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

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

We suggested at the start of 2023 that commercial property stocks could prove to be a good bet this year, with valuations offering significant upward reversion potential from their depressed levels and dividend yields at the top end of their historic range.While valuations have improved slightly, if anything sentiment is even more negative than it was in January, especially after April's stubbornl

Despite obvious concerns about a depressed consumer, eye wateringly high energy bills and increased labour costs there are more than a few verdant green shoots springing up on UK high streets and retail parks. A whole host of names, household and less well-known, have announced expansion plans as some businesses continue their post-Covid rebound.From Starbucks (SBUX:NASDAQ), Greggs (GRG) and Marks

The severe tightening in financial conditions in the second half of 2022 caused commercial property values to fall at the fastest six-month rate on record.As a result of much cheaper valuations, investors are asking themselves whether now is a good time to start taking positions in listed property companies and real estate investment trusts, also known as REITs.We look at where valuations are, whe

If you want to build up a pot of money for the future, be it retirement or paying for some of life's expenses including children's university fees or a loft conversion, investment funds can be a great way to grow your savings.They enable you to quickly build a portfolio which could save you a lot of time and money.You don't have to spend hours researching the market for which stocks to buy, and yo

Personal care-to-beauty products developer Creightons (CRL) is an little known growth stock that merits further attention. Growing in a consolidating market, the £19.8m cap has form in profitably developing and selling brands to rivals.Peterborough-based Creightons creates and manufactures toiletries and fragrances made from natural products which are sold to retailers.Its brands include shampoo