AstraZeneca director buys £235,855 sharesComputacenter director buys 8,900 sharesEssentra non-executive director buys 70,000 sharesMichael Demare, non-executive chair of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN) has bought 2,000 shares at £117.93 for a total value of £235,855 on 13 September.Demare's move comes after the pharmaceutical giant's shares recently fell to a one-month low after the UK's

Investors looking to take advantage of takeover interest among UK stocks should put money into Fidelity UK Smaller Companies (B7VNMB1). It has an outstanding performance track record, scoring in the top 25% of funds in its category over three, five and 10 years.On a three-year view the fund has achieved annualised returns of 26.5% which is perhaps better than one might expect on a longer-term basi

- Sales and margins grow by double digits- Returning more than a quarter of its market cap- Shares just above a five-year low Pure-play components firm Essentra (ESNT) delivered a solid set of full-year results and confirmed it would return £150 million of surplus capital, much to the relief of long-suffering shareholders.The shares, which were trading at a multi-year low just last week, firmed 1

Essentra (ESNT) 211pLoss to date: -32%Shares in industrial group Essentra (ESNT) jumped as much as 15% on 3 October on news the firm had agreed the sale of its filters business, completing its strategic repositioning.Unfortunately, that still leaves them almost a pound below our 310p entry point in November 2021 despite the fact the firm has done exactly what it said it would.WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE

- Successful disposal of packaging and filters business- Proceeds go towards debt reduction and special dividend- Shares jump after languishing at year-lowIndustrial group Essentra (ESNT) announced it had agreed the sale of its filters division to a private buyer, delivering on its promise to become a pure-play components business.Investors applauded the news, sending the shares up as much as 15%

- Shares drift despite strong first half results- Interim dividend increased by 15%- Update on filters disposal by end of SeptemberShares in FTSE 250 components and packing firm Essentra (ESNT) drifted 4% lower despite the announcement of first half results showing strong revenue and profit growth in both the filters and components businesses.This was reflected in a 15% increase in the interim div

Essentra (ESNT) 271pLoss to date: 12.6%We said to buy FTSE 250 components and packaging firm Essentra (ESNT) at 310p on 11 November 2021, believing it would benefit from ditching its conglomerate status and becoming a focused industrial parts supplier.This shift might result in better profit margins and a higher stock market rating. To illustrate, Essentra's components business has an operating ma

- Sale of packaging business fetches £312 million- Strategic review of filters business on track- Active management talks on potential M&A component dealsShares in support services business Essentra (ESNT) moved higher following the announcement of the sale of its packaging business for £312 million.Management also confirmed that the strategic review of the filters business, also for sale, was p

Essentra (ESNT) 310pGain to date: 0%Original entry point - BUY at 310p, 11 November 2021The key focus for the market when Essentra (ESNT) reported full year results (18 Mar) was management confirmation on the timescales for the strategic exit from both its packaging and filters arms.In October 2021 Essentra announced that both divisions would undergo a strategic review and be divested in the secon

Shares in diversified chemicals company Essentra (ESNT) gained 0.6% to 316p after reporting full year results in line with market expectations.The company said the current year has started well it has encouraging order books.The market had anticipated the positive nature of these results with the shares rising by 10% over the last 5 days. This explains the muted share price response.Revenue increa

The FTSE 100 closed higher on Friday, ignoring declines in US stocks as inflation, looming interest rate hikes and weak jobs report spooked investors across the pond.At the close, the UK benchmark index had rallied 0.47% to hit 7,485.28, although the mid-cap FTSE 250 lost further ground, down 0.27% to finish at 23,353.25.'Although today's jobs report shows yet another disappointing top line jobs n

Major UK stocks are struggling for direction at lunchtime on Friday with European markets a mixed bag, and while mid-cap sellers are out in force investors may take some comfort that futures are pointing to US markets finishing on the front foot after a turbulent week.At 12pm, the benchmark FTSE 100 was just a touch south of flat at 7,448.84, roughly matching the 0.07% decline of the pan-European

UK stocks drifted in early trading as investors awaited the next piece of US economic data, the December non-farm payrolls report due at lunchtime. A stronger than expected number could be negative for markets as it adds to worries the US Federal Reserve will raise rates earlier than expected.There was positive news in the technology sector with Samsung Electronics, a major Asian chipmaker, and ST

Essentra (ESNT) 305pLoss to date: 1.6%Original entry point: Buy at 310p, 11 November 2021Our positive call on support services business Essentra (ESNT) is down a touch on our recent entry point, but that needs to be viewed in the context of this week's broader market wobble.It has fallen less than the wider market since we said to buy in early November, with the FTSE All-Share dropping 4.3% again

UK shares were decimated on Friday as panic selling swept the market on Black Friday leaving investors facing an equities sea of red.The benchmark FTSE 100 finished the day 266 points lower, or 3.6% down, at 7,044.03, with the state of mid-caps barely any better. The FTSE 250 lost nearly 750 point, or 3.2% as it closed at 22,573.89.Sharp falls in anything travel or leisure related bore the brunt o

Leading UK shares continue to plunge at lunchtime with panic selling on Black Friday leaving investors facing a stock market sea of red.At 12.30pm, the benchmark FTSE 100 is trading almost 200 points lower, or 2.7%, at 7,133.63, with the state of mid-caps barely any better, the FTSE 250 down more than 2% at 22,779.34.Sharp falls in anything travel or leisure related bore the brunt of the selling a

London's FTSE 100 slumped on Friday morning, led by sharp falls in travel and leisure stocks after the UK re-imposed travel restrictions on several African countries following a potentially more infectious strain of Covid-19.At 08:58 am, the blue chip benchmark was down 200 points, or 2.74%, to 7,110.22 with aero-engineer Rolls-Royce (RR.), British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines

Support services firm Essentra (ESNT) is on the cusp of a transformation which could address the discounted valuation associated with its current conglomerate structure. This should also address longstanding environmental, social and governance concerns and free up management to focus on its most profitable division.Investors should buy now to benefit from these potential catalysts, with the share

After a volatile morning in which leading shares jumped before falling into the red, UK stocks ended Thursday significantly higher after data across the pond showed US jobless claims fell to a new pandemic low last week.Seasonally adjusted US jobless claims fell to 444,000 for the week to 15 May, the lowest level since March. Wall Street reacted positively to the news with the S&P 500 up 0.5% in o

Leading UK shares endured a volatile morning on Thursday after an earlier rally following positive corporate earnings updates fizzled out, before stocks picked up steam again shortly after midday.After a bruising day yesterday linked to cryptocurrency volatility and inflation fears, with Bitcoin falling to $30,000 before recovering to $40,000, investors continue to be split between reopening optim