Firm closes eight bars to stem future lossesMacro headwinds and increase in national living wage biteBest festive trading in four yearsShares in premium bars and gastro pubs operator Revolution Bars (RBG:AIM) crashed 22% to 4.2p after the company said it is closing eight of its least profitable bars to reduce future site losses.Investors peered past positive festive trading and focused instead on

Full-year results to be published on 26 September from consumer goods firm PZ Cussons (PZC) come hot on the heels of the company's announcement that it plans to take full control of its Nigerian business.This decision may come under some scrutiny as the impact of the devaluation of the Nigerian naira could well mar the upcoming numbers. Volatility in the currency and the country itself has been a

- Sharp drop in M&A activity last quarter- No sign of a recovery so far this year- More companies likely to experience a slowdownFinancial advisory firm DSW Capital (DSW:AIM) upset the applecart with an unexpected warning earnings would be below market expectations due to a freeze in corporate deal-making.The shares, which had traded in a narrow range between 100p and 130p since listing just over

- Profit warning as travel disruptions hit confidence- Expectations rebased to bottom end of range- Closing some sites on Mon and Tues to manage energyShares in premium bars and pubs group Revolution Bars (RBG:AIM) fell 33% to 4.9p on Tuesday after warning full year profit would miss market expectations.Despite record Christmas corporate pre-booked party revenue up 10.3% on the same period in 2019

Despite an upbeat assessment of its 2021 business activity, shares in litigation finance provider Burford Capital (BUR:AIM) drifted 1% lower to 685p as investors focused instead on projected losses due to slow case progress.On the other hand, smaller rival RBG Holdings (RBGP:AIM) received plaudits for its new model of risk-sharing in financing cases as its shares gained 4.3% to 130p.STRONG YEAR FO

UK stocks headed lower on Tuesday afternoon as the debate on interest rates reared its head again following better than expected jobs data in the UK and stronger than forecast US retail sales.While the Bank of England's decision to hold off on hiking rates last month surprised investors, today's employment data may add pressure on the central bank to finally take the plunge.At the close the FTSE 1

UK stocks were treading water on Tuesday lunchtime ahead of US retail sales figures due out at 1.30pm, with investors expecting October retail sales excluding autos to be 1% higher.The figures will be watched closely after last week's weaker than expected consumer confidence reading, suggesting rising inflation expectations are impacted spending.Energy prices were higher with Brent crude up 0.7% t

UK stocks were subdued on Tuesday after strong September employment data and rising average wages sent the pound higher against the dollar and the euro, creating a headwind for the globally-focused FTSE 100 index.Energy prices were higher with Brent crude up 1% to $83 per barrel as commentators talked of a tight market heading into winter, helping to lift the oil majors, but weakness in industrial

There is no reason why a share must open at the previous night's closing price. Daily price moves are determined by supply and demand for the shares and that in turn is affected by company news such as earnings updates, acquisitions, disposals, legal disputes, new product launches and so on.In fact anything which changes the fundamentals or investor sentiment towards a company has the potential to

The third quarter 'Red Flag Report' on UK corporate financial health from insolvency and advisory firm Begbies Traynor (BEG:AIM) shows fewer businesses in what it calls 'significant financial distress' than the second quarter, but warns of a rise in creditors chasing companies through the courts which it says 'paints a gloomy picture' for future insolvencies.The report, which began in 2004 and use

An easing of energy crisis fears and a positive start to trading on Wall Street helped the FTSE 100 to a solid finish on Thursday. By the close, the blue chip benchmark was up 1.2% at 7,078.04 points, while the FTSE 250 finished 0.77% higher at 22,559.22.In the US the S&P 500 was up 1.35% to 4,422.55 by 4.30pm UK time.Wall Street's indices pushed higher after a temporary agreement was struck to ra

Shares in premium bar operator Revolution Bars (RBG:AIM) shot 10% higher on Thursday to 24.7p after it said first quarter trading was well ahead of expectations.Since all pubs and bars restrictions were removed in England on 19 July, two weeks into the company's new financial year, it has seen strong demand from party revelers which pushed like-for-like sales up 21% in the period to 2 October comp

FTSE traded in a narrow band of just 20 points on Wednesday suggesting indecision among investors as they face what could be a tricky autumn with infection levels and hospitalisations remaining stubbornly high while economic recovery wanes.By the close of business, the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was 4 points lower at 7,030.COMPANY NEWSHouse builder Redrow (RDW) posted a strong set of results

UK stocks remained directionless at 1pm as investors weighed increasing risks to the global recovery and rising inflation.Sterling gained as the latest UK inflation surprised to the upside. According to the Office for National Statistics, consumer prices jumped 3.2% in the year to August compared with a 2.1% rise the previous month.At 1pm the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was flat at 7,029.COMP

UK stocks made little headway on Wednesday despite a spate of earnings reports which on the whole painted a picture of improving corporate health. By 9.30am the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was unchanged at 7,033 points.In Asia, Chinese stocks closed lower after August retail sales data disappointed, sending the CSI index down for a fifth day in succession. In Japan on the other hand, the Nikk

Keeping a regular watch on stocks with positive and negative share price momentum is a useful exercise as it tells us which areas of the market are hot or not.Investors who follow a pure momentum strategy like to buy stocks that keep a hitting a new 12-month high in the belief the share price is on a roll and can keep going up.Some investors avoid stocks hitting a new 12-month low, for fear this n

Shares in Revolution Bars (RGB:AIM) jumped 8% to 22.7p after a strong trading update ahead of its year end on 3 July 2021.The company said that trading since 17 May, when indoor trading was permitted, has continued to be strong despite 'significant' restrictions, such as seated table service and the requirement for customers to wear face coverings when not seated.Pre-Covid-19 the company was able

When a company is looking to raise cash to fund an acquisition, build a new project or pay down debt for example, there are several avenues they can take.Sometimes they will issue bonds, which is a type of loan between a company and an investor. This can be appealing because a company can get money from investors without any changes to ownership or how the company operates.But it also has the down

The latest official figures show new coronavirus cases rising at their fastest rate since March 2021 due to the more transmissible 'Delta' variant which is putting pressure on the government to choose between leaving some measures in place after June 21 or postponing so-called Freedom Day by a couple of weeks.The UK isn't alone in balancing risks of new variants against the progress made in blocki

The opening of indoor hospitality on 17 May was the penultimate step on the Government's roadmap towards the complete removal of restrictions on 21 June, notwithstanding the threat of new variants.The UK's successful vaccination programme and falling hospitalisations over recent months has spurred hopes for a strong second half economic rebound, with the Bank of England upgrading its 2021 growth f