Potential bidders could soon emerge again for Oxford Instruments (OXIG) as confidence builds around the scientific equipment maker's financial performance.The company was recently the subject of a takeover bid by fellow FTSE 250 constituent Spectris (SXS), but the deal fell through, with Spectris backing off due to 'significant uncertainty in global economic conditions.' Oxford Instruments saw its

The decision by FTSE 100 companies Compass (CPG) and Whitbread (WTB) to let the general public take part in their gigantic fundraisings is significant for retail investors.Hundreds of companies this year have issued new shares at a discount to the market price in order to boost their balance sheets during the crisis. The majority of these fundraisings have been restricted to institutional investor

UK stocks slumped in early trade on Friday, the FTSE 100 down 113 points or 1.9% to 5,902.3, after retail sales tanked in April and China proposed a new security law in Hong Kong that stoked trade tensions with the US.Luxury goods leader Burberry (BRBY) bucked the trend, adding 2% to trade at £14.02 as the trench coats-to-cashmere scarves seller said year-to-date sales in Mainland China and Korea

UK stocks opened on Monday to another massive sell-off, echoing the plunge in markets around the world, as investors grow increasing worried about the impact of coronavirus on the global population and economy.London's benchmark FTSE 100 opened about 2% lower before sharply falling further by 8.30am, down more than 5.5% to 5,064.70, going close to beaching the 5,000 mark for the first time in more

UK stocks started the week on the back foot as concerns over corporate earnings started to surface ahead of the third-quarter reporting season.The FTSE 100 index of leading stocks gave up 14 points or 0.2% to 7,139 with Aerospace, Banks, Insurers and Metals Producers lagging. Propping up the index were Healthcare stocks and Oil Producers, the latter thanks to a small bounce in Brent crude prices.C

The number of deals involving stocks being bought by third party investors from the troubled Woodford Equity Income Fund (BLRZQ73) is picking up pace.Dealing in the fund is currently suspended while fund manager Neil Woodford restructures the portfolio, selling the most illiquid holdings and reducing exposure to many other stocks in an effort to raise cash to meet redemptions and be able to increa

The FTSE is down by 0.78% to 7,644 ahead of the G7 meeting with the world's seven largest economies and fears an impending trade war may dominate the agenda.Asset manager Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) slips 3.7% to 350.7p as UK bank Lloyds (LLOY) sells its entire stake in the firm, which was a not insignificant 3.3% and worth £344m. Tensions between the two companies had been high since the asset

Media business Time Out (TMO:AIM) has been splashing the cash to drive strong e-commerce growth as it continues to transition its business from listings to transactions.The company has a global distribution network, including magazines and mobile apps, which it aims to monetise through digital advertising and commission for online bookings.E-commerce sales soared 57% to approximately £7.3m in the

Investors have rushed to put money into venture capital trust (VCT) offers this year. We believe they have been snapped up by higher-rate taxpayers looking for a tax-efficient place to put their money having exhausted their pension allowance.While a good handful of offers have already closed, there are still a wide range of products available at the time of writing.Venture capital trusts are funds

Listings and review brand Time Out (TMO:AIM) falls 2.5% to 136p as it unveils plans to launch a food market in Miami's South Beach.This will be the fourth of its food hubs after a 70,000 square foot venue in Lisbon (pictured below) and the planned markets announced in London and Porto in October. These spaces are intended to offer an opportunity for food shops and restauranteurs to showcase produc

The FTSE 100 opens modestly higher at 7,040.6 buoyed by further sterling weakness and deal making in the tobacco sector.Cigarette manufacturer British American Tobacco (BATS) gains 2.3% to £49.13 as it announces a $47bn offer to buy the 57.8% of US peer Reynolds American (RAI:NYSE) it does not already own. The news accompanies an otherwise robust third quarter trading update, showing good growth

Further weakness in the pound fails to dampen UK domestic stocks with the FTSE 250 index holding ground at 18,005. The FTSE 100 also treads water, nudging ahead a mere three points to 7,048.William Hill (WMH) is considering an all-share merger with Canadian gambling group Amaya, best known for its Full Tilt and Pokerstars websites. William Hill has been struggling on the digital side while Amaya h

Appropriately for a brand with a strong emphasis on writing, recent stock market entrant Time Out (TMO:AIM) could be considered an archetypal story stock. It is certainly a story which has so far received a lukewarm reception from the stock market with its shares down 14.7% on the 150p issue price.There could be a number of reasons for this reaction. The AIM float (14 Jun), which saw the company r

Well known reviews and listings brand Time Out London is planning to float on AIM on 14 June, raising £90 million in the process.The company will issue 60 million shares at 150p. Based on the issue price it should have a market cap of £195 million.Time Out London provides a global distribution network, including magazines, online and mobile apps. It will use the capital to further monetise its p