UK stocks look cheap on so many different valuation metrics, not just one or two, suggesting a robust, genuine investment opportunity is available to long-term investors. So why does nobody seem convinced?This article explores the scepticism surrounding the UK?s market?s attractive valuation and examines the underlying evidence to support it. Shares concludes UK stocks really are a compelling inve

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

Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc buys over 10,000 sharesInchcape CEO Nigel Stein makes the most of strong resultsLikewise CEO offloads £2.5 million sharesAmanda Blanc, CEO of Aviva (AV.) has bought 10,597 shares at 474p for a total value of £50,241 along with her husband Kenneth Blanc who has bought 17,121 shares at 468p for a total value of £80,242 on 7 March.The purchases come after the insurance giant

Profit at both firms tops forecastsAviva announces £300 million buybackBeazley plans $325 million buybackShares in FTSE 100 insurance groups Aviva (AV.) and Beazley (BEZ) were among the gainers after both firms posted positive results and announced plans to buy back their shares.Aviva shares climbed 4% to 473p while Beazley shares added 2.5% to 670p. AVIVA ON SOLID GROUNDAviva reported ful

No-one could accuse the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) of sitting on its hands, least of all this year.As well as investigating several high-profile mergers ? including this month alone Aviva (AV.)/AIG Life, SpreadEx/Sporting Image, RedBird IMI/Telegraph Media Group, Pharmacy2U/Lloyds Direct and Hitachi/Thales ? the regulator has been busy looking into pricing in the funeral market (again

While it may have been choppy seas for growth investors last year, for those with an income strategy it was plainer sailing with regular dividend payments for the FTSE All-Share excluding investment trusts growing by more than 5% to over £88 billion according to the latest Dividend Monitor report from financial services company Computershare.The firm?s latest quarterly report reveals some interes

General insurance sales up 13%Dividend reaffirmed at 33.4pCEO sees firm beating targetsFTSE 100 insurance group Aviva (AV.) delivered a typically reassuring third-quarter trading statement and suggested it was on track to exceed its medium-term financial targets.The shares gained just under 1% to 417p, continuing the recovery from their September lows around 360p. HEALTHY GROWTHThe firm rep

When debating what kind of portfolio is going to be best suited to an environment of 'higher-for-longer' interest rates, looking at past periods of high rates provides a partial guide.In the UK interest rates were high and stayed high pretty much from the start of the 1960s all the way through to 1990 and during that period not only were rates in double digits but so was inflation. The difference

In what will seem like yet another case of dejà vu for property investors, one of the biggest open-ended funds in the market has decided to suspend dealing in its shares and shut up shop.This move brings into question the future of this type of property fund given the inherent structural problems it has.Several open-ended funds suspended dealings in the aftermath of the Brexit vote in 2016

Insurance non-exec buys sharesBig Technologies sets up employees trustMidwich director buys after strong resultsMohit Joshi, a non-executive director at UK insurer Aviva (AV.), bought 59,300 shares at 409p on 12 October for a total value of £242,537.The deal comes after several Aviva employees bought shares over the past few weeks, including chairman George Culmer and chief executive Amanda Blanc

Sky-high interest rates and unruly inflation make the future direction of the economy more uncertain than usual. It is certainly no time to be complacent.Against such a tough backdrop now is a good time for investors to take stock and consider if the income they expect from dividends in their portfolios are safe.Investors are often attracted to the highest yields, but this can indicate markets do

Move based solely on market chatterOne source suggests 600p per share offerSpeculation accompanied by broker upgradeShares in the UK's largest life and general insurance group Aviva (AV.) leapt as much as 8% to 422p, continuing a rally which started two days ago after a press report suggesting the firm could be a bid target. WHO SAYS AVIVA IS A TAKEOVER TARGET?On Wednesday afternoon, the Fi

Aviva chair buys shares post-AIG acquisitionColefax CEO and directors sell shares in tender offerSirius Real Estate CEO sells 500,000 sharesGeorge Culmer, chairman of Aviva (AV.), bought 110,675 shares at 396p for a total value of £437,799 on 25 September.The purchase comes as the UK insurer announced it was buying AIG's UK protection business for £450 million and almost a month after Aviva chie

Spin-offs, demergers and disposals are often good news for investors, although it's not often a firm sees its share price rise when it has to pay someone to take assets off its hands, especially when those assets were previously thought to be earnings positive.In the case of hospitality firm Restaurant Group (RTN), however, that is exactly what happened.The group, best known for its Wagamama chain

Stock prices in London finished lower on Monday, with the FTSE 100 index down amid fears that the Chinese property sector is weakening.The FTSE 100 index closed down 59.92 points, 0.8%, at 7,623.99. The FTSE 250 ended down 191.53 points, 1.0%, at 18,415.31, and the AIM All-Share closed down 4.91 points, or 0.7%, at 734.52.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.9% at 760.21, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1.5%

Largest acquisition by CEO Amanda BlancAviva shares down 12% year-to-dateDeal to be funded by Singlelife disposalAviva (AV.) has said it will buy AIG's UK protection business for £460 million, the UK insurer's shares were little changed on the news, trading down slightly at 394p.The firm's shares are down over 12% year-to-date. The move is seen by the UK insurer as consistent with pursuin

HSBC CEO awarded over £300,000 sharesBritish American Tobacco non-exec buys £200,000 sharesAviva CEO takes a punt on future performanceNoel Quinn, chief executive of banking giant HSBC (HSBA), has been awarded 51,435 shares at 584p for a total value of £300,329, while finance director George Elhedery has been awarded 32,827 shares at 584p for a total value of £191,676 on 23 August 2023.The sha

Stocks were mixed in London at Wednesday's market open, avoiding heavier declines seen in the US and Asia as insurers saw strong performances.The FTSE 100 index opened up 5.5 points, 0.1%, at 7,395.16. The FTSE 250 was up 31.86 points, 0.2%, at 18,691.61, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.58 of a point, 0.1%, at 749.35.The Cboe UK 100 was slightly higher at 737.10, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.2% at 16

In its first-quarter trading update in May, composite insurance giantAviva (AV.) reported strong growth across its retirement, health and general insurance lines.Retirement earnings were boosted by positive trends in the bulk purchase annuity market following a string of interest rate rises this year, and the firm hinted its pipeline for the second year looked strong.Meanwhile, health has benefite

First half revenue up 7.5%, pre-tax profit up 14%Momentum expected to continue for the rest of the yearNew acquisitions to boost earningsGlobal specialist audiovisual distributer to the trade market Midwich (MIDW:AIM) has maintained growth momentum in the first half to 30 June, despite tough comparatives, with revenue up 7.5% and adjusted pre-tax profit climbing 14% to over £21.5 million.In the f