1984, Dixons Retail acquired Currys and thirty years later, 'Dixons Carphone' was formed through a complex merger between Dixons an

Hard-pressed fashion retailer warns againLike-for-like sales down 7% in last six weeksCost-saving programme on trackEmbattled clothing and footwear retailer Superdry (SDRY) has disappointed the market yet again, warning trading has been ?significantly below? management expectations with full year profits to fall short of forecasts as a result.Shares in the hard-pressed hoodies, jackets and sweatsh

Shares in Currys (CURY) are down 20% year-to-date, so the technology products retailer needs to maintain its full-year guidance and deliver a solid trading update with its first-half results, due on 14 December, if the equity is to regain some spark.Operating against a difficult consumer backdrop, the focus will be on like-for-like sales trends at the FTSE 250 TV, washing machine and laptop seller

Equity income trusts in demandCity of London most boughtScottish Mortgage, Finsbury Growth & Income divide opinionWith conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine creating uncertainty, and investors grappling with cost-of-living pressures as falling inflation is expected to be a drawn-out process, dependable income trusts have proved popular on the AJ Bell platform over the past month.At the same time

Biggest shareholder ups stake to 17.2%Ashley and Murray see a bargainShein files to go publicBoohoo?s (BOO:AIM) shares were bid up 4% to 35p on the revelation Mike Ashley-controlled conglomerate Frasers (FRAS) has raised its stake in the fast fashion retailer above 17% for the first time.Frasers? move comes at a crucial time for embattled Boohoo.Fierce competitor competitor Shein is growing ever m

In a week foreshortened by the Thanksgiving holiday, US markets, for the most part, consolidated their recent gains.Investors on Wall Street seem increasingly hopeful rates have peaked and this has set the scene for a possible Santa Rally through the remainder of the year.The test will be if the Federal Reserve tries to pour cold water on this idea ? perhaps when it next meets in mid-December. Ent

A big question facing growth-oriented investors is whether the popular investment style can regain its mojo and get back to winning ways in a world of high interest rates.Despite a strong recent rally which has seen the technology heavy Nasdaq Composite rise 14% over the last six months, growth stocks have struggled relative to value over the last three years.The arrival of Pfizer?s (PFE:NYSE) Cov

Strategic pivot paying offAO World returned to profit in H1But annual sales now seen 10% lowerOnline electrical retailer AO World (AO.) has upgraded its year-to-March 2024 pre-tax profit guidance from ?around £28 million? to between £28 million and £33 million after stronger margins helped the white goods group deliver a first half return to profit with improved cash generation.This positive ne

London?s FTSE 100 ended the week the outperformer, as a more favourable interest rate and inflation outlook, as well as hope of an easing of US and China tensions, supporting the large-cap benchmark.Shares in New York surrendered some of this week?s monster gains, however.The FTSE 100 index surged 93.28 points, 1.3%, at 7,504.25. The FTSE 250 ended up 216.39 points, 1.2%, at 18,567.87, and the AIM