Relief as US CPI inflation hit its lowest level in more than three years helped US stocks recover from their uncertain start to the week to trade materially higher.Also drawing plenty of attention this week was the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Polling suggested Harris had prevailed in the head-to-head put cryptocurrencies and shares in Trump Media & Technology (DJT:N

Trust returns to long-run outperformance trendBenchmark-beating 17.6% returnUK mid-caps cheaper than large-capsJean Roche-run investment trust Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP) returned to form in style over the year ended 30 September 2023, delivering a net asset value total return of 17.6% versus the disappointing 30% decline in the previous year.This beat the 13.6% total return from the benchmark

NAV (net asset value) up by 18.5%Outperforms company's benchmark return of 15%Increases interim dividend of 5.5p by 10%Schroder UK Mid Cap's (SCP) net asset value for the six months ending 31 March rose by 18.5%, 'comfortably' outperforming the company's benchmark, the FTSE 250 ex Investment Trusts Index, which returned 15% over the same period.The company attributed the rise to successful stock

UK jet engine parts supplier Senior (SNR) bounced back into the black in the first half after end markets showed signs of recovery, encouraging the company to keep its annual outlook unchanged.The engineering firm, which supplies equipment to planemakers including Boeing, said pre-tax profit for the six months to 30 June hit £22.3 million, a sharp reverse from last year's pandemic hit £136.3 mil

Having successfully rebuffed bid interest from private equity firm Lone Star, shares in aerospace and defence firm Senior (SNR) ticked up 1.2% to 164p as it unveiled a robust trading update.The shares have not fallen dramatically since Lone Star opted to walk away in late June, with the company looking to keep investors onside by promising a strategy update alongside first half results on 2 August

US private equity firm Lone Star has made a last ditch effort to convince the board of Senior (SNR) to accept its takeover proposal. The UK aerospace engineering business has been pursued by Lone Star since the end of May but so far, the board of Senior has resisted all attempts.The latest Lone Star proposal is its fifth and final, pitched at 200p per share which values the aircraft parts business

UK aerospace engineering business Senior (SNR) is being pursued by private equity buyers but has so far rejected all offers.Senior confirmed on 28 May that private equity firm Lone Star made an offer to buy the business at 176p per share on 20 May. The offer valued Senior at about £730 million, 72% above the price immediately before the offer was made. The offer would have been worth approximatel

The UK's benchmark FTSE 100 reversed early morning losses on Monday to rally strongly in late morning as investors shrugged-off geopolitical worries and soaring losses posted by HSBC (HSBA), the UK's largest listed bank.At 12.30pm, the FTSE 100 was trading more than 0.7% higher at 5,939.60, as technology, transport, personal goods and pharma offset weak banks.The mid-cap FTSE 250 also made gains,

Aerospace engineer Senior (SNR) deepened first-half losses and scrapped its interim dividend as the Covid-19 pandemic and grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft took a heavy toll on trading.Pre-tax losses for the six months to 30 June soared £136.3 million as revenue slumped 30% to £409 million. This time last year the company reported a first-half loss of £26.5 million.Senior also had to wri

UK stocks started the week in uncertain mood while gold prices touched an all-time high of $1,991 per ounce as investors weighed continued weakness in the US dollar and a collapse in real US bond yields.The dollar, which has lost 10% of its value against global currencies since the start of the pandemic, has come to reflect growing concern over the unchecked spread of the virus in the US and the p

Aerospace, defence and energy components contractor Senior (SNR) has pushed through a second round of job cuts after a Covid-19 slump in sales. It previously cut 400 jobs last autumn.Revenue for the six months to 30 June plunged 30%, the company said in a pre-close half year trading update. The news triggered a near-7% decline in its share price to 56.55p, having been over 300p in late 2018.This t

The FTSE 100 opened weaker on Friday for a fourth straight day of decline, dropping 0.4% to 6,026 as record spikes of virus infections in Hong Kong and Tokyo fuelled fears of a second wave hitting Asia. In the US death rates hit record levels in the states of Florida, Arizona, Texas and California.Trading across Asia was weak with the Nikkei 225 giving up 1% and China's Shanghai Composite down 1.8

Yesterday saw the latest FTSE Russell quarterly index review, resulting in significant changes to the composition of both the FTSE 100 large-cap index and the FTSE 250 mid-cap index.Four stocks left the FTSE 100 - cruise ship operator Carnival (CCL), utility group Centrica (CNA), low-cost airline EasyJet (EZJ) and aerospace firm Meggitt (MGGT).Travel related stocks bore the brunt of the sell-off i

Bad news is seemingly starting to catch up with the FTSE 100 as the UK's benchmark index fell 1.29% to 5,751.39 in early trading on Friday.Despite a mountain of concerning economic data, which today includes UK retail sales for March falling a record 5.1%, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, markets appear to have shrugged off most of the numbers, with many becoming in line with revised analy

The market has come storming back since it bottomed out on 23 March from a coronavirus-inspired plunge. As we write the FTSE 100 is above the 5,700 mark and some 16% off its lows.Suggestions that some countries are past the peak of infections, a cautious reopening of the Chinese economy and reports of progress on a coronavirus treatment have all helped sentiment.In the FTSE 350, travel operators a

UK markets slipped into reverse in early trade on Thursday as the UK continues to struggle with lockdown conditions. This despite a largely positive performance on Wall Street yesterday after President Trump unveiled an economic stimulus package worth up to $2trn.That saw the S&P 500, the US's main benchmark index, rally more than a full 1% to 2,475.56 with the Dow Jones also firmer. The tech heav

Shares in aerospace engineer Senior (SNR) surged 7.4% higher to 151.7p on Monday as management expressed confidence in returning the business to growth in 2021 amid 'firm actions' to restructure the business and reported a strong free cash flow performance for 2019.The share price spike came despite news of a 5% fall in adjusted pre-tax profit after the high technology components maker's earnings

UK markets staged a firm rally in early trading on Monday, following Asian markets higher and clawing back some of the heavy losses chalked-up last week.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up close on 2.7% at 6,756.35, while the mid cap FTSE 250 is also around 2.5% higher at 19,803.06.However, by midday those gains had been entirely wiped out with the FTSE 100 dipping 0.5% to 6,546.61. The FT

UK mid-cap stocks powered ahead on 'Brexit day' with the FTSE 250 index gaining 86 points or 0.4% to 21,378. The pound also gained to €1.19, which is good for domestic stocks.Meanwhile the FTSE 100 was down 0.3% or 25 points to 7,362 as Asian-exposed stocks including Diageo (DGE), HSBC (HSBA), Rio Tinto (RIO) and Standard Chartered (STAN) weighed on the index.US tech shares advanced overnight

It is always fascinating to get insight into fund managers' views on their stock picking decisions and so we've spoken to range of managers about their best and worst calls in 2019.The managers in this article discuss a range of stocks on both the UK market and ones listed overseas.WILL JAMESDeputy head of European Equities at Aberdeen Standard InvestmentsMEDIOBANCA - GOOD CALL'European banks in a