Interest rates are expected to stay higher for longer to combat the sticky inflation which remains a threat to investors? hard-earned wealth and purchasing power. During periods of high inflation, it is crucial to invest in companies that possess pricing power, because these firms can pass on increased costs to customers, enabling them to maintain profit margins and generate the robust cash flows

The FTSE 100 was outperforming its European peers at midday Tuesday, after market sentiment got a boost from UK employment data, which has raised the chances of a Bank of England interest rate cut.A red-hot US consumer price rise could undo all of that progress, however. According to FXStreet cited consensus, the US annual consumer price inflation rate is expected to have remained at 3.1% in Febru

Stock prices in London opened largely higher on Tuesday morning, with TP ICAP topping the FTSE 250 as it mulls a minority float of its Parameta Solutions arm, while pet care firms struggled amid UK watchdog scrutiny.The FTSE 100 index rose 59.85 points, 0.8%, to 7,729.08. The FTSE 250 climbed 34.28 points, 0.2%, at 19,564.37, though the AIM All-Share fell 2.09 points, 0.3%, at 736.19.The Cboe UK 1

Shares in Pets at Home (PETS) have plunged 30% over one year due to an overhang from the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) review of the UK veterinary sector and signs there are limits to the sums pet owners will spend on their animal companions during a cost-of-living crisis.While competitive threats from the supermarkets and online-only player Zooplus are already priced in, the market may

ICG Enterprise Trust (ICG) Price: £11.66Market cap: £783 millionA 40.5% discount to NAV (net asset value) on ICG Enterprise Trust (ICGT) looks a compelling value opportunity for investors seeking exposure to a private equity portfolio with a history of delivering resilient sales and earnings growth.While the nature of the unquoted investments made by the trust means some discount is almost inevi

London?s FTSE 100 was higher in the aftermath of the Bank of England keeping UK interest rates unmoved, in an unsurprising move, though there was a dramatic vote split.Sterling was quoted at $1.2657 shortly after midday on Thursday, lower than $1.2715 at the London equities close on Wednesday. Before the decision, the pound was trading at $1.2635.The FTSE 100 index was up 30.05 points, 0.4%, at 7,

Full year guidance downgradedDemand slows in retail businessReturning accessories to growth a ?key priority?Britons are famously devoted to their pets but a profit warning from Pets at Home (PETS) demonstrates there are limits to the sums they will spend on their furry friends.Shares in the UK pet care leader softened 2% to 287.5p after it said third quarter sales ?didn?t quite hit? anticipated le

Compared to other retail verticals, Christmas is relatively less important to the pet care market. Nevertheless, UK market leader Pets at Home (PETS) will need to reassure investors that retail like-for-like sales momentum has been sustained when it bounds in with a third-quarter trading update on 30 January.Liberum Capital doesn't expect any reporting surprises, although the broker does remain ?c

The FTSE 100 closed lower on Wednesday, with China-exposed stocks on the decline, though its blue-chip peer in Frankfurt surged as automotive firms rallied and the retail sector shone on a cooler German inflation reading.Some hawkish comments from a US monetary policymaker sucked some of the initial enthusiasm out of stocks in New York. They cut the dollar some slack, though, with the pound now si

First quarter sales up 11.9%Six acquisitions made in the year to date for £45.7 millionComplying with competition regulator information requestsAcquisitive veterinary services group CVS (CVSG:AIM) said first quarter total sales increased 11.9% year on year with comparable sales up 5.8% reflecting positive performance across all parts of the business.The company said it has made a good start to it

Some largely dovish words from US monetary policymakers supported equities, giving stocks in New York a decent start and sending shares in Europe to session highs before the close, though the dollar suffered.The pound edged to only ever-so-slightly below the $1.27 mark, while the euro topped $1.10.The comments from the Federal Reserve cemented the notion that the central bank has enacted its last

Underwhelming industrial figures from China hurt Asia-exposed stocks and oil majors in the FTSE 100 on Monday, followed by disappointing US new homes data.The FTSE 100 index closed down 27.50 points, 0.4%, at 7,460.70. The FTSE 250 ended down 19.55 points, 0.1%, at 18,438.55, and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.95 points, 0.3%, at 714.95.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.4% at 745.00, the Cboe UK 250 c

Pets at Home (PETS) investors will be hoping the UK pet-care leader's first half results statement (28 November) doesn't set the cat among the pigeons. Any signs that the cost-of-living pressures impacting pet owners' disposable income are slowing its sales momentum or curtailing customer acquisition growth could be harshly punished.Share price weakness at the pet food-to-toys purveyor reflects op

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREThe recent Taylor Swift tour is so vast that it has attracted its own branch of economics ? so-called ?Swiftonomics?. The arrival of a high profile popstar can cause a mini-economic boom in specific towns or regions as fans spend on hotels, food and leisure activities. Beyonce?s recent tour of Sweden was even blamed for driving up inflation.In general, the numbers are

Investors hungry for a stock with positive earnings momentum and which has racked up 33 years of unbroken dividend growth should buy Cranswick (CWK), a key supplier of pork and poultry products to supermarkets including Tesco (TSCO), Sainsbury's (SBRY) and Marks & Spencer (MKS).Admittedly the consumer backdrop is tough, but Cranswick's retail customers are outperforming peers. Notably Britain's bi

Since being spun out of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (PFE:NYSE) a decade ago shares in leading animal health company Zoetis (ZTS:NYSE) have gone up more than five-fold.UK peer Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) has delivered shareholders a similar return over the same period but is leaving the UK stock market after accepting an all cash £4.5 billion takeover from Swedish private equity firm EQT in June

Shares in acquisitive vet services provider CVS (CVSG:AIM) are down 23% year-to-date following a savage sell-off triggered by the launch of a Competition and Markets Authority review into the UK pet industry, prompted by an uptick in vet prices driven by industry consolidation.In response to the review (7 September), CVS highlighted the 'significant shortage' of vets in the UK and stressed that em

The FTSE100 closed up on Thursday, after the Bank of England hinted an end to rising interest rates.The FTSE 100 index closed up 15.58 points, or 0.2% at 7,441.72 on Thursday. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 ended down 67.97 points, or 0.4%, at 18,383.85 and the AIM All-Share closed down 1.30 points, or 0.2%, at 735.68.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.2% at 741.07, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.4% at 16,008.30,

Stocks in London were a mixed bag around midday on Thursday, as the FTSE 100 ticked higher after Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey hinted at a peak in interest rates.The FTSE 100 index was up 25.33 points, or 0.3%, at 7,451.50. The FTSE 250 was virtually flat at 18,445.22, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.34 points, or 0.6%, at 732.64.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 741.94, the Cboe UK 250 w

Regulator to review £2 billion-plus marketConcerns consolidation has encouraged anti-competitive practicesVets pure-play CVS particularly vulnerableShares in Pets at Home (PETS) plunged 10.5% to 339p after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a review into the UK's £2 billion-plus veterinary services market amid concerns over possible anti-competitive practices.Also in the doghou