Our investor this week is Andy, who is in his early thirties and has been investing since he left university around a decade ago.A history graduate, Andy puts his initial interest in finance and markets down to his father who is an accountant.'I can't remember exactly what the trigger was,' says Andy, 'but around the time I was leaving university the economy was still just coming out of the global

Share prices in London had given up early gains by midday on Tuesday as caution took hold ahead of a US inflation reading seen as influencing this week's Federal Reserve policy decision.The Federal Open Market Committee begins its two-day meeting on Tuesday, issuing an interest rate decision late Wednesday. The US consumer price index is due out at 1330 BST on Tuesday as the meeting gets underway.

London share prices edged upward at the open on Tuesday, as investors weighed the impact of an interest rate cut in China to spur demand against a greater chance of hikes in the UK to cool a tight job market.Still ahead on Tuesday is an inflation reading for the US that is expected to be influential on a Federal Reserve policy decision due on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index opened up 7.50 points, or

A new mining charter in South Africa is more onerous than expected and implies that companies could have a reduced share of profit and suffer higher costs.Miners have 12 months to ensure a black economic empowerment (BEE) group owns at least 30% of their mining assets in South Africa, up from the previous 26% rule. Miners must also pay 1% of turnover from local assets to the BEE partner, as a way

The AIM market has come out of the blocks in 2017 like Usain Bolt, leaving the mainstream stock market indices trailing in its wake. This article contains some of our best AIM stock ideas and explains why the market has been racing ahead.The FTSE AIM All-Share index has rallied 7.9% year to date to close at 910.38 on 1 March 2017, the highest the junior index has been since 2011. That compares to

One of the more interesting screening filters on Stockopedia's website is 'Winning Growth and Income', inspired by a strategy from investment analyst Kevin Matras. It screens the market looking for high yielding companies with strong growth characteristics.Stockopedia says the filter looks for companies with an above-average return on equity, a below-average price-to-earnings ratio and where analy

'Most people get interested in stocks when everyone else is. The time to get interested is when no one else is. You can't buy what is popular and do well.' Warren Buffett's famous quotation certainly resonates with gold mining equities. Five years ago you couldn't move for every Tom, Dick and Harry talking about the merits of the sector, giving you tips on hot prospects and everyone declaring them

A discounted share placing to buy a mining project previously discarded by the chief executive under a previous job has left some Xtract Resources (XTR:AIM) investors scratching their heads. Don't panic; this looks a very interesting deal and one which could help the small cap become a 100,000 ounce per year gold producer in the not-too-distant future.The $12.5 million purchase of the Manica gold

Stock markets across Europe suffer steep falls in early trade on Monday as the Greece debt crisis intensifies amid a swathe of capital controls imposed by Greek leaders and calls for a referendum on bailout terms. French, German and Spanish stock markets all start the week's trading deep in the red, while the EU-wide Euro Stoxx 50 index slumps close to 3.5%, just about keeping its head above the 3

London stocks loss early gains as caution once again grips UK stock markets with the mood still dominated by the delicate state of the negotiations between Greece and its creditors. Having ticked up first thing the FTSE 100 index drifts back modestly, with little in the way of corporate news to stimulate interest, the blue-chips nudging around 14 points lower to 6,776.The midcaps FTSE 250 and the

Richer grades of gold concentrate from a mine in Chile help to fuel the rally in small cap Xtract Resources (XTR:AIM), up 20% to 0.3p.After setbacks last year, it's fair to say that 2015 has been fantastic for the £15 million cap with the share price up 335% since early February as investors clamber for a slice of the gold and copper business.Chief executive officer Jan Nelson has good pedigree a

Latham (James) (LTHM:AIM) 577.5pSheet and hardwood supplier Latham has been consistently profitable for the past 10 years, more than doubling operating profit in the same period. The Hemel Hempstead-based company is expected to grow earnings per share 19% to 39.5p this year.Leaf Clean Energy (LEAF:AIM) 34pRenewable energy investor Leaf Clean is a closed-end fund in run-off. At a meeting in July 20

M&S' positive movesHalf-year results (5 Nov) from high street bellwether Marks & Spencer (MKS) are worth putting in the diary. There is scope for product-led positive surprises in General Merchandise, while the retailer's online sales in China are reportedly surging in the wake of a deal inked with Chinese e-commerce phenomenon Alibaba (BABA:NYSE). (JC)Pan African's platinum hintGold producer Pan

Once a dominant force on the junior market, mining stocks are now a rare breed among the Aim 100. There's just six constituents still standing, spread across iron ore, gold, mineral sands and precious stones. We rate Gemfields (GEM:AIM) as the best mining pick.Meanwhile Sierra Rutile (SRX:AIM) remains in potential takeover talks first announced in November 2013. Gold bulls may want to look at Roma

To become a better investor, it is vital to understand the range of catalysts that can move a share price. Understanding the way the market works can give you an edge for buying and selling at the right moment.Two natural catalysts are the publication of half-year, also known as interim, or full-year results. Yet the figures are historical and give you a snapshot of the past, so the real catalysts

A first-quarter trading update (7 Nov) from ferrochrome producer International Ferro Metals (IFL) builds on the recovery potential hinted at by full-year results in September. Smelting operations are no longer suffering the furnace problems that dogged the company last year; production is growing and the £60 million cap continues to be cash generative.Investors comfortable with risk may want to c

There are mixed fortunes in Anglo American's (AAL) third quarter production update, sending its share price down 2.3% to £15.17. It suffered a 24% drop in output from the Kumba iron ore business; copper production grew by 32%; diamonds jumped by 21%; and there's a reminder of a forthcoming $300 million impairment charge after the miner walked away from the Alaskan Pebble metals venture. This arti

To become a better investor, it is vital to understand the range of catalysts that can move a share price. Understanding the way the market works can give you an edge for buying and selling at the right moment.Two natural catalysts are the publication of half-year, also known as interim, or full-year results. Yet the figures are historical and give you a snapshot of the past, so the real catalysts

Filtration expert Porvair (PRV) jumps 6% to 246p after saying pre-tax profit for the nine months to 31 August was ahead of expectation, therefore full-year results should beat targets. Investors also liked news that net debt is falling and there's an improvement in the metals filtration arm after a quiet first-half period. Stockbroker Peel Hunt upgrades its 2013 pre-tax profit forecast by 6% to £

Shares in iodine producer Iofina (IOF:AIM) have slumped 18.5% to 175.7p on the unfortunate news that the company's president and chief executive officer (CEO) Lance Baller is set to take a leave of absence for health reasons.Full-year results, which are expected to reveal the £223 million cap's first positive EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) at the end of next