Fund outperforms benchmark in 2023Dividend increases by 7% to 7.65pShares sit at 13% discount to NAVMid- and small-cap UK growth investor Mercantile Investment Trust (MRC) outperformed its benchmark in the year to 31 January, delivering a net asset total return of 4.5% and total shareholder returns of 6.1%.The dividend was increased by 7% for the year to 7.65p per share, comfortably covered by rev

The FTSE 100 came off session lows but still struggled to find its groove heading into Tuesday afternoon, with share price falls for miners meaning it underperformed continental peers.The FTSE 100 index was up just 3.00 points at 7,920.57. The FTSE 250 was up a more convincing 90.13 points, 0.5%, at 19,703.66, while the AIM All-Share was down just 0.02 of a point at 737.24.The Cboe UK 100 was marg

There is no question the dominant theme in stock markets last year was AI (artificial intelligence), in particular generative AI.In an interview with Time magazine last June, Sam Altman ? the former chief executive of OpenAI, whose ChatGPT product has been at the forefront of the AI trend ? said he believes the technology will ?transform the way people work and the way people learn. It?s going to

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

If there is one thing investors can agree on, it is that the UK stock market is cheap.How cheap depends on who you ask, but the strategy team at Morgan Stanley believe the FTSE 100 is trading at a 35% discount to the MSCI World Index on a PE (price to earnings) basis.If inflation pressures continue to ease and the economy shows further signs of cooling, there is a fair chance the Bank of England m

Specialist distributor of AV (audio visual) equipment to the trade market Midwich (MIDW:AIM) has established a strong track record of growth since coming to the stock market in 2016.Although there are added risks to consider when investing in smaller companies, we believe Midwich is a great opportunity to buy above average growth at a below average price.Sales and adjusted operating profit have gr

There have been some notable dividend increases in recent weeks from well-known companies on the stock market including a 31% hike from advertising group WPP (WPP) while banking giant HSBC (HSBA) raised its ordinary dividend by 28% on top of comments that it might pay a special dividend once the sale of its Canadian business has completed.Even more impressively, mining services company Weir Group

It has been difficult to ignore the renewed sense of optimism creeping into stock markets this year. Misery has been replaced by a watchful brightness, and nowhere has this sheen reflected better than among software growth stocks.After tumbling more than a third in 2022, the US-listed iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV:BATS), comprised of many of the major enterprise software players,

- ASOS close to appointing restructuring advisors- M&Co collapses into administration- Julian Dunkerton in talks to take Superdry privateIt has been a dire year for shareholders in ASOS (ASC), with the online fashion retailer's equity slumping the best part of 80% on a flurry of downgrades.The shares fell a further 5.7% to 551.5p today on speculation the company is close to appointing restructurin

- Posts 68th consecutive quarterly growth- IT demand remains firm despite recession risk- Share price remains close to 2022 lowsValue-added IT reseller Softcat (SCT) continues to impress as a business, posting its 68th consecutive quarter-on-quarter of organic growth in both sales and profits. Its year to 31 July 2022 saw pre-tax profit up from £119 million to £136.1 million, on revenue up to £

- Driving value in fragmented £52 billion addressable market- Digitisation, Cloud, cybersecurity all hot investment themes- Vital partners to tech giants like Microsoft, AWS, Adobe and AppleAnalysts at stock broker Liberum believe there is great long-term returns potential from the UK technology value-added reseller space, including Softcat (SCT), Bytes Technology (BYIT) and Computacenter (CCC).'

We all know that IT suppliers are having a great time thanks to unwinding post-pandemic pent-up demand, organisations embracing flexible working and the long-run shift to digital, but today's half year results from Softcat (SCT) really put that into perspective.Softcat is a value-added reseller, or VAR for short, meaning it sells third-party software and hardware to clients and then adds a range o

IT reseller and adviser Softcat (SCT) reported year-on-year growth in revenue, gross profit and operating profit, while cash generation has remained in-line with normal trends during the first quarter to 31 October 2021.While today's update was figure-free, the company typically converts about 90% of its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation into operating cash flow.Markets

The FTSE 100 is poised for some significant changes in the coming 12 months such as the removal of BHP (BHP) from the index and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) splitting into two businesses.The importance of sectors like resources, pharmaceuticals and insurance is likely to be reduced with consumer goods and banks potentially enjoying an increased weighting.Over time structural changes in the economy and di

The start of the new school year is traditionally the time that offices, which languished half empty over the long summer holidays, are suddenly bustling with life. Lunch dates are made, career catch ups scheduled and goals recalibrated. Covid threw everything up in the air and everybody's watching to see where the pieces will eventually settle.As of 19 July, the Government's work from home guidan

There are lots of good reasons why investors should have allocations to the FTSE 250, London's high-flying index oriented to mid caps which provides a purer play on the domestic UK economy than the exporter-heavy FTSE 100.The FTSE 250 captures those growth stocks that have come up from the small cap ranks and therefore had a chance to establish themselves. And crucially, it can catch these 'second

As the world economy starts to get back to something approaching normal, and with supply chains struggling to keep pace, inflation has once again reared its head.From the UK to Europe, the US and China, consumer and producer prices are rising at a faster pace than politicians and central bankers would like.For investors, this year has been a test of how their portfolios might perform if there were

UK shares gave up their morning gains on Wednesday, pulled lower by financial stocks as NatWest Group (NWG) became the first bank to appear in court on criminal charges over money laundering.In Asian trading, Japan's Nikkei 226 and China's SE Composite indices gained 0.3%.Gold prices continued recent gains, adding 0.4% to $1,906 per ounce and Brent Crude was 0.75% higher at $69.1 a barrel.At midda

UK shares inched higher on Wednesday as a pair of healthcare stocks were on the receiving end of takeover bids.In Asian trading, Japan's Nikkei 226 and China's SE Composite indices gained 0.3%.Gold prices continued recent gains, adding 0.4% to $1,906 per ounce and Brent Crude was 0.75% higher at $69.1 a barrel.At 9am the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was up 14 points or 0.2% at 7,044 points wit

SOFTCAT (SCT) £17.73Gain to date: 84.8%Original entry point: Buy at 959.5p, 1 August 2019There is still 'significant upside risk to gross profit' from software seller Softcat (SCT), say analysts, and that should power the shares beyond £20 for the first time this year.Analysts at Peel Hunt and Numis had to rip up profit forecasts after the company massively outstripped first-half operating profi