London’s FTSE 100 was down sharply by close of play on Friday, the blue chip benchmark shedding 1.7% to 7,029.92 points as oil prices slumped, hurting the shares price of index heavyweights BP (BP.) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB). Investors have been in ‘risk off’ mode in the latter half of the week, unsettled by guidance from the US Federal Reserve suggesting rate hikes will come in 2023 ...

London’s FTSE 100 was down 0.9% to 7,092.26 points by noon on Friday with some index heavyweights under pressure, investors factoring in guidance from the US Federal Reserve suggesting rate hikes will come in 2023 and with UK retail sales figures for May coming in below expectations. Retail sales fell by 1.4% between April and May as people chose to visit reopened bars and restaurants instead ...

Shares in Inchcape (INCH) motored 5.6% higher to 805.5p after the global automotive distributor said it expects to deliver 2021 pre-tax profit ‘significantly’ ahead of the £2.16 million market consensus forecast. There was also relief as the company assured investors that semiconductor shortages have had limited impact on the business to date. Chief executive Duncan Tait is off to a ...

Leading UK shares were marked lower in early trading on Friday as retail sales figures for May came in below expectations. Retail sales fell by 1.4% between April and May as people chose to visit reopened bars and restaurants instead of buying food at supermarkets. The Office for National Statistics said sales fell most significantly at food stores as consumers took advantage of Covid ...

There has been a wave of takeover approaches for listed companies, both from rivals and from private equity buy-out firms in 2021. Something we have noticed is that, where private equity is concerned, rather than looking for companies which are on their knees and in desperate need of turning round, buyers seem to prefer companies which have already begun the turnaround process and therefore ...

Since the Covid bottom in March 2020, London’s FTSE 100 has rebounded by 36% to 7,061.78 points, but the FTSE 250 has rallied an even more impressive 67.8% to 22,813.47 and this index of ‘second liners’ is testing new highs. Mid cap companies are attractive to investors for a variety of reasons; more established than smaller firms, they are regarded as less risky, yet they also tend to be ...

With ‘value’ investing still in the ascendancy in global markets, and with UK stocks still trading at a hefty discount to their international peers, we have screened the FTSE All-Share index for cheap stocks which we believe offer significant upside potential. As well as looking at straightforward price to earnings ratios for the next 12 months, we have included returns on capital – in ...

UK shares rose on Thursday as the pound dipped against the euro and the dollar. Knife-edge Brexit talks were set to continue, with a new deadline of Sunday, while the UK economy expanded at its slowest rate since returning to growth in May, with GDP increasing by just 0.4% month on month in October. Overnight in the US, shares in Facebook dropped more than 5% as it faced a new antitrust lawsuit ...

UK shares made tentative gains on Thursday as fractious Brexit talks continued with a new deadline of Sunday. The UK economy reported its slowest expansion since returning to growth in May with GDP growing 0.4% month on month in October. In the US, shares in Facebook dropped more than 5% as it faced a new antitrust lawsuit from the US Federal Trade Commission. Meanwhile food delivery company ...

Six months since the departure of Mark Barnett from asset manager Invesco, two investment trusts previously run by the once-star fund manager have finally settled into their new homes. Investors are rightfully expecting better performance under the new managers, but what’s in store for them? Perpetual Income & Growth Trust last week completed its merger with Murray Income Trust ...

UK markets were dragged lower in early trading on Thursday as gloomy results from banks and other companies gave investors reasons to pull money out of stocks despite drugs maker AstraZeneca (AZN) rising after topping analysts’ expectations on the back of strong drug sales during coronavirus-driven lockdowns. The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 0.8% at 6,084.50 at 8.50am. Lloyds Banking ...

Shares in retailers Dunelm (DNLM), Marks & Spencer (MKS) and Next (NXT) jumped after the bank holiday on news that the government aimed to allow all ‘non-essential’ shops to reopen within the next month. In terms of timeline, outdoor markets and car showrooms are allowed to reopen from 1 June, while all retailers from small independents to department stores can open their doors from 15 ...

New Woodford Income Focus managers Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) have given a glimpse of what the revamped portfolio will look like, with only two of the top 10 holdings left over from the Woodford days. Renamed the ASI Income Focus, the new fund will reopen tomorrow under the management of ASI fund managers Charles Luke and Thomas Moore. Investors are able to place trades from midday ...

Tobacco maker Imperial Brands (IMB) was the biggest blue chip faller on Wednesday, the shares sinking 8.4% lower to £17.85 following a warning full year adjusted earnings will be ‘slightly lower’ than last year, and on flat revenue to boot. Imperial Brands’ latest alert was triggered by the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ban on certain flavours of cartridge-based vapour ...

Unloved tobacco manufacturer Imperial Brands (IMB) puffed 10.9p higher to £19.62 on the news it has poached the boss of premium car distributor Inchcape (INCH) to drive the next stage of its development. Following a successful five year stint in the hot seat at Inchcape, Stefan Bomhard will join as chief executive officer (CEO) ‘at a date to be announced’. He will need to steer Imperial ...

The FTSE 100 stood firm against the backdrop of plunging stock markets elsewhere, rising 0.32% in early morning trading to 7,309.26 as it shook off fears over the coronavirus. It was a different story entirely on Asian stock markets. Opening again after the Lunar New Year holiday, the Shanghai Composite index in China plunged by almost 9% on fears about how the coronavirus will affect the ...

Many people in the UK are eagerly waiting to discover what their investment in the Woodford Income Focus (BD9X6V3) fund will look like under the new management of Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI). The fund has been suspended since October 2019 and dealing is expected to recommence in the coming weeks under the new name of LF ASI Income Focus. While the details of the restructured ...

Shares in motor retailer Lookers (LOOK) careered downhill in early trading, losing 13% to 43p after the firm halved its full-year profit target due to weak sales in the third quarter. In a trading update for the nine months to 30 September the company said that while the first half had been ‘challenging’, and that it had expected a tough second half, ‘trading has been much more ...

Britain’s automotive industry has stalled as low global demand and weak domestic consumer confidence weigh on sales, profits and sentiment. Disruption is impacting the global car industry and many of the businesses whose fortunes are tied to the automotive sector are in for a very bumpy ride. Yet those able to adapt to the shifting landscape could see exciting times down the road. In this ...

UK markets were weaker on Thursday with the FTSE 100 down 0.5% to 7,545 despite a much-anticipated cut in US interest rates overnight. The major US stock indices lost more than 1% after the chairman of the US Federal Reserve said that the 0.25% rate cut did not mark the beginning of a lengthy easing cycle. The Hong Kong central bank cut rates by 0.25% in line with the Federal ...