There is no question the dominant theme in stock markets last year was AI (artificial intelligence), in particular generative AI.In an interview with Time magazine last June, Sam Altman ? the former chief executive of OpenAI, whose ChatGPT product has been at the forefront of the AI trend ? said he believes the technology will ?transform the way people work and the way people learn. It?s going to

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

UK shares have lagged their US and European counterparts significantly since 2016 leaving them vulnerable to takeover by more highly-valued peers and private equity groups which are still flush with cash, argue Shore Capital research analysts Rob Sanders and Chris Bottomley.Since June 2016, at the time of Britain's vote to exit the EU, the S&P 500 index has doubled, Japan's Nikkei is up 80%, the G

Full year profit seen at low end of rangeShares hit seven-year lowsSignificant cost reductions almost completeSomething seems to have been missed in translation at language specialist RWS (RWS:AIM) with the shares sinking 20% to a new seven-year low of 190p after the company said it expected full year profit to be at the lower end of consensus market forecasts.The share price fall takes year-to-da

You have almost certainly never heard of RC365 (RCGH). The payments business joined London's Main Market in March 2022, raising £2 million at 6.2p per share for a £6.7 million market cap. Fifteen months on, the share price has surged more than 2,000% to 154p. The stock is up more than 600% since the start of June this year.Why? Because last month it jumped into the AI (artificial intelligence) s

Share prices were effectively on hold on Thursday at midday in London, as market participants took on board economic data ahead of a string of key interest rate decisions next week.Surprise rate hikes in Australia and Canada reduced certainty about what those decisions will be.The FTSE 100 index was down 0.63 of a point at 7,623.71. The FTSE 250 was flat at 19,152.27 points. The AIM All-Share was

Wizz Air expected to report a loss for the year but hopes for recoveryBudget carrier is looking for a return to profit in the current financial yearThe European budget airline Wizz Air (WIZZ) is expected to report an overall net loss for the year ending 31 March 2023 on 8 June, hit by a range of issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well as rising maintenance and fuel costs.However Jozsef

Asset manager Octopus Investments has launched its inaugural Dividend Barometer to champion the 'lesser-known dividend credentials' of small and mid-cap income stocks.NARROW FOCUSThe reason behind the move according to Octopus is that the 'UK equity income conversation is focused [all too often] on a narrow set of large companies. This overlooks businesses outside the FTSE 100 with strong dividend

Stocks in London started the week in the red on Monday, as nerves set in ahead of the week's central bank meetings, and recession fears loomed.The FTSE 100 index closed down 0.4%, or 30.66 points at 7,445.97. The FTSE 250 ended down 0.5%, or 96.56 points, at 18,819.44, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.5%, or 4.02 points, at 830.57.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 745.16, the Cboe UK 250 close

It is easy to become ensconced in a narrative and ignore contrary new information which doesn't fit with your thinking. But at some point, the penny drops, company plans go awry, and investors abandon the story.This article highlights stocks where investors appear to have changed their collective minds on a company's prospects. All the companies in the article have suffered a dramatic derating.A d

With the current nil-rate threshold for inheritance tax being frozen at £325,000 until 2028, many investors will be wondering how they can reduce tax liabilities for their estate when they die.In the 2021-22 tax year, inheritance tax receipts jumped 14% to a record £6.1 billion as more people's estates topped the threshold, yet according to a survey by estate planning firm Time Investments only

Sanford DeLand's CFP SDL UK Buffettology (BF0LDZ3) and CFP SDL Free Spirit (BYYQC27) funds have forged top-notch long-term performance records since respective launches in 2011 and 2017 thanks to the unwavering pursuit of 'Business Perspective Investing', a quality-focused approach championed by 'Sage of Omaha' Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.Unusually however, both portfolios managed by Sanford

Language services and technology company RWS (RWS:AIM) has attracted private equity interest following the announcement (21 Apr) Baring Private Equity Asia fund was considering making an offer for the company.Under stock exchange rules the private equity fund has until the close of play on 19 May 2022 to make a firm offer or walk away. RWS confirmed no approach has yet been made.The shares have ga

In light of the implications of the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine, the global growth outlook has dimmed, which means now more than ever, portfolios should be as diversified by asset class as possible to in order to maximise returns relative to risk.Higher risk assets they may be, yet 'micro caps', the London stock market's smallest quoted companies should form at least a portion of a well-diversifi

The sell-off in technology stocks since the September 2021 peak as the markets rotate out of growth and into value picks has given DIY investors plenty to chew over.Many UK tech companies have seen valuations hammered, with share prices falling by up to 40% with no meaningful change to earnings, said Canaccord Genuity analysts in a note to clients on Tuesday (1 February 2022).This, Canaccord belie

One of AIM's biggest success stories is finally packing its bags and moving to London's Main Market. Fashion retailer ASOS (ASC:AIM) will switch markets by the end of February and this event could potentially see a few other businesses do the same.AIM was set up as a market for young companies to access capital markets and tap up investors for cash to help them grow, as well as use their shares to

UK stocks started the shortened trading week in good spirits with the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks up 60 points or 0.8% at midday to 7,432, having touched a new year-high of 7,457 points in early trading.Leadership shifted from consumer-oriented stocks in early deals to healthcare and engineering stocks by lunchtime.In Asia, shares fell overnight as investors continues to fret over the spread

UK stocks began the shortened trading week on the front foot with the FTSE 100 up 65 points or 0.9% to a new year-high of 7,437 points in early trading.Leading the market higher were domestically oriented consumer and financial stocks including retailers AB Foods (ABF), Next (NXT) and high street bank Lloyds (LLOY).Shares in Asia fell overnight as investors continues to fret over the spread of the

Constructed last December from shares in UK, European and US markets, Shares' 'Stock picks for 2021' portfolio was based on high conviction in 12 companies for the year ahead. While more than half of them have subsequently done well, there were a handful of disappointments.The net effect is a decent 8.6% return excluding dividends - that's higher the historical average 6% to 7% from equities inclu

Among the best kept investment secrets is the fact smaller companies typically outperform larger companies over the medium and long term thanks to characteristics ranging from innovation and faster organic growth to entrepreneurial management, agility in the face of change and the greater likelihood of a takeover bid.Within the UK's small cap funds and investment trusts sectors is an elite cohort