Mega-cap tech stocks drove the bulk of US stock market gains in 2023, but can the so-called ?Magnificent Seven? repeat the trick in 2024?While the odds seem stacked against a re-run of last year?s blistering capital returns over the next 12 months, Shares believes that the ?Magnificent Seven? will continue to beat S&P 500 rivals and top index averages. If you want high-quality growth in your portf

As we move into another year there is plenty for investors to consider. Are we on the other side of inflationary pressures? Will rates be cut in 2024? What will happen with the US presidential election? In this article we address these and some other big questions for the year to come.IS THE BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION OVER, WILL RATES BE CUT IN 2024 AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE DOLLAR?A big question

Following a few days in the red, when investors reacted to a US credit rating cut by Fitch Ratings and further monetary policy tightening from the Bank of England, London stocks ended the week in the green on Friday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 35.21 points, or 0.5% at 7,564.37 on Friday, but ended the week down 1.7%.The FTSE 250 ended up 100.97 points, or 0.5%, at 18,934.62, and finished the week

Another £200 million worth of development in the pipelineCroatia and other complexees in Hungary, Serbia popularTie-up with Radisson positive for PPHE Analysts at Berenberg are impressed by PPHE (PPH) hotel group's portfolio in Croatia.The company which develops, owns and operates hotels and resorts has completed its Grand Hotel Pula, a Radisson Collection Hotel and its first art'otel at the Batt

Can embattled retailer ASOS bounce back into fashion with investors?The online fast-fashion retailer is wrestling with weak consumer demand and cash flow pressuresHalf-year results on 10 May from ASOS (ASC) will give investors a read into how 20-something fashionistas are coping with the cost-of-living crisis, as well as an update on progress against new CEO Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte's 'Driving

- Superdry needs to strengthen balance sheet- Founder Dunkerton to support fundraise- Shares down more than 30% year-to-dateEmbattled fashion brand Superdry's (SDRY) shares ticked up 0.75% to 86.75p after the lately-unloved clothing retailer confirmed it is in 'positive discussions' with investors over an equity raise of up to 20% of its share capital as the cash-strapped company seeks to strength

Watches of Switzerland Watches investors are looking for another robust update from the specialist retailerA third quarter update (9 February) from Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) provides a window to see if the luxury watch retailer continued to trade positively over Christmas and New Year. On 14 December the Rolex-to-Breitling purveyor, which benefits from pricing power and longstanding brand part

Shares in London failed to replicate the sharper gains posted in Frankfurt, Paris and Wall Street, though a minor gain for the FTSE 100 on Thursday means it remains in positive territory for the year ahead of Friday's shorter session.The FTSE 100 index ended up 15.53 points, or 0.2%, at 7,512.72. The FTSE 100 has added 1.7% so far in 2022.The FTSE 250 rose 110.95 points, or 0.6% at 18,996.45, and

Most investors will remember 2022 as being one of the toughest years for stock markets around the world in a long time. However, plenty of stocks have delivered positive returns.In this feature we look at the best performing London-listed stocks spread across four different parts of the market, covering small, medium and large sized companies.£5 billion+ market capIreland has been one of the stan

Alena Kosava, head of investment research at AJ Bell, offers a selection of fund and investment trust ideas for different types of investors.One for cautious investorsPersonal Assets Investment Trust (PNL)Personal Assets is a solid choice for investors looking to protect and increase the value of their investment over the long term. The trust has generated steady returns over the years and tends t

Unlike in sports nobody blows a whistle when stocks move from a bull market into a bear market. But one conventional definition says it is when a market drops 20% from the previous peak.On 20 May the S&P 500 index briefly registered a 20% drop from its peak in January 2022.The technology focused Nasdaq 100 has been in bear market territory for weeks and is down around 27% from its peak in November

Stocks in London closed in the red on Friday following a gloomy week of central bank rate rises and downbeat outlooks.'There will be more than a few investors rather glad that today's Friday. Fragile is a word that's been used quite a bit to describe sentiment following a slew of central bank rate rises and disappointing outlooks,' said Danni Hewson, AJ Bell financial analyst.The FTSE 100 index cl

Having rallied immediately after the Federal Reserve's hawkish turn midweek, forecasting three interest rate rises in 2022, US equities are running out of puff as the trading week draws to a close. The central bank also approved plans to ease its bond-buying programme by March, decreasing the risk of runaway growth in consumer prices.The S&P 500 closed at its second-highest level on record on Wedn

After a strong start opening on the back of gains in Asian markets and bid stories, the FTSE 100 index trod water for most of the day to close 21 points or 0.3% higher at 7,109 points. Gains in consumer and mining stocks were offset by losses for healthcare and utility names.One stock which managed to extend its morning gains was supermarket group Sainsbury (SBRY), which finished up 15% to 340p ha

After a strong start to the week on the back of gains in Asian market, the FTSE 100 index ebbed back on Monday lunchtime to sit 20 points or 0.3% higher at 7,109 points. Gains in consumer and mining stocks were offset by losses for healthcare and utility names.One stock consolidating on its morning gains was supermarket group Sainsbury (SBRY), which gained 15% to 340p having opened up around 10% a

Major UK stock made a strong start to the new trading week, taking its cue from Asia's main markets. At 8:50 UK time, the benchmark FTSE 100 was trading higher by 0.3% at 7,108.45. The midcap FTSE 250 was 0.2% higher at 23,798.23.Top riser early on was Sainsbury (SBRY), jumping more than 10% to 325p after weekend reports it is in the cross-hairs of private equity. This as the battle continues for

While the major indices may be losing ground, former beaten up and heavily shorted stocks in the US continue to experience wild swings amid a battle between a group of traders on Reddit and hedge funds.Computer game retailer GameStop - or 'GameStonk' as Tesla founder Elon Musk dubbed it in a recent tweet - has been the most high-profile beneficiary of this battle moving to a market cap in the tens

The fragile recovery of the travel and leisure sector looks to have hit a bump in the road as companies across the industry struggle with little visibility on customer bookings.Jet2 owner Dart Group (DTG:AIM) says winter demand has so far failed to match up even to its revised capacity, with bookings 'displaying a shorter lead time than in previous years'.Budget airline EasyJet (EZJ) also cited a

Shares in Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN) raced ahead by 5.6% to £75.20 after its lung cancer drug Tagrisso achieved significant success in Phase III trials.Executive vice president of Oncology research and development Jose Baselga commented, 'Lung cancer is a devastating diagnosis and for the first time an EGFR-targeted medicine can now provide the hope of cure.'Early SuccessThe drug was

FTSE bounced on Thursday, up 0.6% at 5,460 points, driven by energy stocks after China increased US Crude Oil purchases, snapping up cargoes at the widest discounts ever as sellers seek to offload supplies in Asia.Brent Crude jumped 9% to $25.3 lifting UK oil stocks with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) up by 7% to £14.5 and BP (BP.) 6% higher at 353p. Premier Oil (PMO) was 11% higher at 17.5p and Tullow