Our portfolio of picks for 2024 is off to a solid start in what proved an uneven first quarter for the stock market as a whole.Our return of 9% is comfortably ahead of our FTSE All-Share benchmark at 3.9%. It?s a tale of feast and famine, however, with half of our selections achieving double-digit gains while 40% are in the red.THE BIG WINNERSAt the end of 2023, shares in biotech specialist Purete

Bristol Myers bids for Karuna TherapeuticsDeal agreed at $330 per share Puretech a Shares tip for 2024Our Tips of the Year for 2024 are already off to a flying start with positive news just before the market closed last Friday for biotech pick Puretech Health (PRTC).The firm announced that Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX:NASDAQ), one of its ?Founded Entities?, was being acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb

Just when it seemed inflation was being brought under control, particularly in terms of input costs for businesses like energy and labour, events thousands of miles away are threatening to send prices back up again.While they may seem to have nothing to do with UK consumers or investors, together a drought in Central America and an increase in the terror threat in the Middle East could rekindle in

- Firms see no sign of a slowdown in demand- New business continues to roll in- Plenty of opportunities for future growthShares in logistics and shipping companies rallied on strong results, suggesting talk of a slump in economic activity may be premature.Distribution firms DX Group (DX.) and Wincanton (WIN) climbed 11% and 8% to 27.7p and 399p respectively, while Braemar (BMS) also added 8% to 35

As investors debate whether the next move in markets is up or down, it's worth noting that there are a group of stocks which are quietly making new 52-week and multi-year highs and even a few making new all-time highs.While some are involved in special situations, such as bid talks, and some are related to the unprecedented surge in energy prices, the most interesting from our point of view are th

London's FTSE 100 was down sharply by close of play on Friday, the blue chip benchmark shedding 1.7% to 7,029.92 points as oil prices slumped, hurting the shares price of index heavyweights BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB).Investors have been in 'risk off' mode in the latter half of the week, unsettled by guidance from the US Federal Reserve suggesting rate hikes will come in 2023 and with UK

London's FTSE 100 firmed 44 points to 7,305 on Thursday as strong US earnings overnight helped to boost markets across Europe and the blue chip benchmark drew support from index heavyweight AstraZeneca's (AZN) strong third quarter update.Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) cheapened 3.1% to 226.5p as third quarter results came up short of expectations and the banking group slipped back into a statutory l

There are probably many investors who, late at night, gently doze off while listening to the shipping forecasts on BBC Radio as the announcer gently runs through Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties and the 31 sea areas that define the waters around the British Isles.But the news that the broadcast imparts is potentially life-saving and, looking at it through the narrow prism of investment

Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) has shrugged off adverse sports results in late 2016 to say that full year earnings will come in at the mid-point of its previously guided £390m to £405m EBITDA range. It lost almost £5m as punters cleaned up with the US election result in addition to unfavourable football scores. The shares dip 1.7% to £85.32 despite the market already knowing about tough conditions

Liverpool FC tie-up cheeredFood products minnow Science in Sport (SIS:AIM) is the Official Sports Nutrition Partner to Liverpool Football Club for the 2016/17 season. SiS, and its team of experts, will work closely with Liverpool to create bespoke nutrition plan to fuel the club's squads for training, match days and recovery. (TS)Purplebricks arrives in OzOnline estate agency Purplebricks (PURP:AI

A profit warning from economic bellwether Braemar Shipping Services (BMS) has caused investors to jump ship as lower activity and pricing in the tanker market hit revenue.Chief executive officer (CEO) James Kidwell now says trading performance in the year to 28 February 2017 will be materially below the same period last year and outlined a range of cost-cutting measures.Braemar's warning follows a

Stocks in London open flat on Tuesday at 6,842 with gains on financial stocks offset by losses on miners.A profit warning from economic bellwether Braemar Shipping Services (BMS) is the main corporate news of the day, alongside a forecast-beating half-year results update from distributor Bunzl (BNZL).Emerging markets-focused lenders HSBC (HSBA) and Standard Chartered (STAN) after a solid overnight

The ability to deliver growing revenue and profit against a volatile trading backdrop always warrants investor interest. Braemar Shipping Services (BMS) diversified offering puts them in a strong position to continue weathering the stormy seas of the global shipping market.Full year results (16 May) from Braemar have amply demonstrated the £136.3 million cap is steering a steady course through th

Triple digit gains and high profile backers in the form of fund managers Neil Woodford and Mark Barnett mean technology investment vehicle Allied Minds (ALM) has attracted plenty of attention since a June 2014 initial public offering (IPO).Trading at 385p a share after a 190p IPO indicates the business, which follows in the footsteps of fellow tech incubators IP Group (IPO) and Imperial Innovation

The ability to outperform in challenging market conditions is always to be sought after and is exemplified by Braemar Shipping Services (BMS). The £139.8 million cap saw underlying pre-tax profit almost double from £3.53 million to £6.96 million in the six months to the end of August.Increases in both oil production and crude oil tonne miles transported over the last twelve months have had a be

Shares in London's FTSE 100 index are trading 0.3% higher at 6,384 points ahead of the US central bank's interest rate meeting later today.This came despite part state-owned lender Lloyds Banking (LLOY) falling 4.5% to 73.8p on underlying profits falling 8% year-on-year to £2 billion in thethree months to 30 September, slightly below the £2.1 billion expected. The performance of its commercial d

United Carpets' cash returnNews (22 May) United Carpets (UCG:AIM) is to pay a 1p special dividend sends a confident signal. The carpets and beds retailer, trading at 12.4p, is benefiting from self-help and is geared into a pick-up in housing transactions in its northern heartlands. (JC)Aureus pours first goldAureus Mining (AUE:AIM) is now a fully-fledged gold producer after pouring its first preci

The FTSE 100 edges 31.30 points, or 0.45%, higher to 7,000 as the blue chip index continues its impressive run this year, rising by some 7% since the start of January and reaching record highs along the way.Among the largest risers in early trading was commercial property developer Land Securities (LAND), which gains 2.8% to £13.46 on the value of its assets growing 27.6% during the 12 months to

Investors appear to have the bank holiday on their minds with little interest for stocks in early deal on Friday. The benchmark FTSE 100 fades a couple of points lower to 6,958, failing to bounce back beyond the 7,000 mark. Midcaps do little better, drifting modestly to 17,458.It's perhaps a reflection of the market mood that there's limited appetite for news that Lloyds Banking (LLOY) has signall

Alcohol blues hit EclecticBar and club operator Eclectic Bar (BAR:AIM) is continuing to suffer from poor spending by its core student market. It has closed underperforming Sakura bar in Bournemouth and remains cautious about second half trading. It looks exceedingly likely that its annual dividend will be cancelled. (EP)Shell's reserves dilemmaOil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) disappointed with i