With the S&P 500 index having made more than 20 new highs this year, questions are being asked over the sustainability of the rally and the earnings growth which appears to be driving it.Given the market gains have been led by technology ? by way of which, Shares noticed the market cap of Microsoft (MSFT:NASDAQ) now eclipses that of the entire UK stock market ? comparisons with the bubble of 2000

In retrospect, it seems clear the tipping point for AI (artificial intelligence) was the release in November 2022 of OpenAI?s free-to use ChatGPT system.Until that point, most AI products were being developed privately and weren?t widely available to the public, added to which most were fairly clunky whereas ChatGPT was able to interact in a conversational way, answering questions, challenging inc

Supermarket Income REIT (SUPR) 76pMarket cap: £950 millionAlong with healthcare REITs (real estate investment trusts), Supermarket Income REIT (SUPR) must have one of the most secure revenue streams of any property company.It owns and leases 55 supermarkets up and down the country, with the two leading operators Tesco (TSCO) and Sainsbury?s (SBRY) accounting for over three quarters of its rental

Adjusted EBITDA ahead of guidanceGrowth trend improved in H2Positive cash flow targeted for 2024Shares in Deliveroo (ROO) rose 2.6% to 117.5p after the takeaway company reported significantly narrowed losses and a welcome uptick in revenues in what the food delivery service dubbed a ?resilient year of growth given macroeconomic conditions?.The London-headquartered firm also flagged an improved sec

The unveiling of a new British ISA helped give domestic stocks a modest lift after its announcement in the Budget.The £5,000 limit on the new tax wrapper, which can only be invested in UK assets, will be in addition to the existing £20,000 ISA allowance.The key test will be whether this provides a meaningful boost in terms of flows into UK equities and helps improve what has been a very difficul

Equities in Europe ended higher on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 outperforming despite a stronger pound, which perked up after UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt?s budget.Among individual shares, vape sellers shot up despite excise tax measures on the sector. ConvaTec?s annual earnings impressed, while Fresnillo struggled despite another record gold price being notched.The FTSE 100 index ended up 33.15 poin

NI cut by 2% as predictedFuel and alcohol duty frozenTobacco tax increaseWith the UK having recently experienced a technical recession after two quarters of negative growth to December last year, and the spectre of a general election looming, today?s Budget decisions are ?more critical than ever? says the AccountancyAge website.?This budget is anticipated to navigate the tightrope of stimulating e

The end of the tax year is fast approaching and with it the opportunity to maximise your £20,000 ISA allowance for the year.In this article we have identified six names from a list of some of the most consistent funds and fund managers in the UK which could be a good fit for your tax wrapper. While we have aimed for a balance across different investment styles and asset classes this is not intend

London?s blue chips closed little changed, after a bright start, ahead of a busy week of data, central bank announcements, and earnings.The FTSE 100 index closed down 2.35 points, marginally down, at 7,632.74. The FTSE 250 ended down 26.86 points, 0.1%, at 19,311.16, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.42 of a point, marginally lower, at 750.28.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% at 762.54. The Cboe U

Vaping supplier shares down over 6%UK ban on disposable vapes announcedVape sales have grown in recent yearsShares in vaping supplier Supreme (SUP) were down over 6% to 98.50p and Chill Brands (CHLL) fell more than 20% to 3p in morning trading as the UK government announced its intention to ban disposable vapes.Last year prime minister Rishi Sunak said at the Conservative Party conference that he

London?s FTSE 100 outperformed at the start of the week, with oil majors dragging it higher, though gains were harder to come by elsewhere in Europe ahead of a key week of monetary policy announcements and economic data.The FTSE 100 index was up 20.42 points, 0.3%, at 7,655.51. The FTSE 250 was up 84.67 points, 0.4%, at 19,253.35, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.62 points, 0.2%, at 749.08.The Cboe

An investor blessed with Nostradamus-like predictive powers who put money to work with Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B:NYSE) in 1964 and held the shares until 2022 would have enjoyed a gargantuan overall gain of 3,787,464% in terms of per share market value, leaving the stellar 24,708% return from the S&P 500 index with dividends included for dust.Under the direction of legendary investor Warren Buffett

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

Cybersecurity breach latest blowVans brand is strugglingNew CEO focused on cost-cutting, debt reduction2023 has been an annus horribilis for VF Corporation (VFC:NYSE), with shares in the American fashion-to-footwear firm down some 30% to $19.21, extending five-year losses to more than 70%.The latest bout of price weakness was triggered by news (18 Dec) of a cybersecurity breach expected to have a

First half PBT up 180%Full year guidance raised againOutstanding vaping performanceShares in Supreme (SUP:AIM) surged 16% higher to 127.5p after the fast-moving consumer products distributor delivered another significant profit upgrade for the year to March 2024 amid continued growth across all divisions in the third quarter-to-date.A leading e-cigarette and vaping market name known for its 88vape

Stocks in London opened lower on Tuesday as Rolls-Royce outperformed, but there was a lack of strong positive catalysts to boost share prices overall.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.6% at 740.58, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.4% at 15,927.04, and the Cboe Small Companies was slightly lower at 13,425.19.In European equities on Tuesday, the CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.4%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was do

Pets at Home (PETS) investors will be hoping the UK pet-care leader's first half results statement (28 November) doesn't set the cat among the pigeons. Any signs that the cost-of-living pressures impacting pet owners' disposable income are slowing its sales momentum or curtailing customer acquisition growth could be harshly punished.Share price weakness at the pet food-to-toys purveyor reflects op

Californian Zantac cases agreedVolatility likely until all cases are settledGSK bags £885.6 million from Haleon saleShares in global pharmaceutical company GSK (GSK) hit a new 12-month high on Wednesday, rising 2% to £15.43, after the firm reached a confidential Zantac litigation settlement in California.The drug maker said it had also settled three remaining breast cancer bellwether cases in th

Shares have sold-off on single use vapes ban whispersSupreme confident vaping is 'most effective' cigarettes alternativeOn track to meet 2024 guidanceSpeculation that the UK government is drawing up plans for a ban on disposable vapes in a bid to tackle underage vaping has hit Supreme (SUP:AIM) hard. Shares in the company have lost 15% this past week.Supreme, which supplies disposable vapes to the