Revenue and profit top forecastsAnalysts hold back on upgradesShares climb in line with rivalsWith Barclays (BARC) and Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) having already posted first-quarter results and seen their shares rally in response, the onus was on NatWest Group (NWG) not to let the side down and the bank duly delivered a positive update with earnings a touch above estimates despite a weak year-on-

After almost closing at a new high in early April, the UK?s blue-chip FTSE 100 has finally made it into the ranks of indices hitting new all-time highs thanks to a 4.5% gain since the start of January.On 22 April the index reached its highest ever close and on 23 April it moved through its previous intra-day high.The UK clearly isn?t in the same league as the US, where the S&P 500 has notched up n

UK stocks look cheap on so many different valuation metrics, not just one or two, suggesting a robust, genuine investment opportunity is available to long-term investors. So why does nobody seem convinced?This article explores the scepticism surrounding the UK?s market?s attractive valuation and examines the underlying evidence to support it. Shares concludes UK stocks really are a compelling inve

Store group gaining market shareOperating profit tops forecastFurther £1 billion share buybackThe UK?s largest supermarket group, Tesco (TSCO), reported record operating profits for the year to February 2024 and announced a fresh share buyback as it continues to attract shoppers and inflation eases.Shares in the Hertfordshire-based company gained 6p or 2% to 293p. VALUE PROPOSITION DRIVES

The unveiling of a new British ISA helped give domestic stocks a modest lift after its announcement in the Budget.The £5,000 limit on the new tax wrapper, which can only be invested in UK assets, will be in addition to the existing £20,000 ISA allowance.The key test will be whether this provides a meaningful boost in terms of flows into UK equities and helps improve what has been a very difficul

More and more UK companies are buying back their own shares. Data collected by Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, shows share buybacks at FTSE 100 companies are running at an aggregate value of £18.3 billion so far in 2024.Despite being only two months into the year, the value of buybacks already equates to 35% of the whole value of buybacks in 2023.This isn?t just a UK phenomenon either

Quarterly earnings top forecastsCredit quality holding up for now2024 revenue guide disappointingBy most standards, NatWest?s (NWG) fourth-quarter results were ahead of expectations, which ought to have supported the share price, but the market?s initial reaction was to mark the shares down 3% to 207p.After some nifty spin-doctoring, however, the shares are now trading 3% higher at 221p.STRONG FIN

The publication of full-year results by the big four UK high-street banks is imminent and there will inevitably be a good deal of scrutiny of their margins and provisions for bad loans.If last week?s update from Virgin Money UK (VMUK) is any guide, net interest margins should be fairly steady although that will depend on how keen the major players have been to expand their loan books.Virgin itself

Investors in FTSE 100 stocks on Monday held their nerve before key inflation data in the US tomorrow, while mid-cap stocks rose strongly ahead.The FTSE 100 index closed up 1.11 points at 7,573.69. The FTSE 250 ended up 141.61 points, 0.7%, at 19,203.93, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.77 points, 0.4%, at 750.18.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.1% at 757.21, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 1.0% at 16,622.23,

Stock prices in London were mixed at the start of Monday afternoon, with the FTSE 100 down, as shares in some of its larger constituents struggled at the start of the week.The FTSE 100 index fell 11.34 points, 0.2%, at 7,561.24. The FTSE 250 is up 74.94 points, 0.4%, at 19,137.26, and the AIM All-Share added 1.39 points, 0.2%, at 748.80.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.1% to 755.81, the Cboe UK 250 climbed

Many people dream of retiring early to pursue their real passions before they get too old to enjoy them. Is it just a pipedream or could it be a reality for some people?This feature explores the pros, pitfalls and practicalities of the so-called FIRE movement which is gaining increasing traction. A recent AJ Bell Money & Markets podcast discussion on the subject provoked a strong response from lis

Top-yielding stocks in the FTSE 350 dominated by banksBank of Georgia has been the best-performing bank shareRedde Northgate offers a 7.1% yield covered 2.4 timesThe prevailing market consensus is that central banks are close to the end of their rate hiking cycle and as long as inflation behaves, rate cuts are back on the agenda for 2024.If that view prevails competition from bonds and cash deposi

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

Shares in banking group NatWest (NWG) slipped on news of a potential retail shareholder offer in the coming 12 months - with chancellor Jeremy Hunt giving a deliberate nod to the privatisations of the 1980s in his Autumn Statement.The concern will be that at least a portion of the state's remaining 38.6% stake will be offered at a discount to ordinary investors, and this could act as an overhang o

NatWest share offer mulledAlcohol duty freezePlans to simplify ISAsShares in NatWest (NWG) were down slightly at 205p as the chancellor Jeremy Hunt floated the idea of a share offer.The Government still owns a 39% stake in the UK high street bank. The concern may be that shares will be offering to investors at a discount, acting as an overhang on the share price.PUBS AND BOOZE STOCKS TOAST DUTY FR

When it came to their third-quarter earnings updates, none of the UK's 'Big Four' high-street lenders could be said to have covered themselves in glory.Shares in Barclays (BARC), HSBC (HSBA), Lloyds (LLOY) and NatWest (NWG) all declined on the day of their results, regardless of whether they were better, in line, or below forecasts.While none of them explicitly warned on revenue or earnings, there

When a stock price makes a new 52-week high or low it is usually a sign of a strong trend. Going against the flow at these times is fraught with danger for investors betting for a sudden change in direction.That is because share prices tend to overshoot. Behavioural scientists have shown that investors overreact to bad news and underreact to good news.When bad news comes investors often sell for e

NatWest shares hit a two-year lowSerious failings over Nigel FarageBank cuts full year outlookShares in NatWest (NWG) were down over 10% to 184p as the UK high street bank reported mixed results for the three months ending 30 September 2023 and cut its full year outlook.NatWest shares have fallen 32% year-to-date. Total income excluding notable items, was £49 million lower than the second

According to Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's highly respected colleague and co-manager of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B:NYSE), 'All intelligent investing is value investing, acquiring more than you are paying for.'Or, as Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital Management puts it, 'It's not what you buy, it's what you pay, and success in investing doesn't come from buying good things but from buying things we

As usual with the US quarterly earnings season, the 'Big Four' banks have kicked off proceedings giving us an insight into the health of consumers and businesses and the state of the financial markets.First out of the blocks was JPMorgan Chase (JPM:NYSE), the world's largest bank by market value ($430 billion) and generally a bellwether for the US economy.Third-quarter revenue rose 22% to $39.9 bi