London?s FTSE 100 ended Tuesday morning how it started it, barely budging in cautious trade ahead of Wednesday?s US inflation report.Miners were on the up, as were oil majors, though that still could not lift the FTSE 100 into the green. Heavyweights such as drugmaker GSK, down 0.5% and defence firm BAE Systems, sliding 4.2%, were among those holding back London?s blue-chip benchmark.The FTSE 100

Capital preservation funds are positioned to help investors avoid large losses while growing their wealth too, albeit more slowly than more risk-tolerant funds. In the investment trusts patch, the three main wealth preservers are Ruffer Investment Company (RICA), Capital Gearing Trust (CGT) and Personal Assets Trust (PNL), while RIT Capital Partners (RCP) also has a capital preservation bent.Durin

We are weeks away from the end of the tax year and inevitably there is plenty of focus on ISAs ? whether that relates opening an account or using up existing allowances.In all the hoo-hah it?s easy to lose sight of just what a compelling vehicle this is for investors. Whatever you are investing for, whether it?s the cost of the kids? education, to supplement your income in retirement or to fund ho

Stocks in London trod a disparate path, ahead of UK inflation data, which could dictate events on Thursday when the Bank of England makes its latest decision on interest rates.The FTSE 100 index rose 15.75 points, 0.2%, at 7,738.30. But the FTSE 250 ended down 53.72 points, 0.3%, at 19,432.81, and the AIM All-Share fell 1.07 points, 0.2%, at 735.56.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.2% to 774.76, the Cboe UK

There are hopes for an improved picture for bonds in 2024 as the rate hiking cycle turns. In this article we look at the case for bonds, consider whether the 60/40 portfolio could make a comeback and look at our best ideas to play the bond market through funds.ARE BONDS POISED FOR A RECOVERY?As central banks signal an end to the interest rate hiking cycle Investors might be thinking the prospects

Post-Christmas updates from the industry demonstrate that not all luxury goods companies are created equal, with sector players experiencing contrasting fortunes as the post-pandemic boom normalises and well-heeled shoppers prove more selective.On 25 January, the world?s largest luxury goods group LVMH (MC:EPA) confounded investors? gloomy expectations by delivering better-than-expected fourth qua

London?s blue-chips retreated on Tuesday ahead of key UK inflation data, which could show whether hopes for a spring interest rate cut from the Bank of England are too optimistic.Investors are also re-assessing whether the conviction that US interest rates will be cut in March is realistic, or wide of the mark. US rate cut bets have dwindled, though a cut in March is still the most likely outcome

European equities ended lower on Friday, though the pound and euro climbed, as Federal Reserve interest rate expectations swung to-and-fro after contrasting US data in the afternoon.A stronger employment report meant some rethought their rate cut expectations for March. Interest rate nerves were soothed later, however, after an underwhelming reading of the US service economy.Among individual share

European equities traded lower on Friday, after data showed inflation pressure in the eurozone accelerated, and as dovish interest rate expectations for the US are tempered ahead of the afternoon?s employment data.Ahead of the US data, equities in New York are called to open lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 are both called down 0.3%. The Nasdaq Composite is called down 0.4%.The

London?s FTSE 100 registered a slight gain heading into Thursday afternoon, in a slightly more positive day for equities after a tricky start to the year.Retailers Next and JD Sports sat at either side of the FTSE 100 after contrasting festive updates.Equities in New York are called to open higher with focus on the afternoon?s employment data from payroll processor ADP. The official nonfarms readi

The FTSE 100 underperformed European peers on Monday, with share price falls for miners doing little for the large-cap benchmark, while the mood in equity markets was largely cautious with a trio of major central bank decisions to come.Elsewhere, an ounce of gold slipped back below the $2,000 mark, while London-listed small-cap stock DG Innovate jumped after bolstering its board with one-time Tesl

Net asset value (NAV) underperformed in first half£300 million spent on share buybacksLong term approach to identify secular growthGrowth investing may be creeping back into favour as investors bet on an end to interest rate hikes, but that hasn?t yet fed through to the Baillie Gifford-managed Monks Investment Trust (MNKS) judging by first half results.Net asset value total return slipped 3.3% fo

Equity income trusts in demandCity of London most boughtScottish Mortgage, Finsbury Growth & Income divide opinionWith conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine creating uncertainty, and investors grappling with cost-of-living pressures as falling inflation is expected to be a drawn-out process, dependable income trusts have proved popular on the AJ Bell platform over the past month.At the same time

European equities were largely lower on Monday afternoon, with share price declines for miners and oil majors causing the FTSE 100 to underperform.The mood in equity markets was subdued, with enthusiasm lacking as investors cautiously await Friday?s US jobs data.The FTSE 100 index traded down 26.87 points, 0.4%, at 7,502.48. The FTSE 250 was up 59.36 points, however, 0.3%, at 18,446.98, and the AI

European equities took confidence from a cooler eurozone inflation reading, though the pound and euro surrendered some ground, with the inflation picture in the US in focus later on Thursday afternoon.The FTSE 100 index rose 41.63 points, 0.6%, at 7,465.09.The FTSE 100 snapped its streak of underperformance, with oil majors and China-exposed stocks leading the charge. A weaker pound, now sitting c

When debating what kind of portfolio is going to be best suited to an environment of 'higher-for-longer' interest rates, looking at past periods of high rates provides a partial guide.In the UK interest rates were high and stayed high pretty much from the start of the 1960s all the way through to 1990 and during that period not only were rates in double digits but so was inflation. The difference

Stock prices in London were mostly in the green at midday on Thursday, as investors adjusted to higher-for-longer interest rates expectations, amid bad news for the UK construction sector.The FTSE 100 index was up 38.58 points, or 0.5%, at 7,451.03. The FTSE 250 was up 164.77 points, or 0.9%, at 17,657.67. Meanwhile, the AIM All-Share was down just 0.15 of a point at 695.06.'There have been plenty

The FTSE 100 ended higher on Tuesday despite figures showing UK wage growth picked up, bolstering expectations of an interest rate hike from the Bank of England next week.The FTSE 100 index closed up 30.66 points, 0.4%, at 7,527.53. The FTSE 250 ended up 19.86 points, 0.1%, at 18,542.30, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.86 of a point, or 0.1%, at 743.21.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 750.25, th

Persistent inflation and higher interest rates are squeezing disposable incomes. In this scenario there is logic in investors putting their cash behind companies which make premium products which confer pricing power or sell affordable luxuries which help consumers to socialise or unwind at the end of the working day.One sector that enjoys both these attributes is Beverages, the domain of soft dri

Automotive engineer Dowlais (DWL) is poised to announce its maiden results as a public company after its spin-off from industrial turnaround specialist Melrose (MRO) in April 2023.Shareholders will be hoping the first-half numbers on 12 September help provide a boost after a bumpy start to life on the market as an individual entity, the shares falling around 25% from their 143.5ppeak.Five years on