888 rejected a 156p per share offer from PlaytechPotential cost savings of £170 millionJefferies estimates deal could add 20% to combined profitShares in William Hill owner 888 Holdings (888) jumped as much as 18% on Monday to 84p after The Sunday Times revealed the gambling firm received a takeover offer from gambling technology company Playtech (PTEC) at 156p per share back in July.Playtech sha

- Serial entrepreneur thinks Kape growth strategy better suited away from public market glare- Sagi already owns 54% of cyber security company's shares- 285p per share cash offer 37% below 455p recordTeddy Sagi is upping the pressure on AIM-listed cyber security company Kape Technologies (KAPE:AIM) to accept a takeover offer after tabling a 285p per share cash offer for the company, worth £1.25 b

We believe the cybersecurity industry looks like a great place to invest for the long-run, and Kape Technologies (KAPE:AIM) is an under-the-radar way to do so.As the number of hacking attacks on government agencies and major businesses surge, digital defence budgets are also rising rapidly, and increasingly consumers are having to think hard about how they protect themselves and their valuable onl

Weakness in the pound will only serve to heighten the likelihood of foreign companies buying UK businesses.We saw this happen when the pound slumped after the EU referendum on Brexit in 2016, including takeovers for chip giant Arm and broadcasting group Sky.UK stocks have been cheap on a relative basis to many other geographies since then, and now they've got even cheaper due to political, financi

- First half revenues up 71%, EBITDA up 60%- Strength continued into second half- Shares fall 5%Gambling software company Playtech (PTEC) delivered strong first half growth with revenues 71% ahead year-on-year to €792.3 while adjusted operating earnings were 60% higher at €203.8 million, better than prior expectations.The company said the 'excellent' first half through June had continued

- Playtech shares drop 19% after investor group walks away- Suitor abandons bid due to challenging market conditions- Strong first half performanceGambling software maker Playtech (PTEC) was out of favour today after its latest suitor, an investor group formed and advised by TTB Partners, decided not to make an offer for the company due to 'challenging' market conditions.The shares crashed 19% to

Gambling technology company Playtech (PTEC) said the excellent start to trading in 2022 had continued across the first quarter, producing adjusted EBITDA of more than €100 million.If current trends continued through the rest of the 2022 financial year it would imply full-year EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) north of €400 million.This would represe

UK shares saw selling pressure on Thursday following the Bank of England's historic decision to deliver the first back to back interest rate increase since 2004.Sentiment was further dampened following a 24% decline in Meta shares, previously known as Facebook which sent US indices into the red with the tech heavy Nasdaq Index down 2.25% and the SAP Index off 1.4%.Meta has been impacted by competi

The Bank of England has made the historic decision to deliver the first back to back interest rate increase since 2004.The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously in favour of raising the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 0.5%. The decision had been expected by the market.The benchmark FTSE 100 and the mid-cap FTSE 250 indexes traded 0.3% and 0.6% lower on the news at 7,556.6

Gaming software maker Playtech (PTEC) shot to the top of the FTSE 250 leaderboard on Thursday with the shares gaining 13% to 663p after it reopened takeover discussions with its second largest shareholder, TTB Partners on behalf of an investor group to be formed and advised by TTB.The Hong Kong based group is an investment advisory firm backed by investors with experience in gaming and financials

Major shares in London opened higher on Thursday, albeit modestly, lifted by earnings from energy and consumer companies as investors braced for an expected second consecutive rate hike by the Bank of England.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 is 0.1% up at 7,590.86, led by Compass (CPG), while BT (BT.A) checked further progress. Mid-caps remain under pressure, the FTSE 250 losing 0.25% at 22,198.16.U

UK markets closed higher for a third straight day on Wednesday as the recovery in risk appetite continued. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index is now less than 1% below the highs reached in mid-January.Investors await interest rate decisions tomorrow from the Bank of England and European Central Bank with economists expecting a second consecutive rate rise in the UK.At the close the FTSE 100 was up 0.6%

The FTSE 100 index added to early gains at midday on Wednesday, mirroring global stock markets which have regained some composure following January's steep losses.US markets were buoyed by a stronger than expected earnings report from Google-owner Alphabet, with the shares gaining 10% in after hours trading. Investors will be hoping for the same from Facebook when it reports after the US close.At

London's FTSE 100 opened higher on Wednesday as investors continued to shrug off fears about rising inflation, although sentiment will be tested on Thursday when the Bank of England provides an update on interest rates.The blue chip benchmark was also lifted after Wall Street markets finished in positive territory last night, the continued rebound in US shares helping to lift investor confidence a

UK stocks closed on a positive note with the FTSE 100 index ending 1.3% higher at 7,470 points and the FTSE 250 Index firming 1% to 21,873 points at the bell.Brent crude futures hit $90 per barrel for the time since 2014, fueling concerns over inflationary pressures and the need to further raise UK interest rates. Goldman Sachs recently increased its oil price forecast to $100 per barrel.However,

The major UK equity markets continued to build on earlier gains at lunchtime trading on Wednesday.Travel stocks were in demand following the government's confirmation that Covid testing will be dropped for double jabbed travellers arriving in England.At lunchtime the blue chip FTSE 100 equity index was 1.76% higher at 7501.16 and the mid-cap FTSE 250 firmed 1.5% to 21,976.03.All eyes will be focus

Leading UK shares have shrugged-off concerns currently upsetting Wall Street as expectations grow that the Federal Reserve will act more swiftly than previously predicted to try and tame rampant inflation. At the same time, tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to grow, adding another volatile factor into the mix.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 is close on 1.5% ahead at 7,479.13, not far fro

FTSE 100 falls accelerated through the afternoon session despite a firm start on Wall Street, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq trading higher. Reports that the US and China could release some of their strategic oil reserves appear to have taken their toll, and despite a recovery in the price of Brent crude, up 0.7% at $80.87 a barrel, both BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) posted near 2% declines t

The FTSE 100 remains entrenched in the red at lunchtime on Thursday as investors were spooked by reports that the US and China could release some of their strategic oil reserves.West Texas Intermediate is off 0.45% while Brent crude fell 0.32% to $80.02 a barrel. These worries saw both BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) among the biggest FTSE 100 fallers, off around 2% a piece at 335.95p and £

Shares in Paddy Power Betfair owner Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) added 1% to £117.90 after it announced the acquisition of leading bingo operator Tombola for £402 million including debt.Tombola is a successful bingo-led operator with 80% of its revenues generated from the UK, 16% from Italy and Spain and 4% from other markets including Sweden and Denmark.The company has built a 'highly sustainab