Weaker-than-expected Q3 salesUS consumer backdrop deterioratesDr. Martens pulls FY25 guidanceInvestors put the boot into Dr. Martens (DOCS) after the iconic footwear brand downgraded its year-to-March 2024 EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) guidance once again and withdrew previous guidance for high single digit sales growth in full year 2025.The shares slumped m

Stock prices in London rose in the morning on Thursday, as investors eye a key interest rate decision from the European Central Bank, just a day after the US central bank lifted its rates.The FTSE 100 index was up 16.29 points, 0.2%, at 7,693.18. The FTSE 250 was up 144.87 points, 0.8%, at 19,331.41, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.87 points, 0.4%, at 769.02.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 767.45, t

June's larger-than-expected half percentage point interest rate rise has pushed the FTSE 100 index back into negative territory for the year and triggered fears of recession among investors and market observers.Moreover, there seems little doubt the UK central bank will raise rates again at its August meeting, the only question being by how much.'It now appears that interest rates may go higher th

Medica (MGP) 212.25pProfit to date: 29.4%On 9 March we highlighted small cap teleradiology specialist Medica (MGP:AIM) as an underappreciated quality business with a market leading position and exciting growth opportunities.We argued the shares had been unfairly derated over the last five years despite the business doubling in size and subsequently trading on a 2023 free cash flow yield of 5.8% ba

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING PROMOTIONWhat if you saw potential others had missed? What if you possessed a once in a lifetime opportunity that others had overlooked? What if you knew something that could change the world? Explorers of old, who ventured off to discover distant lands asked themselves these questions. Fueled by conviction and courage they ventured where others were hesitant to tread. Explo

Shares in iconic footwear brand Dr. Martens (DOCS) received a bit of a kicking from investors following its first set of financial results as a publicly listed company (17 June).These showed pre-tax profit down 30% to £70.9 million after accounting for one-off costs linked to its stock market listing on 29 January and staff bonus payments.The absence of any upgrades to earnings forecasts for the

Many people are prepared to pay a high price for growth in the current market. Indeed, Shares has been keen to extol the virtues of quality businesses capable of growing despite a troubled backdrop.However, we sense growing interest in the market for value opportunities and our research shows it is currently possible to find decent companies trading at attractive prices.Warren Buffett famously sai

On 19 March NATO secretary general Jens Stollenberg made a plea for allies to maintain defence spending despite the significant economic costs associated with the coronavirus crisis.The simple fact he was even making this statement reflects a genuine fear that expenditure in this area will be cut as public finances become more strained.This would have clear implications for the defence sector. Bec

Investors typically get to know companies well if they follow their story through trading updates and financial results. That doesn't always give you the full picture.Several quoted businesses have unusual assets which aren't front and centre of the investment case. There is often logic behind these quirky assets and you may be interested to read about a few examples.We've spotted a number of comp

European economies have had a tough time recently, having been singled out as the global laggards when it comes to growth.Proclamations of doom were made at the start of the year, when fears grew that the euro area could be heading for a recession.But there are signs, particularly in the advanced markets that have slowed the most, that things could be turning round.Data shows that the Eurozone eco

Rising debt levels, struggles with getting on the housing ladder and inflation rising faster than pay reinforces the need for better financial education to help individuals better manage their money.The education push ultimately needs to start from a young age, so as to engrain a savings habit in individuals and prepare them for the financial pressures of later life.Financial education isn't a tic

Last year (2017) saw a record-breaking £46bn of cash investedinto UK funds, almost 600% more than in 2016 when initial fearsabout the UK's decision to leave the EU caused investors to pull money out of funds in droves. It's easy to see why funds are popular as you get exposure to lots of different assets through a single product. Unfortunately, knowing which fund to pick can be tricky unless you

This is a small cap investment story we have watched for ages and now feel confident it has developed the scale and market positioning to really move the earnings needle.Incredibly, Elecosoft (ELCO:AIM) has been in business for more than 100 years but turned itself into a construction industry technology supplier when it sold its physical building operations about five years ago.These days it prov

Ignore all the buzz about US markets surging away and businesses enjoying a boost from lower tax rates. We think Continental Europe is a better opportunity and one that is still underappreciated by many investors.Why do we like Europe? Economic conditions are good, companies are finally enjoying decent earnings growth, politics aren't getting in the way and equity valuations aren't overly expensiv

Wannabe first-time house buyers and savers craving a more flexible retirement savings option were given a boost in April 2017 when the Lifetime ISA was launched.The product, which to-date has only been adopted by a handful of providers including AJ Bell, is available to anyone aged 18-39 and allows you to invest in a range of stocks, funds and bonds in the same way as a Stocks and Shares ISA.It al

Balfour Beatty (BBY) delivers good tidings to investors as it expects pre-tax profit to exceed market expectations.The upgrade comes after the sale of a 12.5% stake in M25 orbital motorway operator Connect Plus to funds managed by Dalmore Capital for £103m. The move left Balfour Beatty with a 27.5% of the project.Other shareholders in Connect Plus are EDGE Orbital Holdings, and Egis Investment Pa

Arena Events is hoping to raise £60m as it seeks an initial public offering on AIM. The business provides temporary venues, seating and interior fixtures for things like seasonal ice rinks, for example. It works on big sporting tournaments such as recently finished Wimbledon, and the Ryder Cup golf competition. It claims 70% recurring revenues and operates across the globe. Admission to AIM is ex

Goldman warms to RBSRoyal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is in demand at 234.7p as Goldman Sachs ups its recommendation on the stock from 'neutral' to 'buy'. Adding RBS to its 'Conviction List' the investment bank points to an attractive valuation and opportunities in the domestic mortgage market. (TS)Minoan lands approvalMinoan (MIN:AIM) has been granted presidential land use approval for its proposed lu

The FTSE 100 trades 19.88 points (0.28%) lower at 7,021 as International Monetary Fund (IMF) boss Christine Lagarde piled more uncertainty on the markets by saying that Greece leaving the eurozone was possible.Investors were also spooked by a GfK survey claiming that UK consumers are less optimistic about the economy than they were in April.In company news, life insurer and wealth manager Old Mutu

There have been plenty of technological shifts in the 30-odd years that Walter Price has been picking tech stocks. Around the time he started out in the industry, in 1985, Microsoft (MSFT:NDQ) had just launched its first version of Windows, compact discs were just beginning to replace vinyl and the Commodore 128 was the new gaming console on the block.The world's turned a few times since then and