London’s FTSE 100 rallied 46.6 points to 7,373.4 on Monday as claims the US and China are ‘very close’ to a trade deal sent global markets higher. Restaurant Group (RTN) fell 3.8% to 140.5p after delivering an update to bondholders on second-quarter trading at Wagamama. Turnover rose by 11% to £93.5m thanks to the opening of six new sites and as delivery kitchen with the US showing ...

The gambling sector has this year experienced a mixture of very good and very bad news, prompting wild share price movements. Now is an opportune time to take stock of the sector, particularly as share prices have had time to price in forthcoming changes to the UK fixed-odds betting terminals market and the hype has died down about the opening up of the US sports betting industry. The latter ...

Shares in several UK betting stocks are enjoying a rare moment in the sun as a court ruling opens the door for sports betting to be legalised in multiple US states. However, some observers are warning the market not to get carried away with the news. Broker Davy cautions against ‘assuming too big a prize too soon’. ‘The shape of a regulated landscape is yet to be determined, with many ...

Shares in a number of UK-quoted gambling firms have shot up in value following news that sports betting could be legalised on a multi-state basis in the US. William Hill (WMH) jumps by 8.3% to 306.2p, 888 (888) advances by 13% to 305.6p, Sportech (SPO) jumps by 11% to 69.5p, GVC (GVC) moves 5.1% higher to 920p and Webis (WEB:AIM) rises by 65% to 1.65p. Paddy Power Betfair (PPB), the UK's ...

Shares in online gambling firm Sportech (SPO) have plummeted over 50% to 36.3p after terminating talks to sell the business and revealing a profit warning. The company put itself up for sale in October, but ended discussions with interested parties as they were unlikely to result in an offer it would be able to recommend to shareholders. This implies that Sportech did not receive any ...

London’s FTSE 100 rebounds 22.5 points to 7,161.2 on Wednesday, bouncing back from Tuesday’s heavy losses triggered by the shock departure of Rex Tillerson and Philip Hammond’s lacklustre Spring Statement. Fallen funeral services provider Dignity (DTY) rallies 14.4% to 976p after flagging encouraging early signs from initiatives launched in January to fend off rising ...

Unloved parcel delivery service Royal Mail (RMG) rises 3.4% to 402.2p on better than expected half year results. CEO Moya Greene reports ‘a good start to the year’ and says her charge is performing well in a highly competitive UK parcels market. Royal Mail's overseas division GLS was the star performer, strong growth offsetting flat revenue from domestic parcels and letters business UKPIL ...

Gambling firm Sportech (SPO) may soon pay shareholders cash equal to nearly one third (29%) of its current market value, according to investment bank Investec. It believes the small cap could pay out up to 29p per share. The stock currently trades at 98p. Investors may get even more cash in the near future if Sportech wins a legal battle to receive compound interest on a £97m VAT repayment ...

A streamlined Sportech (SPO:AIM) could be a takeover candidate according to Investec analyst Alistair Ross. Shareholders in the betting services provider approved the £83m sale of its Football Pools operation to private equity firm OPCapita on 19 April and the deal is expected to complete in May. Any M&A speculation may have to wait until after a ruling from the Supreme Court in July ...

The iconic Football Pools operation is being sold by Sportech (SPO) for £83m. Amid falling subscription numbers and only £3.24 average weekly spend by customers it is easy to see why management were open to a private equity-backed bid. The company already plans to return £20m to shareholders after winning a VAT case against the taxman and could deliver another one-off return should the Pools ...

London's FTSE 100 trades 33.64 points higher at 6,987.9 on Tuesday. Commodity stocks are up in early deals following better-than-expected Chinese factory data and with the market's oil majors taking centre stage. FTSE 100 heavyweight Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) gains 3.6% to £21.12 as it reports a first quarterly sales increase for three years on firmer oil prices and a contribution from its £52bn ...

Blue chip shares in London open flat at 6,704 as winners and losers from lower oil prices broadly offset each other. Index giant Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) is under pressure as West Texas Intermediate crude prices dip 1.4% to $45.63 (£34.30), while British Airlines owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), a key beneficiary of lower oil prices, is the biggest gainer. Sports retailer ...

A shockingly bad Cheltenham and Leicester’s surprise Premier League win have been topped off by yet another regulatory change that could hit gambling companies’ profits in the years to come. We’ve scrutinised the sector to find out which stocks are best-placed to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. William Hill’s woes Once the highest quality company in the gambling sector, William ...

Hotel Chocolat checks in Premium chocolatier  Hotel Chocolat’s (HOTC:AIM) shares enjoyed a tasty AIM debut (10 May), bid up 29% to 191p from their 148p issue price. Sentiment towards the maker and retailer of innovative and affordable chocolates, co-founded by CEO Angus Thirlwell and Development Director Peter Harris, is clearly positive. It is worth remembering Thorntons struggled for ...

Gambling group Sportech (SPO) is expected to unlock value by selling its Football Pools business and surplus assets, which combined with geographical expansion and new contracts could see patient investors rewarded. The £106.5 million cap is continuing talks to sell the Football Pools and has appointed US commercial real estate outfit CBRE to sell its surplus property and land assets in New ...

Interactive TV gaming company NetPlay TV (NPT:AIM) is on the lookout for revenue-diversifying and shareholder-enhancing acquisitions after pulling out of its bid for the Football Pools. The £21.9 million cap is trading at an 11-month low of 7p which looks like a buying opportunity. NetPlay, which has seen its share price slump by 31% in the past three months, was suspended from trading on AIM ...

UK shares begin the last week's run into Christmas on a firm footing, with miners a particularly strong feature thanks to firmer metals prices. The FTSE 100 index rallies 55 points, or about 0.9%, to 6,108, although gains for midcaps and smaller companies are less eye-catching. Wall Street fell overnight Friday while Asia remains mixed this morning, with Europe's main markets also mildly ...

Pressure on Blinkx Video search engine Blinkx (BLNX:AIM) could come under more pressure if it fails to reassure investors over progress on its mobile strategy. The £100 million cap has been rationalising its portfolio and investing in new products but investors are showing strong signs that they are losing patience. The shares have fallen nearly 90% in two years to 24.9p. (SFr) IHG ...

London pubs outperform London-based pubs are experiencing stronger like-for-like sales growth than the rest of the country and are outperforming restaurants in the capital, according to the latest Coffer Peach Tracker. Our top picks are Young & Co’s Brewery (YNGA:AIM) at £12 and Fuller, Smith & Turner (FSTA) at £11.63, both of which are likely to benefit from the upcoming Rugby World ...

London markets slump into the red in early trade on Tuesday on concerns about Greece and bond market volatility, while blue chip budget airline Easyjet (EZJ) disappoints with its full-year outlook. The benchmark FTSE 100 index tumbles roughly 90 points, or 1.2%, plunging back below the important 7,000 mark to 6,941, ahead of data that is expected to show UK industrial production growth slowing ...