London’s FTSE 100 firmed 18.3 points to 7,311 on Friday as investors latched onto White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow’s comment that current US/China negotiations are ‘very constructive’. This was enough to drive stock markets up across the UK, mainland Europe and most of Asia. Miners Rio Tinto (RIO), Glencore (GLEN) and Anglo American (AAL) led the charge on the FTSE, supported ...

The FTSE 100 opens 17 points lower at 7,369.17, weighed down by weakness among utility and mining stocks. United Utilities (UU.) is the biggest faller among FTSE 100 stocks, down 3.4% to 806.25p. Severn Trent (SVT) drops 2% to £21.01. Media group Sky (SKY) is top riser on the FTSE 100 thanks to reports that two US companies want to buy 21st Century Fox’s interest in the ...

Fancy doubling your money in a year by investing in an exciting stock? Sounds great, doesn’t it? It’s harder than you think, but certainly not impossible. Over the past 12 months, robotic process automation specialist Blue Prism (PRSM:AIM) is up by 439%; online musical equipment retailer Gear4Music (GFM:AIM) has increased by 341%; and computer games service group Keywords Studios (KWS:AIM) is ...

In the best tradition of its founder and executive chairman Tom Cross, Parkmead (PMG:AIM) continues to execute on its buy-and-build strategy in North Sea oil. The shares are up 11% to 54.5p as proved and probable reserves (2P) increase by nearly a fifth to 27 million barrels of oil equivalent through an increase its interest in the Perth and Dolphin fields from 52% to 60.05%. The company has ...

A buy-and-build effort in a depressed oil industry, underpinned by low-cost gas production, could be a winning formula for Parkmead (PMG:AIM). As we have discussed on a number of occasions Parkmead’s founder and executive chairman Tom Cross’ plans to replicate the success he enjoyed with Dana Petroleum. For those who aren’t aware of the background, Cross established Dana as an ...

UK oil exploration and production (E&P) outfit Parkmead (PMG:AIM) may not be budging on the publication of its interim results – the shares flat at 62p – but year-to-date the stock is up more than 40% and the company’s relative financial strength could underpin founder and executive chairman Tom Cross’ plans to replicate the success he enjoyed with Dana Petroleum. For those who ...

A new ISA aimed at getting the under-40s to save more, tax on sugary products, a cut in tax for oil and gas firms and a likely increase in insurance premiums are some of the themes relevant to UK investors.   We’ve covered the new Lifetime ISA in a separate story, but here are the main stories in terms of key stock movements following the Budget.   SOFT DRINK SELLERS ...

Fulcrum has upgrade potential At 21.5p gas pipeline engineer Fulcrum Utility Services (FCRM:AIM) should be in line for earnings upgrades after a stellar set of half-year results (1 Dec). Pre-tax profit of £1.6 million suggests the £2.4 million forecast for the full year will have to be hiked. (TS) Tlou Energy’s AIM debut Botswana-focused coal bed methane (CBM) firm Tlou Energy ...

The collapse in the oil price is universally bad news for the oil and gas sector, right? Not quite. For those companies with healthy enough balance sheets to invest in exploration it could work out very nicely. A big reduction in costs makes drilling wells significantly less expensive. A potential recovery in crude down the line could make discoveries particularly lucrative once they are brought ...

Latham (James) (LTHM:AIM) 577.5p Sheet 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) 34p Renewable energy investor Leaf Clean is a closed-end fund in run-off. At a ...

Having safely navigated the potential hazard of the Scottish independence referendum in September, any hope of respite for North Sea oil and gas companies is proving forlorn as they are rocked by a massive slump in crude oil prices. We see scope for a recovery but also believe there are a number of key issues which need addressing. Our best long-term idea to play a rebound in the UK Continental ...

Investors on the hunt for value in the bombed-out oil sector could take a look at North Sea-focused Parkmead (PMG:AIM) at 166.1p. The shares have lost nearly a quarter of their value amid the slide in oil prices which has seen the European benchmark Brent dive from summer highs above $115 a barrel to less than $80 a barrel. Parkmead’s operational progress was reflected in a maiden full-year ...

Selling pressure continues to drag on UK stocks in early trade Friday, the FTSE 100 opening at its year low 6,431.85. Ongoing concerns over macro growth is still stalking sentiment and the UK's blue-chip index dives another 65 points this morning to hit 6,367, extending the 2014 nadir still further. Oil prices sink to four-year lows the oil and gas sector is under significant ...

The term ‘alpha’ refers to the gain generated by a fund manager’s portfolio over and above that predicted by the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), or in simpler terms its returns relative to a benchmark on a risk-adjusted basis. As it approaches its tenth birthday under the expert guidance of Richard Penny, L&G UK Alpha (GB00B28PT700) continues to deliver what it is supposed to. After ...

In our search for  challenger companies we turn the spotlight on the Oil & Gas industry this week. The majors are auctioning off assets fast with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) selling most of its stake in Aussie producer Woodside Petroleum (WPL:ASX) for $5.7 billion on 18 June. And with the incumbents retrenching, the emerging companies in this space are likely to take one of three main routes to ...

A report suggests the UK oil and gas industry is facing its biggest challenge in five decades thanks to a steep decline in exploration activity. Despite £14.4 billion worth of capital investment last year the Oil & Gas UK Activity Survey 2014, published by Oil & Gas UK, the sector’s industry association, just 15 exploration wells were drilled in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), down ...

The broad-based rally in equities is encouraging a larger number of companies to turn to the markets for funding. By placing or issuing shares companies not only receive a welcome injection of capital which can be used to fund acquisitions, or to invest in their existing business, but might also increase liquidity and add blue chip names to their shareholder base. In addition a placing can ...

North Sea and Netherlands-focused oil play Parkmead (PMG:AIM) looks interesting ahead of an aggressive programme of exploration, appraisal and development drilling. Last week’s £40 million placing (28 Jan) will bankroll the busy work schedule and could be used to pursue further merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities, both of which have the potential to prompt a rerating. Despite the ...

A profit warning sees emerging-market lender Standard Chartered (STAN) shed 6.25% to £13.42. In a pre-close trading update, the £34.5 billion cap warns fines in the US, write-downs in Korea and currency problems in parts of Asia will keep income flat this year after a decade of continuous growth.   Heading in the opposite direction is accounting software supplier Sage (SGE), which ...

Results from a well on the Pharos gas prospect, expected next month, provide a near-term catalyst for North Sea oil firm Parkmead (PMG:AIM). This 20%-owned prospect is estimated to contain up to 500 billion cubic feet of gas and could be developed in tandem with the nearby Platypus and Possum gas assets.   Work began on 1 October. Whatever the outcome from this drilling, the £129 ...