Interest rates are expected to stay higher for longer to combat the sticky inflation which remains a threat to investors? hard-earned wealth and purchasing power. During periods of high inflation, it is crucial to invest in companies that possess pricing power, because these firms can pass on increased costs to customers, enabling them to maintain profit margins and generate the robust cash flows

After almost closing at a new high in early April, the UK?s blue-chip FTSE 100 has finally made it into the ranks of indices hitting new all-time highs thanks to a 4.5% gain since the start of January.On 22 April the index reached its highest ever close and on 23 April it moved through its previous intra-day high.The UK clearly isn?t in the same league as the US, where the S&P 500 has notched up n

Stocks in London headed into the long weekend on the front foot, outperforming their European peers.Markets in London will now shut for two public holidays, Good Friday and Easter Monday. They will reopen on Tuesday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 20.64 points, 0.3%, at 7,952.62. The FTSE 250 ended up 74.07 points, 0.4%, at 19,884.73, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.15 points, or 0.2%, at 743.26.Ov

Stocks in London were up on Thursday midday, with JD Sports shares in the FTSE 100 jumping as it outlined its financial 2025 profit forecast, while water utilities struggled.The FTSE 100 index was up 20.39 points, 0.3%, at 7,952.37. The FTSE 250 was up 52.23 points, 0.3%, at 19,862.89, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 743.40.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 794.61, the Cboe UK 250

Shareholder vote imminentMerger the preferred outcomeWind-down problematicThe board of industrial property investment trust Abrdn Property Income (API) has reiterated its support for an all-share merger with rival Custodian Property Income REIT (CREI) as opposed to a managed wind-down.Shareholders in Custodian have already voted through the merger with 98% in favour. CALL TO ACTIONAPI share

After repeated delays due to stock market volatility, social media business Reddit will finally make its Wall Street debut some time later this month according to its Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing on 22 February.If the New York listing does go ahead it will be the first major technology IPO (initial public offer) of 2024 and the first social media float since Pinterest (PINS:NYSE

At Shares, we have been flagging the potential for M&A in the investment trust space for months, not least in the REIT (real estate investment trust) sector due to the abundance of companies trading well below their net asset values.In the last month alone, three real estate mergers have been announced ? between LondonMetric (LMP) and LXI (LXI), Tritax Big Box (BBOX) and UK Commercial Property (UK

The recent wave of takeovers and mergers in the quoted UK commercial real estate sector has continued this week with the proposed all-share takeover of UK Commercial Property (UKCM) by Tritax Big Box (BBOX).The deal, which values UKCM at 71.1p per share or a 10.8% premium to the previous day?s closing price, would create the UK?s fourth-largest REIT (real estate investment trust) by market cap wit

Custodian and Abrdn Property Income combineDeal values API at a 29% premium?More of the same? for CustodianHaving banged the drum repeatedly on how cheap the UK listed property sector is in terms of discounts to NAV (net asset value), we?re not surprised to see more insider buying with Custodian Property Income REIT (CREI) snapping up Abrdn Property Income (API) in an all-share deal.Shares in Cust

Momentum sustained over ChristmasFood the standout performerGrowth slowdown, outlook caution weigh on sentimentOne of 2023?s best performing stocks, Marks & Spencer (MKS) sustained its positive sales momentum over the Christmas period with total sales up 7.2% to £3.86 billion and UK like-for-like sales up 8.1% in the 13 weeks to 30 December 2023.However, shares in the retail bellwether, which had

Sharp slowdown in UK job marketShare prices fall across the sectorInterim earnings guidance cutThe European staffing sector became a sea of red on Tuesday with share prices down sharply after FTSE 250 bellwether Hays (HAS) posted a grim account of trading in the three months to the end of December and warned half-year profits would miss expectations.Hays shares were down as much as 19% to 87p at t

Department store in talks with co-ownerRising interest rates hammer borrowersStamp dealer seals its own demiseSince opening its doors in 1909, celebrated London department store Selfridges has survived war, recession and a sea-change in consumer spending habits, but now it faces what could be its biggest challenge to date.The store has had to go cap in hand to its Thai owner Central Group for cash

For the second part of our annual survey, we asked fund managers if they had changed their view on any stocks this year, for better or for worse, and what lay behind their decisions.As with the winners and losers survey last week, the answers were often frank and once again we would like to thank everyone who took part.Thomas Moore - Aberdeen Equity Income Trust (AEI)THE STOCK THAT I CHANGED MY MI

Gains across the sector year-to-dateSome stocks trading at new highsEyes on Berkeley Group this weekEven though the most recent results from housebuilders such as Barratt Developments (BDEV) and Bellway (BWY) were resolutely downbeat, the firms? share prices have been on the charge since the middle of October as investors have bet on the Bank of England continuing to hold interest rates at their c

London?s FTSE 100 was lower on Monday, with underwhelming corporate earnings and some caution ahead of a major day on the UK fiscal calendar keeping a lid on enthusiasm.There was some impetus from M&A news among smaller listed companies in London.The pound was also on the up, with Dutch bank ING predicting sterling could edge close to the $1.26 mark should there be a ?risk-positive environment? fo

Persimmon raises completions targetPartnership deals pave the wayAverage house prices turning upA positive third-quarter trading update and evidence of a bounce in house prices helped lift shares in Persimmon (PSN) and other developers from their recent lows.Persimmon added 2.5% to £11.09 while rivals Barratt Developments (BDEV) and Taylor Wimpey (TW.) gained around 1.5% apiece. HIGHER FUL

UK is the best performing major market this monthFTSE 100 aided by big oil-price gains and weak poundFTSE 250 flat on the monthFor most major markets September has been something of a washout with the S&P 500 index losing 4%, the Nasdaq 100 off 4.5% and Germany's DAX down 3%.A key driver of weakness has been the relentless rise in bond yields, which hit their highest levels since 2007 in the US wi

888 issues profit warning on soft Q3 tradingWarning follows similar Entain updateFlutter caught in share-price fall-outGlobal online gambling firm 888 Holdings (888) saw its shares drop 16% on Thursday after it lowered full-year profit guidance amid weaker-than-expected third quarter trading.The news weighed on the shares of fellow gambling companies Entain (ENT) and Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) w

The decision of Saudi Arabia and Russia to extend their current output cuts has helped Brent crude oil prices reach $91 per barrel for the first time this year.While a potential boon for energy companies listed in the UK and elsewhere, the development threatens to be an inflationary pressure which investors need to follow closely.Brent, the international benchmark for oil, is up around 25% since t

New Diageo chief exec cashes inExecutive committee sells en masse'Spoons' chairman splashes outIt has been a busy week over at Great Marlborough Street, London W1, as several top executives at Diageo (DGE) cashed in share awards to cover tax liabilities.Debra Crew, the firm's newly-appointed chief executive, sold a total of $3.5 million worth of ADS (American depository shares). At the same