Stocks in London closed mostly lower on Tuesday, as investors nervously eye this week?s US inflation print.The FTSE 100 index closed down 10.23 points, 0.1%, at 7,683.96. The FTSE 250 ended down 99.78 points, 0.5%, at 19,294.02, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.84 points, or 0.3%, at 752.66.The Cboe UK 100 ended flat at 767.86, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.8% at 16,767.71, and the Cboe Small Com

The UK's FTSE 100 held on to gains to end the week on a high, shrugging-off weaker retail sales data and while concerns over China eased thanks to cash-strapped property firm Evergrande making a last-minute bond interest payment this week, according to reports.UK retail sales volumes fell 0.2% in September, bucking expectations for a monthly rise of 0.5%.At the finish, the UK benchmark closed 0.2%

FTSE 100 pushed gains further in lunchtime trading, shrugging off weaker retail sales data and easing concerns over China, thanks to cash-strapped property firm Evergrande making a last-minute bond interest payment this week, according to reports.UK retail sales volumes fell 0.2% in September, bucking expectations for a monthly rise of 0.5%.At 12.30pm, the UK benchmark was 0.56% up at 7,230 despit

London's FTSE 100 traded 0.39% higher at 7,218.19 points on Friday, the blue chip benchmark shrugging off weaker retail sales data amid easing China concerns following reports that cash-strapped property firm Evergrande will make a key interest payment at the weekend.UK retail sales volumes fell 0.2% in September, bucking expectations for a monthly rise of 0.5%.Overnight across the pond, the S&P 5

Healthcare company BTG (BTG) upgraded its sales forecast after adding its varicose veins treatment Varithena to its oncology and vascular portfolio.Strong demand for its tumour-targeting medicines in the six months to 30 September 2018 led analysts to raise their product sales growth forecasts from a 13% to 15% range to 15% to 17%.Shares in BTG rallied more than 5% to 588p in response to the upbea

With many investors becoming increasingly worried about perceived sky-high ratings of UK equities we believe little technology engineering business Zytronic (ZYT:AIM) is a firm value opportunity.The stock is currently trading on 13.9 times forecast earnings for the year to 30 September 2019 and offers a prospective dividend yield of 6.2%.The Newcastle-based company designs and builds rugged touch

Reliable growth at a reasonable price is not always easy to find among smaller companies but Zytronic (ZYT:AIM) is a UK technology business that offers just that. Paying dependable dividends on a 4%-plus yield, investors get a carefully run, attractive, income-paying stock with all the tax breaks that AIM offers.The shares often look inexpensive relative to the wider sector; they currently trade o

Hi-tech displays and touch sensors business Zytronic (ZYT:AIM) is going through the legal motions to make £8.9m of non-distributable cash reserves available. Cancelling the share premium account looks like a balance sheet tidying exercise in the short-term, but it will open the option to a shareholder cash return in future.

The FTSE 100 gets off to a weak start as it falls back below the 7,000 mark. The mid cap index, the FTSE 250, is also in negative territory.Waste management group Biffa (BIFF) makes a limp return to the stock market with a low-priced IPO at 180p. The shares fail to make a big impression, trading at 182.38p just after the market open.In contrast, LED lighting specialist Luceco (LUCE) sees its share

China is proving to be a tricky market for UK-based hi-tech displays and touch sensors business Zytronic (ZYT:AIM) with government officials strongly encouraging local manufacturers to buy domestic kit.While this is having a drag effect on parts of Zytronic's order flow, particularly around areas like touchscreen ATM machines, investors should remain confident.Financial sector-derived revenue has

We've had a few requests to revisit the rules around how you can qualify for inheritance tax (IHT) relief by owning certain AIM shares.If you invest money in AIM shares that meet certain criteria set by the taxman for at least two years, that money can be passed on to third parties such as your husband or wife upon your death without that windfall being taxed. Making sure you've picked the right s

The UK's electronics companies have often found themselves obscured from the casual glance of investors. This is partly because the UK is not really perceived as being a major electronics manufacturing nation, certainly on a global scale comparable with, say, Silicon Valley or the gadget manufacturing furnaces of Japan, Taiwan or South Korea. Yet readers may be surprised by just how significant ou

London shares rebound in early trade on Thursday, reversing some of the losses built up earlier in the week despite mixed trading on Wall Street and across Asia overnight. The benchmark FTSE 100 index rallies 58 points, or a bout 1%, to 6,327, matching similar early progress on Europe's main stock markets.Cambridge-based chip designs expert ARM (ARM) heads the Footsie leader board with a 5.2% rise

Whether it's buying a takeaway via your TV or ordering a pint through a touchscreen table, restaurants and pubs are increasingly turning to technology in an attempt to improve customers' experience and boost sales.A stock which has firmly embraced people's love of all things tech is Domino's Pizza (DOM), whose share price has risen by 49% to 787.5p in the past year. The delivery company's UK sales

We remain fans of rugged touch-screens manufacturer Zytronic (ZYT:AIM), its management and underlying robust financial strength. The Newcastle-based rugged displays manufacturer has built its reputation on outdoor applications, ATM screens in particular. But the £45 million cap is increasingly tapping new markets, such as vending machines, gaming terminals and even medical appliances, where touch

Drug developer BTG's (BTG) latest acquisition is expected to contribute to profits doubling by 2017, helping to overcome any qualms about a lofty valuation.The £2.8 billion cap bought US technology company PneumRx for £147 million in a deal that could include up to £156 million in performance-related payments (4 Dec). PneumRx owns a coil that opens the airways in those suffering from emphysema,

Drug developer BTG (BTG) has resolved a major risk to its future earnings following the settlement of a court case (10 Oct).The FTSE 250 member successfully upheld its claim that a drug made by Mexican outfit Bioclon infringed its patent on snake bite anti-venom CroFab. The drug is one of BTG's key products with sales totalling £62.7 million in the year to April, or 22% of the group's revenue.Inv

Investors seeking opportunities to make multiples of their initial capital outlay should look at micro cap stocks. This is a very high risk part of the market but the potential rewards are proportionately rich. While there's inevitably a lack of the balance sheet strength seen in mid and large caps, it can only take a positive contract win, technical breakthrough or resource discovery to catapult

Trading statements > Wednesday 16 July > Interims - BTG (BTG) 640pAvoid the UK's largest biotech BTG (BTG) on fears of greater generic competition and higher costs. BTG is expected to spend £20 million more this year on clinical trials and the EU launch of its oncology therapies. This has led FinnCap to increase sales forecasts 5.3% to £340.5 million for 2015, while reducing earnings before inte

240.0pGain to date: 56.4%The Tyne & Wear-based electronic displays manufacturer goes to show that catching falling knives needn't always lead to bloodied hands. We waited for the dust to settle following the damaging profits alert of May 2013 before flagging Zytronic (ZYT:AIM) at 153.5p (see Plays, Shares 1 Aug '13), and the shares have climbed steadily since. Consistent investment in research and