Shares News

Announcements from FTSE 350 companies are winding down after a busy few weeks of results for periods ending 30 June. But there is still plenty of stock market news scheduled, particularly from smaller, lesser-known, companies. Private investors favourites such as greeting cards seller Card Factory (CARD), posh chocs retailer Hotel Chocolat (HOTC:AIM), Xeros Technology (XSG:AIM), the laundry ...

The pharmaceutical sector is an exciting space to invest in as ambitious companies aim to treat a growing number of diseases through the latest innovative drugs. Unfortunately, the road to success is full of risks that can prevent their hard work from paying off. In this article, we explore some of the key risks that investors need to consider when investing in pharmaceutical firms. CLINICAL ...

The FTSE opens in negative territory as Asian and US stocks fell overnight due to North Korea appearing to ramp up its nuclear threat. It is considering a nuclear test of ‘unprecedented scale’ in the Pacific Ocean, according to North Korea’s foreign minister. That news helped to drive up the gold price by nearly 0.5% to $1,297 per ounce. Also influencing markets is the movement in the ...

Bad weather is continuing to blight performance at pub operators. Mitchells & Butlers (MAB), the O'Neill's and All Bar One chains-owner, is the latest to blame poor weather for dismal sales growth. The £988m business - after today's near 5% share price decline to 235p - saw like-for-like sales growth of just 0.3% in the eight weeks to 16 September. SLUMP IN DRINK SALES Mitchells ...

Ambitious, acquisitive car retailer Marshall Motor (MMH:AIM) is selling its leasing business for a bumper £42.5m, news that drives shares in one of our recent Great Ideas selections 12p or 7.5% higher to 172p. Enabling Marshall Motor to move faster in growing its core motor retail operations, the deal will enable the AIM-listed concern to reduce indebtedness and takes balance sheet net assets ...

Irish building materials firm CRH (CRH) tops the FTSE 100 leader board in early trade on an otherwise quiet Thursday as the group confirms pans to buy US cement maker Ash Grove Cement. The $3.5bn deal to expand CRH’s exposure to the North American market is widely well-received by investors, driving the share price more than 4% higher to £27.67. Read Shares exclusive take on the deal ...

The latest acquisition from nuilding materials firm CRH (CRH) looks a pretty smart move. The market certainly seems to think so, marking the shares 4% higher to £27.61. Back in August the Irish company sold its US distribution business, Allied Building Products, for $2.63bn to Beacon Roofing Supply which implied an earnings multiple of 16 times. At the time, it noted it would use these funds ...

Anil Agarwal, the founder and chairman of aluminium-to-zinc producer Vedanta Resources (VED), is to invest up to £1.5bn in raising his stake in FTSE 100 miner Anglo American (AAL). The news sends Anglo American up 2.3% to £13.24 in early trading on 21 September. Vedanta dips 0.5% to 829.75p. The investment will be done via the Agarwal family trust, Volcan Investments, which has already ...

Engineering outsourcing company Babcock International (BAB) is up 4.6% to 837p on releasing a trading statement. Its content suggests the company is on target to grow its revenues with improving visibility. This seems to have buoyed investors who have had to watch Babcock’s decline over the last three years, with Brexit causing more uncertainty for the company recently. The statement ...

Investors in home improvement products retailer Kingfisher (KGF) are cheering better than anticipated results thanks to a strong performance in Poland and at Screwfix. In the six months to 31 July 2017, like-for-like sales in Poland rose 3.8% to £694m, which Kingfisher says reflected a ‘continued good performance in a supportive market.’ At Screwfix, like-for-like sales increased ...