Defensives hold up in sell-offNew appetite for growth stocksBanks unable to shake off lossesAs the dust settles from the three-day 'Liberation Day'-inspired sell-off, the list of winners and losers makes for interesting reading.Not everything which held up during the market meltdown is being sold off, and not everything which racked up big losses is rebounding, unlike in previous recoveries,...

Disposal boosts Chrysalis' liquiditySBO to receive back original investmentAnalyst says deal is 'good news' for UK techBritish semiconductor company Graphcore may have been sold to Japan's Softbank (9984:TYO) at a fraction of its peak value, but the deal has allowed investment trusts Chrysalis Investments (CHRY) and Schroder British Opportunities (SBO) to realise some cash and report uplifts...

Molten Ventures bids for Forward PartnersBoth firms technology-focusedOffer comes at a small discountContinuing the trend towards consolidation in the asset management sector, venture-capital investor Molten Ventures (GROW) announced it had reached an agreement to buy rival Forward Partners (FWD) at a small discount to its current share price.Shares in Molten Ventures eased 0.6% to 278p while...

Our latest review of the best and worst earnings revisions across the FTSE 350 throws up a few surprises in terms of sectors and individual stocks, particularly in the light of their relative performance.There are three distinct clusters of winners, split between investment, real estate and consumer discretionary companies.Among the investment companies, Molten Ventures (GROW) - previously...

Shares in technology focused venture capital firm Molten Ventures (GROW), previously known as Draper Esprit, rose 4.9% to 918p following the announcement of better than expected first half results, and raising its 2022 growth guidance.In its maiden first half results since floating on London's main market in July, the company revealed profit after tax was £218 million, up from £54 million...

Global markets regained some composure after Friday's sell-off caused by the emergence of a new virus strain Omicron which has reached at least 12 countries.Some calm was reinstalled after vaccine makers said they could make new formulae to combat the new virus strain within weeks.Asian markets steadied with China's SE Composite almost flat and Japan's Nikkei 225 index losing 1.6%. Meanwhile...

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING PROMOTIONPetro Matad (MATD:AIM), Bacanora Lithium (BCNA:AIM), Anglo Pacific Group (APF), SolGold (SOLG) and Yellow Cake (YCA:AIM). What do these companies have in common? They have all partnered with PrimaryBid to enable retail participation in their fundraisings.Why does this matter? While many companies have wanted to include retail investors when raising capital, the...

In our latest screening of FTSE 350 stocks with the biggest one-month upgrades to earnings per share forecasts for this year and next year, the clear winners in terms of numbers are retailers.Heading the field, somewhat surprisingly, is clothing and sportwear group Frasers (FRAS), best known for its pile-it-high-and-sell-it-cheap Sports Direct chain which accounts for more than 50% of...

The $7 billion stock market flotation of online car seller Cazoo has given a boost to venture capital firm Draper Esprit (GROW) which owns a stake in the business.The value of Draper Esprit's investment in Cazoo has more than tripled in a matter of months. Based on $9 per share, Draper Esprit's holding in Cazoo is valued at £37 million. This equates to an increase of £11 million from a March...

London's FTSE 100 firmed 0.36% to 7,052.58 on Friday, while the FTSE 250 improved 0.53% to 23,758.83, as steadying Asian markets and a potential easing of UK travel restrictions provided the backdrop for some decent gains heading into the weekend.Airlines and other stocks whose fortunes are tied to the travel industry, including International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), TUI (TUI) and WH Smith...

UK stocks began the week on a positive mood with the FTSE 100 index hitting a new post-pandemic high of 7,188 in early trading, lifted by gains in oil majors Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and BP (BP.) which more than offset losses for airlines and hotel firms.By the close the benchmark had retraced to 7,147, up 13 points or 0.2%, ahead of a government press conference which was widely expected to...

UK stocks began the week with new highs for the FTSE 100, helped by gains in oil majors Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and BP (BP.) which more than offset losses for airlines and hotel firms.By midday the FTSE 100 was up 30 points or 0.4% to 7,165, just shy of its mid-morning print of 7,188, a new 12-month post-pandemic high.Brent crude prices traded 1% higher to $73.4 a barrel, near the year's...

UK stocks made a positive start to the week on Monday helped by solid gains in oil shares Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and BP (BP.) which lifted the FTSE 100 by 48 points or 0.7% to a new 12-month post-pandemic high of 7,182 points.Brent crude prices traded 1% higher to $73.4 a barrel, near the year's highs as the global economic recovery boosted prices. Last week Goldman Sachs raised its target...

Business reviews platform Trustpilot is believed to be mulling over a stock market flotation as it looks to raise extra growth funding, an event that could provide a mega-profit exit for Draper Esprit (GROW:AIM), the UK venture capital investor.Draper has been backing Trustpilot for several years, helping to fuel the rapid growth of the internet economy company.The platform, which provides...

London's FTSE 100 follows Asia lower on Monday with a 41.4 point drop in the blue-chip benchmark to 7,637.4 as trade war concerns continue to trouble investors, notable weakness seen in travel stocks, tobacco companies and housebuilders.Budget airline Ryanair (RYA) loses altitude, the shares off 4.5% at €14.8 on news of a 20% drop in first quarter profits to €319m due to higher fuel...

Technology venture capital business Draper Esprit (GROW:AIM) is making a bold play on blockchain, the technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.The £316m company has invested £18m into a £56m series B funding for Ledger, a Paris-based cryptocurrency and blockchain security company.Draper has a impressive record for making money on its IP-backed stakes, securing a 200% return from...

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution has moved up a gear over the past few months as Britain and France confirm plans to phase out the sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2040.Car manufacturers such as Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover are developing electric or hybrid vehicles as fast as they can; and even non-car companies including vacuum cleaner specialist Dyson are moving into the electric...

A 'Remain' vote at the EU referendum could trigger a new wave of IPOs (initial public offerings). The pipeline of flotations has been noticeably thin in the run up to the Brexit vote, which suggests many firms didn't want to risk an IPO until they knew the outcome.The brave few who have pushed the button include tenpin bowling operator Hollywood Bowl which hopes to join London's Main Market in...