There were several trends in the UK stock market this year which, if you managed to identify them, served you well.Most obviously, although it may not have seemed it at the index level, large-cap stocks generally performed better than small- and mid-caps, although for the lucky few the small-cap space has been rife with takeover activity.In terms of sectors, aerospace and defence topped the FTSE 3

Trust returns to long-run outperformance trendBenchmark-beating 17.6% returnUK mid-caps cheaper than large-capsJean Roche-run investment trust Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP) returned to form in style over the year ended 30 September 2023, delivering a net asset value total return of 17.6% versus the disappointing 30% decline in the previous year.This beat the 13.6% total return from the benchmark

Interestingly, as we head into supermarket chain Sainsbury's (SBRY) first-half results on 2 November, the group's shares are trading just above their lows of the last six months.In contrast, shares in grocery market leader Tesco (TSCO) are trading just below their high for the year after the firm posted better-than-expected first half sales and raised its full-year operating profit guidance earlie

FTSE 250 cybersecurity consultancy NCC (NCC) lost 40% of its market value after slashing annual guidance for the year to 31 May 2023 last week (31 Mar). The company had anticipated 'adjusted operating profit' of around £47 million, it's now looking at between £28 million and £32 million. No wonder the share price was hammered, plunging roughly 60p to 94p.NCC claims that 'market volatility has m

European equities ended higher on Friday, with the FTSE 100 extended its win streak to five days, as stocks undone some of the damage from banking sector sell-offs earlier in March.The mood on Friday was lifted by inflation in the eurozone easing in March and the Federal Reserve's preferred inflationary gauge ebbing last month.The FTSE 100 index rose 11.31 points, 0.2%, to 7,631.74 on Friday, risi

Shares were mostly higher at midday on Friday, after an inflation reading for the EU came in mostly as expected, while investors grew in confidence that the banking sector crisis that started in the US earlier this month has been contained.March is 'going out like a lamb after wrestling with a lion,' said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex.Among London stocks, share

- Adjusted operating profit guidance slashed by 40%- UK cybersecurity space looks subscale- Shares warned of 'significant risk' to earnings in mid-JanuaryFTSE 250 cybersecurity consultancy NCC (NCC) lost 40% of its market value after slashing annual guidance for the year to 31 May 2023. The company had anticipated 'adjusted operating profit' of around £47 million, it's now looking at between £28

Despite a feeble start to equities trading on the final day of March, the FTSE 100 stands poised to end the first quarter of 2023 in the green.The large-cap index opened up 1.21 points at 7,621.64 on Friday. The FTSE 250 was down 35.99 points, 0.2% at 18,871.75. The AIM All-Share was down 0.3% at 803.85.The Cboe UK 100 was marginally higher at 762.09, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.2% at 16,471.34, an

- Stock falls after 'significant risk' to earnings warning- Escrow revenues have been shrinking for four years- Borrowing costs jump 350% on higher interest ratesCyber security consultancy NCC (NCC) is facing stiffening headwinds that could knock earnings and send the share price down. This is the claim from analysts at investment bank Berenberg, who have cut forecasts and lowered the target price

Power suppliers Centrica and SSE were helping the FTSE 100 index in London to recover some of its opening loss on Wednesday at midday, as the UK awaits a government plan to tackle runaway energy prices.'Action on energy bills continues to be widely trailed as new prime minister, Liz Truss, prepares for an official announcement on her policy. Given the big package that is expected, anything short c

Stocks across the UK and Europe ended Monday deep in the red, following news from China that its Covid curbs have caused the country's exports to plummet to their lowest levels in almost two years.China's export growth slowed in April, customs data showed, as a Covid resurgence shuttered factories, sparked transport curbs and caused congestion at key ports.Export growth plunged to 3.9% year-on-yea

The sell-off in technology stocks since the September 2021 peak as the markets rotate out of growth and into value picks has given DIY investors plenty to chew over.Many UK tech companies have seen valuations hammered, with share prices falling by up to 40% with no meaningful change to earnings, said Canaccord Genuity analysts in a note to clients on Tuesday (1 February 2022).This, Canaccord belie

UK stocks represent a 'once in a generation' opportunity for investors, say fund managers. After years dogged by political and economic uncertainty, and soggy stock market performance, this is a welcome change of mood music.'UK equities are on a 30 year low versus peers, and we see this as a once in a generation opportunity to get involved in some fantastic businesses,' said Rory Bateman, manager

Leading UK shares closed lower on Thursday, but it was a somewhat different picture stateside as the investment world focused on the US Federal Reserve's decision to bring forward its timeline for interest rate rises.Having been in the red all day, the UK's benchmark FTSE 100 index closed 0.44% lower to 7,153.43, with the midcap FTSE 250 following suit with a 0.36% fall to 22,535.14, as investors

Leading UK shares remained firmly in the red by midday on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve opened the door to earlier than expected interest rate rises and an easing of monetary support against a backdrop of rising inflation expectations.All eyes were on the US central bank as it brought forward the timeline to begin tightening interest rates, with two hikes now forecast in 2023.AJ Bell finan

London's FTSE 100 opened lower on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve brought forward the timeline to begin tightening interest rates, with two hikes now forecast in 2023.AJ Bell financial analyst Danni Hewson commented: 'For now investors seem to largely be taking these developments in their stride - perhaps reassured by Fed chair Jay Powell's comments that the guidance for two interest rate hi

There is no shortage of books on how to be a better investor - a fair selection of them have been reviewed by Shares - but there are precious few guides on how to spot corporate misdoing and save yourself from losing money when a company collapses.Former AAA-rated New Star and Artemis fund manager Tim Steer has written the book we've all been waiting for: The Signs Were There: the clues for invest

Cyber security consultancy NCC (NCC) has said its results for the year to 31 May will be 'comfortably ahead' of market expectations, sparking a significant rally in the share price.Shares in the Manchester-based business surged nearly 13% in early trading on Tuesday to 197.4p, their highest since early March.FIRST CUTS WERE THE DEEPESTConsensus expectations had been pitched at adjusted operating p

Cyber security specialist NCC (NCC) continues its recovery from a February warning of softer UK demand and staffing issues with today's trading update as the shares advance 6.9% to 171p.NCC has two key divisions, one provides software escrow services, which basically means it keeps safe vital code for enterprise software and applications.The two sides of the business complement each other. While e

London shares open on a subdued note in early trade on Thursday as investors await the latest EU-wide interest rate decision from the European Central Bank at midday.While little is anticipated to have changed in terms of guidance market watchers are hopeful that the language used will be of an increasingly optimistic hue, with economic risk moving a little more to the downside.But this filters th