Value market challengingHigh street market competitive for B2B salesOverheads increased by £1.3 millionShares in On The Beach (OTB) fell as much as 9% to 151p in morning trading as the online package holiday provider?s first-half results showed it is feeling the pressure from the cost-of-living crisis and competition on the UK High Street.It was not all ?doom and gloom? however, as the beach holi

London?s blue-chips remained in demand, pushing to new highs, with investors hoping US inflation data later does not derail the optimistic mood.In the FTSE 100, ConvaTec was an outlier, after Peel Hunt downgraded the firm?s investment rating. On the other side of the index was NatWest, with a set of well received results.The FTSE 100 index was up 35.73 points, 0.4%, at 8,114.59. The FTSE 250 was u

Stock prices in London declined as investors were cautious due to concerns that the Iran-Israel conflict could escalate, following reports by Iranian state media about explosions in the province of Isfahan.The FTSE 100 index was 47.06 points, 0.6%, at 7,829.99. The FTSE 250 was down 166.79 points, 0.9%, at 19,283.88, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.00 points, 0.5%, at 741.29.The Cboe UK 100 was d

European stocks declined on Friday morning after reports of explosions in Iran, fuelling worries of a conflict escalation.The FTSE 100 index opened 50.93 points lower, 0.7%, at 7,826.12. The FTSE 250 was down 178.53 points, 0.9%, at 19,272.14. The AIM All-Share was down 4.15 points, 0.6%, at 741.14.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.7% to 781.46, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.8% at 16,706.81, and the Cboe Small

Primary Health Properties CEO buys £68,862 sharesBango CEO buys £20,013 sharesLiteracy Capital director investsHarry Hyman, CEO of FTSE 250-listed REIT (real estate investment trust) Primary Health Properties (PHP) has bought 74,890 shares at a total value of £68,862.40 on 9 April.Hyman?s move comes after research firm Peel Hunt gave Primary Health Properties a bullish rating after reporting a

The shrinking UK stock market is a worry for fund managers and has wider implications for the UK as a listing venue as well as the UK?s economic growth, say analysts at Peel Hunt.This article explores the so-called de-equitisation of the UK stock market, or plainly put the substitution of debt for equity via share buybacks and cash acquisitions.More than 45 companies exited the UK market in 2023 d

Stock prices in London closed slightly higher on Wednesday, as investors continue to tread water ahead of a key US inflation reading on Friday.Amongst individual stocks, DS Smith rose on the back of takeover talks with International Paper. Diploma climbed, as shareholders were pleased with its £236 million acquisition.The FTSE 100 index closed up 1.02 points at 7,931.98. The FTSE 250 ended up 33.

Takeover by Pollen Street CapitalPremium of 34% to undisturbed priceSuitor sees accelerated growthWealth manager Mattioli Woods (MTW:AIM) became the latest UK mid-cap to be targeted by private equity as the board unanimously recommend an all cash 804p per share offer from Pollen Street Capital.The proposed deal equates to a 34% premium to the undisturbed share price and values the ordinary share c

Primary Health Properties (PHP) 90pMarket cap: £1.2 billionAs the National Health Service continues to struggle under the weight of an ageing population and increased demand for treatment, resulting in growing waiting lists, there has never been a greater need for primary healthcare services outside of hospitals.Primary Health Properties (PHP) is a UK real estate investment trust and a leading in

All divisions profitable in first halfFull year operating profit upgradedNet debt significantly reducedOne of 2023?s best share price performers, private-label cleaning products maker McBride (MCB), has upgraded earnings guidance again as the cost-of-living squeeze continues to stoke demand for its affordable products, news that sent the stock up 16% to 85.2p in early dealings on Tuesday.Having re

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

hVIVO directors sell shares ?to meet demand?Greencore director buys £50,000 sharesCathal Friel, co-founder and chairman of infectious and respiratory diseases company hVIVO (HVO:AIM), sold 25,937,909 shares at 28p for a total value of £7,262,615 on 14 February.Brendan Buckley, non-executive of the company, sold 4,017,269 also at 28p for a total value of £1,124,835 on the same day.Therefore the

First half profits fall 30%Full year guidance downgradedShares plunge to five-year lowTesting times continue for shareholders in Genus (GNS), the animal genetics specialist?s stock plunging 26% to a five-year low of £15.72 on a warning annual profits will disappoint due to low pork prices and weak bovine volumes in China denting demand for genetics services.Basingstoke-based Genus now expects adj

Sales up in a flat marketGross margins increasedShares now yielding 5%Against the background of a UK economy where companies selling non-essential goods are struggling ? exemplified by The Body Shop appointing administrators ? today?s interim results from homewares and furniture firm Dunelm (DNLM) suggest the firm has done a good job in tailoring its customer offer.Not only were sales for the six

When Martin Sorrell completed his acrimonious exit in 2018 from the business he had built up over decades he had a point to prove.His S4 Capital (SFOR) vehicle was supposed to leave his former charge in the shade by adopting a similar buy-and-build model to that employed at WPP (WPP).The latter started life as wire shopping-basket manufacturer Wire and Plastic Products before Sorrell and co-founde

2023 profits shy of estimatesTougher trading seen in DecemberBoard envisions brighter 2024Shares in Inspecs (SPEC:AIM) plunged almost 30% to a 12-month low of 62.1p after the eyewear company warned its performance for the 2023 calendar year would be below market expectations due to softer sales in December.The market took a dim view of the news, although Bath-headquartered Inspecs said it expected

TRUSTPILOT (TRST) Price: 161pMarket cap: £672 million Investors may think they have missed the Trustpilot (TRST) boat after the shares have doubled in six months. Not so, in our opinion. Shares believes this re-rating story has only just started and the share price could easily surge past 200p this year and far higher over time. To put this into context, when analysts at Berenberg and Peel Hunt b

A respected analyst is warning the ?relentless? pace of de-equitisation driven by depressed UK stock market valuations will continue unless action is taken.Low valuations are making the UK stock market an attractive hunting ground for acquirers and are a key factor behind the ?minimal? IPO (initial public offering) activity of the last two years which needs to be ?actively addressed? Peel Hunt?s (

European equities were lower on Tuesday afternoon, with stocks struggling to find their groove early in the year new year, as investors show signs of unease ahead of major interest rate decisions in the weeks to come.Among individual stocks, a special dividend announcement lifted B&M shares. Recruiters fell after a warning from Hays.The FTSE 100 index was down 7.33 points, 0.1%, at 7,686.86. The F

De-equitisation pace is ?relentless?AIM received largest number of bids last yearFund flow reverse ?can happen quickly?Broker Peel Hunt (PEEL:AIM) has warned that the ?relentless? pace of de-equitisation driven by depressed UK stock market valuations will likely continue unless action is taken and ?impacts quickly?.Low valuations are making the UK stock market an attractive hunting ground for acqu