In this article we take a dive into the lowly valued part of the UK stock market to see if we can find some hidden gems. Specifically, we are looking for shares trading on less than eight times forecast earnings. It is sometimes said ‘one man’s meat is another man’s poison’ or ‘one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure’. Digging around the ultra-cheap end of the stock ...

A de facto invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has ramped up market volatility and sent oil prices to the cusp of $100 per barrel and safe-haven gold to within touching distance of $1,900 an ounce, at the time of writing (22 Feb). Hopes of a de-escalation are looking increasing forlorn as Vladimir Putin orders troops into Ukrainian regions held by separatist rebels which have been backed by ...

The tensions on the Ukrainian border may have eased slightly as we write but the situation remains highly febrile with Washington and London still warning of an imminent Russian invasion. Historically war hasn’t agreed with the stock market, particularly in the short term. This makes sense given it is difficult for investors to factor in the impact of an armed conflict given the ...

In quiet trading ahead of new year, UK shares inched into positive territory and looked likely to finish 2021 on a high note with the FTSE 100 booking mid double- digit gains for the year. Investors will be watching for further signs of economic strength in the US when weekly jobless data is released later today, setting the tone for increased tightening of US monetary policy. At midday the ...

Corporate news was thin on the ground on Thursday as UK shares moved in a narrow range in thin trading. In the US the benchmark S&P 500 index and the Dow Jones Industrials closed at record highs as Omicron fears abated despite rising infections. In Asia, trading was mixed with China’s SE Composite gaining 0.6% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was down 0.4%. Shares in Chinese real ...

The FTSE followed through on Tuesday's earnings-driven gains thanks to strong results from insurer Legal and General (LGEN) and record half year completions from housebuilder Taylor Wimpey (TW.), which lifted the whole sector. Asian markets bounced thanks largely to a recovery in technology stocks, including social media and gaming giant Tencent, which had been hit by intense regulatory ...

The FTSE followed the lead of Asian markets and rallied in early trading on Wednesday aided by strong results from insurer Legal and General (LGEN) and record half year completions from housebuilder Taylor Wimpey (TW), which lifted the whole sector. Asian markets bounced thanks largely to a rebound in technology stocks, including social media and gaming giant Tencent, which had been hit by ...

When you buy a share in a company you are literally buying a share in its future earnings. As an ordinary shareholder, you are entitled to vote at the company’s annual general meeting and any extraordinary meetings that are called, to buy more shares when the company has a pre-emptive rights issue, and most importantly you own a share of the dividends. Dividends are cash payments to ...

UK stocks dropped on Wednesday as investors awaited news from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting for clues on its future interest rate policy after recent market worries over rising inflation. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices traded lower, adding to the selling pressure on the FTSE where gains in financials were offset by weakness in mining and energy shares. At the close the ...

UK stocks dropped on Wednesday as gains in financials were offset by weakness in mining and energy shares. At midday the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 35 points or 0.5% to 6,768 points. Overnight trading in Asia was quiet with the Nikkei 225 and SE Composite indices slightly down. Investors are awaiting news from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting later today for clues on ...

FTSE 250 iron ore producer Ferrexpo (FXPO) has declared a bumper shareholder payout after taking full advantage of the surge in iron ore prices. The company has proposed a special interim dividend of $0.396, taking total dividends for 2020 to $0.726 US, up from a total of $0.198 paid in 2019. It comes as the Ukrainian miner, in its full year results to 31 December 2020, reported a 46% jump ...

UK stocks dropped on Wednesday as weak mining and energy shares dragged offset by gains in financials. Overnight trading in Asia was quiet with the Nikkei 225 and SE Composite indices slightly down. Investors are awaiting news from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting later today for clues on future interest rate policy given recent market worries over rising inflation. 5G CAPACITY BOOST ...

Despite the UK lurching back into an economically destructive lockdown, London’s FTSE 100 clawed back earlier losses to close 0.61% higher at 6,612.25 points on Tuesday. The blue chip benchmark’s resilience reflected hopes for a swift vaccine rollout as well as a boost to sentiment from chancellor Rishi Sunak’s £4.6 billion relief package for the UK retail and hospitality ...

London’s FTSE 100 was broadly flat at lunchtime on Tuesday, off 0.09% at 6,565.7 points with the blue chip benchmark showing resilience in spite of a new national lockdown in England as investors looked towards what support for businesses Chancellor Rishi Sunak could announce. Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night announced another lockdown with schools closed and stay-at-home orders ...

London’s FTSE 100 jumped 0.5% in early trade to 6,605 despite a new national lockdown in England, as investors looked towards what support for businesses Chancellor Rishi Sunak could announce. Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night announced another lockdown with schools closed and stay-at-home orders issued, as the new variant of coronavirus takes hold. The lockdown is expected to last ...

UK shares ended the day stronger with investor optimism lifted by hopes of a US stimulus package being agreed. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are set for talks again today, with hopes growing that the Democrats and Republicans can get a new Covid-19 stimulus package over the line. Having started the day in the red, the UK’s benchmark FTSE 100 index closed ...

The FTSE 100 recouped some of its earlier losses by midday on Tuesday, helped by a falling pound on reports the EU will ignore the UK’s Brexit ultimatum, as well as news that US president Donald Trump has returned to the White House. The exporter-heavy index traded relatively flat at 5,939 by 12pm as the pound fell against the euro and dollar. It follows reports from Bloomberg that the EU ...

UK shares opened lower on Tuesday with the FTSE 100 index dipping 0.2% to 5,929 points on lingering doubts about the state of economic recovery. Overnight trading in Asia was mixed with China’s Shanghai SE Composite down 0.2% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 up 0.5%. Gold prices were slightly lower down 0.1% at $1,911 an ounce and Brent Crude was 0.3% higher at $41.3 a barrel. The pound was up ...

Many people are prepared to pay a high price for growth in the current market. Indeed, Shares has been keen to extol the virtues of quality businesses capable of growing despite a troubled backdrop. However, we sense growing interest in the market for value opportunities and our research shows it is currently possible to find decent companies trading at attractive prices. Warren Buffett ...

After rallying over 1% this morning, the FTSE 100 swung the other way on Tuesday afternoon to close deeply in the red, as a surging pound and plummeting US consumer confidence dragged the index down. The UK’s benchmark index closed 1.11% lower to 6,037.01, with the exporter-heavy index – full of companies who report in US dollars – hit by the pound’s rise against the dollar. Also ...