?Strong? Q4 performanceRetail volumes up 9%Share buyback continuesUsed car retailer Motorpoint (MOTR) has reported an improvement in trading in the new calendar year amid an uptick in consumer demand for nearly-new vehicles.Margins gradually improved through the fourth quarter to March 2024 too, as the Derby-headquartered company increased stock turn and worked through the inventories affected by

Car seller sounds earnings alarmUsed car market malaise set to continueLiberum Capital slashes profit forecastsThe UK?s fourth largest automotive retailer Vertu Motors (VTU:AIM) has disappointed investors with the news annual profits will be below expectations due to a deterioration in the used car market anticipated to persist into the company?s fourth quarter.Shares in the Gateshead-based group

Used car affordability a headwindRetail and wholesale volumes down double digitsBut net cash pile buildsShares in Motorpoint (MOTR) skidded 6% to an all-time low of 73p after the used car retailer lurched into loss for the half to 30 September 2023 as high inflation, rising interest rates and consumer uncertainty continued to affect demand for second hand cars.Yet house broker Shore Capital sees ?

Shares in second-hand car seller Motorpoint (MOTR) have fallen over 30% in the past six months to trade around the 102p mark - a far cry from the 385p level at which it traded just two years ago.On 14 June, Motorpoint reported a pre-tax loss for the year ending 31 March 2023 of £0.3 million compared to a pre-tax profit of £21.5 million in the previous year.Although its share of the nearly-new ca

Lookers agrees £465.4 million takeoverBidder is privately-owned Canadian auto dealerOffer price represents 35% premiumShares in automotive retailer Lookers (LOOK) revved up 34% to 118.5p after the company agreed a £465 million, all-cash takeover by Toronto-based car dealership group Alpha Auto.Pitched at 120p per share, the offer price is a 35% premium to Lookers' closing share price on Monday a

- Market for used vehicles worsening- Analysts halve full year profit forecasts- First half pre-tax profits tumble 80%Used car retailer Motorpoint (MOTR) reported a plunge in profits for the half to September 2022 and warned falling consumer confidence was set to reduce UK used car sales 'for the foreseeable future', an alert that sent the shares skidding 15% lower to 151.5p.The nearly-new car spe

The UK market remains in turmoil as the aftershocks unleashed by the mini-Budget earthquake on 23 September continue to rumble.Despite the Government's U-turn on the 45% tax cut, investors are still wondering what will happen next with gilts, the pound and companies in their portfolio.In this article we look at some of the areas which might be most affected and discuss the stocks and sectors which

It is one thing for analysts to forecast which stocks and sectors will do well in a rising-rate or inflationary environment, but when it actually comes to pass it's always fascinating to see what works in practice.Judging by the list of stocks making 12-month highs over the past week, those who favoured real assets were on the money.Standing tall are 3i Infrastructure (3IN), AEW UK REIT (AEWU), GC

Shares in motor retailer Pendragon (PDG) jumped 7% to 19.9p following a fourth upgrade to profit forecasts for the current year. The group previously raised guidance in June, July and October.Thanks to a strong performance in the fourth quarter to date, the firm now expects underlying pre-tax earnings to reach £80 million from a previous estimate of around £70 million.Quoted car retailers are en

Quoted car retailers are enjoying an upgrade cycle fuelled by the highly unusual supply and demand dynamics seen in the UK automotive market since the summer of 2020.Post-lockdown, pent-up consumer demand is being released at the same time as the global semiconductor shortage impacts new car production, which is driving up second hand vehicle prices in particular and boosting sector-wide profit ma

Shares in Pendragon (PDG) motored 6.6% higher to 18.65p on Thursday after the car retailer raised underlying pre-tax profit guidance for the current calendar year from the previous £55 million-to-£60 million range to roughly £70 million.The Nottingham-headquartered automotive dealer said performance remained strong during the third quarter, with new vehicle supply shortfalls offset by margin st

MOTORPOINT (MOTR) 367pGain to date: 93.2%Original entry point: Buy at 190p, 14 May 2020Shares in used car retailer Motorpoint (MOTR) have increased by 93% in value since we urged readers to hop behind the wheel in May 2020.The used car seller's share price recently shot up after management, encouraged by the growth in online sales, outlined exciting new growth ambitions for the group alongside res

London's FTSE 100 closed 0.17% higher to 7,184.95 on Wednesday as attention turns to the latest decision on interest rates from the US Federal Reserve later in the day.On Wall Street markets were somewhat less optimistic with the S&P 500, Dow Jones and tech-heavy Nasdaq all trading flat in morning trading stateside.All eyes will be on the US central bank as it finishes its two-day meeting, with so

London's FTSE 100 edged 0.1% higher to 7,179.76 just before midday on Wednesday as attention turns to the latest decision on interest rates from the US Federal Reserve later in the day.All eyes will be on the US central bank as it finishes its two-day meeting, with some analysts predicting it will bring forward its projections for its first post-pandemic interest rate rise by a year to 2023.The Fe

London's FTSE 100 edged 0.25% higher to 7,190.61 points early on Wednesday as investors waited the latest decision on interest rates from the US Federal Reserve and the market took news of another sharp jump in inflation in its stride.UK CPI rose by 2.1% in May on an annual basis, ahead of consensus expectations of 1.8% and coming in higher than the 1.5% rate in April, though investors were seemin

This is the latest part in a regular series in which we will provide an investment clinic based on hypothetical scenarios. By doing so we aim to provide some insights which can help different types of investor from beginners all the way up to experienced market participants.Having sold her house in Stroud for £375,000, 55-year-old Glenda has downsized to a smaller property by the sea in Eastbourn

The FTSE 100 closed higher on Thursday as a decline in energy stocks was offset by broad based gains across many sectors, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 hit a record high despite weakness in some travel and leisure shares, such as Stagecoach (SGC) and Wizz Air (WIZZ).The FTSE 250 finished the session 0.4% higher at 22,247.54, while the benchmark FTSE 100 ended 0.8% higher at 6,942.22, although it rema

The UK's leading stocks clung on to gains at lunchtime as investors turn their attention to Wall Street's opening. The benchmark FTSE 100 held on to the 0.4% rise earned through the morning session on Thursday buoyed by minutes from the US Federal Reserve meeting indicating that the central bank's 'accommodative stance' to monetary policy will remain for now.At 12.30pm, the FTSE 100 traded at 6,91

London's FTSE 100 traded higher on Thursday, the blue chip benchmark buoyed after the minutes from the US Federal Reserve meeting indicated that the central bank's 'accommodative stance' to monetary policy will remain for now.The latest signal from the Fed that it has no intention of lifting interest rates anytime soon helped set the FTSE 100 on course for a third straight day of gains, supported

London's listed car dealers could soon face stiffer competition from an online disruptor with a souped-up balance sheet and increased brand awareness as used car website Cazoo motors onto the New York Stock Exchange.Founded as recently as 2018 by tech tycoon Alex Chesterman, Cazoo plans to go public across the pond via a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company or SPAC that will value the