This feature explores spin-offs or de-mergers, looking at the rationale for them and how they have performed, and asks if they can be a promising hunting ground for investors.One of the UK?s largest recent spin-offs was GSK?s (GSK) demerger of its consumer healthcare division in 2022.GSK reportedly rebuffed a £50 billion offer from personal goods giant Unilever (ULVR) to buy the division, named H

The FTSE 100 hit an all-time high on Tuesday, before returning some gains after somewhat hawkish words from a UK monetary policymaker.The FTSE 100 index closed up 20.94 points, 0.2%, at 8,044.81. The FTSE 250 shot up 200.33 points, 1.0%, at 19,799.72, and the AIM All-Share ended up 5.69 points, 0.8%, at 754.87.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 803.32, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.9% to 17,156.66, and the

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Abby Glennie and Amanda Yeaman, managers of abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth TrustThe long-awaited turnaround in smaller companies is unlikely to happen just because shares are lowly-valuedHowever, an improving economic and interest rate backdrop could spark renewed interest in the sectorM&A activity is also providing support for the smaller companies sectorInvest

The FTSE 100 achieved a solid gain and almost hit its best-ever level on Friday, with its mining and oil producing contingent sparing it from declines seen in equities elsewhere.Shares in Frankfurt and New York failed to find their feet as investors fretted over rising tensions and US interest rate worries.The FTSE 100 index ended up 71.78 points, 0.9%, at 7,995.58, closing below the 8,000 point m

Stocks in London were higher on midday Friday with miners, housebuilders and oil majors rising amid news that the UK is exiting a mild and short recession.The FTSE 100 index was up 96.05 points, 1.2%, at 8,019.85. The FTSE 250 was up 125.41 points, 0.6%, at 19,912.28, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.87 points, 0.4%, at 761.70.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.3% at 802.07, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.6% at 17,

Blue-chip stocks in Europe fell on Tuesday, though oil majors and miners stopped London?s FTSE 100 from suffering a sharper decline.Stocks struggled, but gold was on the rise again, achieving another record high. Defence firms were sold off, meanwhile.The FTSE 100 index ended down 8.68 points, 0.1%, at 7,934.79. The FTSE 250 ended down 91.23 points, 0.5%, at 19,763.35, while the AIM All-Share rose

Stocks in London started the week on the front foot, picking up strength as Monday?s trading session wore on, to post healthy gains by the close.Gold hit a new high before fading, airlines and miners were in demand, while Entain prospered on bid speculation.The FTSE 100 index closed up 32.31 points, 0.4%, at 7,943.47. The FTSE 250 ended up 128.64 points, 0.7%, at 19,854.58, and the AIM All-Share c

European stocks closed lower on Tuesday, after the long Easter holiday weekend and a day full of economic data.The FTSE 100 index closed down 17.53 points, 0.2%, at 7,935.09. The FTSE 250 ended down 170.84 points, 0.9%, at 19,713.89, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.86 of a point, 0.1%, at 742.40.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 793.40, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1.1% at 17,147.56, and the C

Following last week?s primary votes, current US president Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump both won enough nominations to ensure the battle lines for the November election are drawn.This repeat of the 2020 contest represents the first rematch of two former presidents in 70 years, and polling suggests it will be a much tighter race this time round.Many Americans don?t want a rematch as it

London?s FTSE 100 grew in confidence as Friday morning wore on, but still underperformed peers in Europe, despite its heavyweight miners and oil majors trading higher.The FTSE 100 index rose 16.41 points, 0.2%, at 7,759.56. The blue-chip index is up 1.2% week-to-date. Though 0.3% higher for the year so far, weekly gains for the FTSE 100 have been rare.The FTSE 250 climbed 53.30 points, 0.3%, to 19

European stocks ended up largely in the green on Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 was given a leg-up by hopes of an imminent end to the UK recession.The FTSE 100 index closed up 24.36 points, 0.3%, at 7,772.17. The FTSE 250 ended down 1.29 points at 19,563.92, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.78 of a point, or 0.1%, at 738.82.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.3% at 778.45, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.2% at

Stock prices in London opened in the red on Monday, despite a favourable inflation reading from China, as investors nervously await Tuesday?s US data.While a hotter-than-forecast Chinese consumer price index print reassured, stock market investors will be hoping the US data shows inflation is cooling, however.The FTSE 100 index fell 3.85 points, 0.1%, to 7,655.89. The FTSE 250 was down only 9.60 p

Stock prices in London were mixed at midday Wednesday as the FTSE 100 was dragged down by HSBC and Glencore, ahead of minutes from the January Federal Open Market Committee meeting in the US.The FTSE 100 index was down 66.87 points, 0.9%, at 7,652.34. The FTSE 250 was up 14.84 points, 0.1%, at 19,124.47, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.14 points, 0.3%, at 750.91.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 7

Stocks in London opened mixed on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 dragged down by soft earnings from HSBC and Glencore, two of its largest constituents by market cap.The FTSE 100 index opened down 50.16 points, 0.7%, at 7,669.05. The FTSE 250 was up 3.10 points at 19,112.73, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.28 points, 0.2%, at 751.77.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.6% at 768.27, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.2%

The pound recovered on Tuesday after the Bank of England?s Andrew Bailey discussed possible interest rate cuts, but stock prices still closed down in London.The FTSE 100 index closed down 9.29 points, 0.1%, at 7,719.21. The FTSE 250 ended down 107.27 points, 0.6%, at 19,109.63, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.28 points, 0.4%, at 753.05.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 772.61, the Cboe UK 250

Stock prices in London declined on Tuesday morning, with trading remaining muted following a public holiday in the US on Monday, though banking stocks were a bright spot for the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index opened down 7.57 points, 0.1%, at 7,720.93. The FTSE 250 was down 51.49 points, 0.3%, at 19,165.41, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.89 points, 0.3%, at 754.44.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 7

Out of more than 3,500 regulated investment funds in the UK industry VT Argonaut Absolute Return (B7FT1K7) says to ?the best of its knowledge? it is the only one to have delivered double-digit returns for the last five years in a row.The fund?s performance over the past year is particularly eye-catching, returning more than 30% to investors. Since launch in 2009 the fund has achieved a return of 2

Investors reacted positively UK annual inflation holding steady last month, defying expectations of an acceleration and prompting local stocks to rise.The FTSE 100 index closed up 56.12 points, 0.8%, at 7,568.40. The FTSE 250 ended up 80.06 points, 0.4%, at 19,003.89, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.21 points, 0.4%, at 750.45.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.7% at 755.91, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.7

Investors in FTSE 100 stocks on Monday held their nerve before key inflation data in the US tomorrow, while mid-cap stocks rose strongly ahead.The FTSE 100 index closed up 1.11 points at 7,573.69. The FTSE 250 ended up 141.61 points, 0.7%, at 19,203.93, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.77 points, 0.4%, at 750.18.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 757.21, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 1.0% at 16,622.23,

Stocks in London faded into the close losing momentum ahead of the first interest rate decision by the US central bank this year.The FTSE 100 index closed down 35.74 points, 0.5%, at 7,630.57. The FTSE 250 ended up 8.45 points, marginally up, at 19,357.95 and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.14 of a point, marginally lower, at 754.75.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 763.97, the Cboe UK 250 closed