AJ Bell's Money Matters campaign was launched three years ago with the aim of helping women navigate the massive gender investment gap.This is the first in a series of articles looking at the particular challenges women face at different stages in their financial lives.You might think that by the time you reach your 70s most of your life's financial decisions are behind you, but actually this deca

Anniversaries are often an opportunity to take stock so the Shares team has had a look at the best performing shares, funds and investment trusts since the magazine's first issue in September 1999.Read on to discover the identity of the top performers and find out names we think will continue to impress in the years to come and those where we think the good times might be over. But first, Ian Conw

Stocks in London were higher on Friday, as the market eagerly awaited a critical US inflation print.The FTSE 100 index was up 27.47 points, or 0.3%, at 8,407.11. The FTSE 250 was up 59.36 points, or 0.3%, at 21,090.44, and the AIM All-Share was virtually unchanged at 772.41.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 840.52, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.2% at 18,563.70, and the Cboe Small Companies was down 0.1% a

Stock prices in London opened higher on Friday, following US GDP data that one analyst said 'tasted exactly how investors love it', as well as promising UK retail footfall figures.The FTSE 100 index opened up 28.77 points, or 0.3%, at 8,409.25. The FTSE 250 was up 73.24 points, or 0.4%, at 21,104.32, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.36 points at 772.85.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 840.62, the Cboe

The issue of executive pay and how it compares with that of the average worker is one which can generate a fair amount of heat and noise, but how much does it actually matter to shareholders?A new report from the High Pay Centre, a think tank which aims to promote quote, unquote fairer pay, shows the median pay of chief executives of FTSE 100 companies increased by 2.2% to £4.19 million in 2023.N

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America[1]. It comprises 60% of the MSCI Latin America index,[2] and has four of the region's five largest companies. It is the highest weighting in the Bl

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Marketing material.A lot has been said about the concentration in the US markets, but investors in European markets have also been focused on a handful of companies. These 'Granolas' may be more diversified than the technology-focused Magnificent Seven ? and not as expensive ? but the focus on them suggests investors remain nervous about branching out. However, there

In an effort to encourage more companies to float on the London Stock Exchange, and presumably encourage more people to invest in them, the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) has unveiled a new listing regime which comes into force at the end of July.The rules ? described by the FCA as 'Big Bang 2.0' in a nod to the reforms of the mid-1980s ? are weighty, running to nearly 200 pages, and we at Shar

London's FTSE 100 shook off a stronger pound and a robust UK services inflation reading to register its first rise of the week on Wednesday, as investors also digested the latest King's speech, with new Prime Minister Keir Starmer getting his feet firmly under the table at Number 10.A stronger pound is usually a headwind for the international earner-heavy blue-chip index, though some share price r

Stock prices in London were mostly lower at midday Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 mildly in the green as annual consumer price inflation remained flat in June, while services inflation was viewed as too high for comfort.Meanwhile, in political news, Labour presented a 'packed' legislative agenda in the annual King's Speech, focused on improving living standards by driving economic growth, the first

Stocks in Europe were mostly lower on Wednesday morning, ahead of a eurozone consumer price inflation reading and the King's Speech.The FTSE 100 index opened down 10.32 points, or 0.1%, at 8,155.17. The FTSE 250 was down 55.59 points, or 0.3%, at 21,159.81, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.71 points, or 0.1%, at 787.79.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 813.97, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.1% at 18,451.

Stock prices in Europe ended lower on Tuesday, with fears of a French political impasse keeping optimism at bay, while a lack of an obvious dovish tilt to remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell meant there was no bullish impetus added to late dealings.The central banker said he would like to see 'more' favourable data before the federal funds rate target range is cut. Whether that comes in

European stock prices were in the red on Tuesday afternoon, as the political deadlock in France continued following the election.Amongst individual stocks, BP took a hit on the FTSE 100 index after warning of a hit to refining margins.The FTSE 100 index was down 6.21 points, 0.1%, at 8,187.28. The FTSE 250 was down 15.55 points, 0.1%, at 20,782.77, and the AIM All-Share was down just 0.070 of a po

Second-quarter fees down 12%June exit rate even worse, reversing 18%Firm cuts full-year profit goalFTSE 250 firm PageGroup (PAGE) sent the European staffing sector lower across the board after warning soft trading in the second quarter meant full-year profits would be below expectations.PageGroup shares fell as much as 60p, or 15%, to a 12-month low of 360p before recovering to trade down around 6

Stocks in London opened mixed on Tuesday ahead of the testimony by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, while BP and Shell fell as BP expects a $2 billion impairment charge.The FTSE 100 index opened up 18.23 points, 0.2%, at 8,211.72. The FTSE 250 was down 16.05 points, 0.1%, at 20,782.27, and the AIM All-Share was down just 0.20 of a point at 774.96.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 818.02, the C

Guinness Global Equity Income (BVYPP13) £21.59Net assets: £4.6 billionDespite a fairly decent start to 2024 for markets there's a lot for investors to fret about right now. The timing of interest rate cuts, sticky inflation, a looming US election this November, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East and the conflict in Ukraine, to name but a few worries.A great way of protecting against

UK banks have enjoyed a renaissance in 2024. And, while the snap UK election put paid to plans for a big share sale in NatWest (NWG), anticipation of a 'Tell Sid' style offer definitely put the spotlight on the sector.As such, now is a perfect time to take an in-depth look at the banks' relative merits, particularly off the back of their annual 2023 and first-quarter 2024 results.It's worth saying

From pop groups, TV shows, cars, home appliances, electronics and smartphones, South Korean brands have for years been familiar to global consumers. Millions of homes are filled with Smartphones and TVs made by Samsung Electronics (005930:KRX) and LG Electronics (006657:KRX), cars made by Hyundai Motor (005380:KRX) and Kia (000270:KRX), while microchips made by Hynix (000660:KRX) power these gadge

London?s FTSE 100 made a bright start to trading on Thursday, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell played down fears of an interest rate increase, although cuts remain on the back-burner.The FTSE 100 index rose 18.12 points, 0.2%, at 8,139.36. The FTSE 250 edged up just 4.56 points to 19,931.15, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.19 points, 0.2%, at 766.17.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 812.66, t

The persistently high interest rate environment means companies are under pressure to cut costs and jobs are an obvious target. While they can cut their workforce through redundancies or slash the wage bill through shorter or fewer shifts, others might already be operating with a skeleton crew and cannot pare back any further.It is against this scenario that higher wages are adding to companies? p