This article discusses the increasing importance of intangible assets over tangible or physical assets and explains how investors can exploit them to uncover great businesses.One of the iron-clad laws of economics is that high returns on capital are eroded over time by the effects of competition. Reversion to the mean or average is almost as inevitable as death and taxes for most companies.Famed i

Stock prices in London were mixed at midday Wednesday as the FTSE 100 was dragged down by HSBC and Glencore, ahead of minutes from the January Federal Open Market Committee meeting in the US.The FTSE 100 index was down 66.87 points, 0.9%, at 7,652.34. The FTSE 250 was up 14.84 points, 0.1%, at 19,124.47, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.14 points, 0.3%, at 750.91.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.8% at 7

Stock prices in London closed up on Wednesday as private sector expansion proved stronger than expected, and amid a host of strong PMI data from around the world.The FTSE 100 index closed up 41.94 points, 0.6%, at 7,527.67. The FTSE 250 ended up 179.06 points, 0.9%, at 19,171.68 and the AIM All-Share closed up 5.93 points, 0.8%, at 744.85.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 752.68, the Cboe UK 250 cl

Equities in London were on the up heading into Wednesday afternoon, with a better UK economic data and measures out of China lifting the mood.The pound climbed on an improved UK purchasing managers? index reading, while miners cheered a move by China?s central bank which it hopes will spark some life into the Asian economy.Over in Frankfurt, SAP was one of the stories of the day. The software firm

Stocks in London rose on Wednesday morning, as large-cap miners benefitted from news of stimulus measures from China.The FTSE 100 index opened up 38.21 points, 0.5%, at 7,523.94. The FTSE 250 was up 85.94 points, 0.5%, at 19,078.56, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.37 points, 0.2%, at 740.29.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 751.62, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.6% at 16,517.35, and the Cboe Small Companies

Miner Adriatic Metals (ADT1) is set to commence production from its Vares silver-zinc-lead-copper-gold-antinomy project in the fourth quarter of 2023 and has exciting exploration potential.It is a good time to invest in the stock and we see scope for significant gains in both the short and medium-term. The relatively small footprint of the project means costs are low and based on Berenberg's sums

Dr.Martens CEO makes big purchaseGriffin director cashes in on strong share pricePolar Capital CEO Gavin Rochussen dumps shares from schemeCEO of footwear brand Dr. Martens (DOCS) Kenny Wilson has bought 309,948 shares at 129p for a total value of £399,999 on 17 July.The purchase comes after the company reported 'milestone' revenue of £1 billion on 1 June up 10% with brights spots of trading in

Trading in London was lukewarm at Friday's market open, despite a strong UK retail sales print and Wednesday's consumer price inflation read otherwise boosting stocks across the week so far.The FTSE 100 index opened down 1.8 points at 7,644.25. The FTSE 250 was down 54.85 points, 0.3% at 19,256.88, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.03 points, 0.1%, at 765.32.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 762.55, t

- Shares rally aftermarket on upgraded Q2 revenue forecast- Reports biggest ever loss in Q1- Signs of recovery in chip demand, margin improvementShares in microchip maker Intel (INTC:NASDAQ) reversed early losses to gain 3% in post market trading after the company forecasted better-than-expected sales and margins for the second quarter.First quarter sales to 31 March fell 36% from the same period

Evidence of strength and price pressure in the UK services sector convinced investors that another interest rate hike is all but certain next month, sending share prices lower on Friday but doing nothing for the pound.The FTSE 100 index was up 8.85 points, or 0.1%, at 7,911.46 midday Friday. The FTSE 250 was up 3.52 points at 19,139.39, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.35 points, or 0.2%, at 827.8

Disappointing UK retail sales figures for last month and growing investor resignation to interest rate hikes next month combined to push down share prices early on Friday.The FTSE 100 index opened down 9.82 points, or 0.1%, at 7,892.79, entirely wiping out the small gain made on Thursday.The FTSE 250 was down 39.33 points, or 0.2%, at 19,096.54, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.63 points, or 0.2%,

One way to reduce the risks associated with less forgiving markets is to ensure you buy companies at the right valuation. With this in mind Shares has conducted a screening exercise of the market to identify stocks which in our view are too cheap and therefore represent attractive investment opportunities.After running the numbers on discounted stocks with earnings momentum and firms which look ch

Learning good habits at an early age can pay dividends later in life, as Richard from North Somerset has found out. The investor regularly reinvests dividends from his portfolio to compound his returns.Rather than spend the cash now, he would rather use it to buy more shares so the next round of dividends might be even bigger than the last.Richard is 36 years old and works as a locum for a pharmac

At 4.36pm on 10 August, industrial thread manufacturer Coats (COA) announced its second acquisition in as many months. Not only was this unusual behaviour in that Coats rarely buys companies, but it also asked retail investors for financial help.Historically Coats has relied upon bank debt for financing and used that money, along with internally generated cash, for deals.The fact retail investors

Like much of the mining sector, Glencore (GLEN) is seeing a drop in its production thanks to Covid-related staffing issues as well as operational and supply chain problems.However, today's first quarter update showed the benefits of the company's unique business model as its large commodities trading operation came up trumps against a volatile market backdrop.This helped lift the stock 1.1% to 485

Hargreaves Services (HSP:AIM) 550pGain to date: 71.9%Original entry point: Buy at 320p, 25 February 2021Property and industrial services firm Hargreaves Services (HSP:AIM) is the gift that keeps on giving for shareholders.First half results for the period to November blew away estimates thanks to major strategic progress in both the land and industrial businesses.There was also a strong contributi

Commodities were the market focus again on Tuesday, with oil prices remaining elevated and gold pushing through $2,000 an ounce, as investors contemplated the supply and inflationary implications of a possible US and European ban on Russian energy.Oil major Shell became the latest and biggest company with significant dealings with Russia to bow to public pressure to cut ties.The FTSE 100 index was

Despite a 40% advance for the shares in the past 12 months, resources firm Glencore (GLEN) continues to look cheap.Based on current commodity prices and forecasts from investment bank Jefferies the stock trades on a 2022 free cash flow yield of 19% with a significant chunk of cash set to be returned to shareholders.With its commodities focus leaving it well placed to withstand inflationary pressur

Major UK shares closed higher on Monday, led by oil and banking stocks, as investors continued to bet on rising interest rates globally, while stronger commodity prices lifted mining shares.The benchmark FTSE 100 ended the day nearly 0.8% higher at 7,573.47, with global miners Anglo American (AAL) and Rio Tinto (RIO) providing a strong boost to the blue-chip index, despite Russian steel play Evraz

Major UK shares strengthened into lunchtime trading on Monday as investors looked past fears over hot inflation to focus on global recovery hopes.At midday, the benchmark FTSE 100 is trading up by around 0.3% at 7,538.24. Mid-caps also moved up, the FTSE 250 rising 0.35% to 21,789.98, although European market performance remains patchy, with the pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 is flat at 4,087.14.In th