magazine archive
magazine archive
Big News
Diagnosis in from Dr Copper
Thursday 09 Aug 2018The use of copper in everything from electronics to roofing and industrial machinery means it is sometimes described as ‘Dr Copper’ for its ability to diagnose the health of the global economy. On this basis the world looks a pretty sickly patient – with the price of copper in freefall in recent...
Bank results by numbers
Thursday 09 Aug 2018Despite an increase in interest rates and the biggest combined quarterly profit for the banks since 2013, the sector's reporting season got a lukewarm reception from the market. Against this backdrop, we take a look at key facts and figures which reveal how the big four of Barclays ( BARC ) , HSBC...
Backers swoop to prop-up Luceco
Thursday 09 Aug 2018A private equity backer of LED lighting systems supplier Luceco ( LUCE ) is taking action in the market to try and prop-up the fragile share price. Epic Investments has ploughed in an extra £2m into the stock by buying 4.99m shares at 39.74p per share. This takes Epic’s overall stake to 44,064,372...
Speculation brewing over South Western franchise future amid timetable issues
Thursday 02 Aug 2018Trouble could be brewing at train operator FirstGroup ( FGP ) amid reports it is set to renegotiate its South Western Railway contract due to timetable changes barely a year after taking over the franchise. According to media reports, South Western is at loggerheads with Network Rail on the...
BP boosts dividend for first time in four years
Thursday 02 Aug 2018Oil major BP ( BP. ) is clearly feeling pretty confident as it ups the dividend for the first time in four years and unveils a $10.5bn deal to secure substantial US shale assets from BHP Billiton ( BLT ) . The modest 2.5% increase in the quarterly dividend to 10.25 cents per share accompanied...
McColl’s warning raises red flags
Thursday 02 Aug 2018Convenience stores-to-newsagents operator McColl’s Retail ( MCLS ) has taken a mauling following poor half year results (23 Jul) and a damaging profit warning. Sentiment toward the stock, down from 294p last October to 157p, has also been hit by the resignation of finance director Simon Fuller, who...
British businesses ‘on sale’ as deal flow set to accelerate
Thursday 02 Aug 2018Takeover, merger (M&A) and spin-out activity is expected to accelerate in the months ahead as UK businesses aspire to bolster their competitive advantages and/or release extra shareholder value. Already this year several UK firms have been targeted with deals either agreed or negotiations...
Cloud firm UKFast fires the stock market starting gun
Thursday 02 Aug 2018British data and communications hosting business UKFast is targeting joining the London stock market, with ambitions to secure a market valuation of £350m or more. The company operates out of 40,000 square feet of data centre space in Manchester, providing customers with a full range of enterprise...
What bumper US growth means for funds, stocks and currencies
Thursday 02 Aug 2018New figures reveal the US gross domestic product ( GDP ), expanded by 4.1% during the second quarter. Although slightly below expectations this still represented the fastest rate of growth since 2014. The update reflects the relative buoyancy of the US economy which have also evident in strong...
Sosandar is a rare retail success story in 2018 with soaring shares
Thursday 26 Jul 2018There remain bright spots in the retail sector. Shares in online women’s fashion brand Sosandar ( SOS:AIM ) have more than tripled this year from 11.2p in April to 34.5p, as investors were wowed by the stellar growth rates flagged at the half year (29 Mar) and full year results (11 Jul). Guided by...