magazine archive
magazine archive
Big News
Micro Focus eyes value extraction
Thursday 01 Dec 2016Firm evidence of profits trending upwards is emerging at HP Enterprise Software (HPES) ahead of its $8.8bn reverse takeover of FTSE 100 infrastructure software supplier Micro Focus ( MCRO ) . Fourth quarter and full year figures released by the US-based business (22 Nov) show a 1% operating profits...
JD Sports goes outdoors
Thursday 01 Dec 2016Self-styled ‘KING OF TRAINERS’ JD Sports Fashion ( JD. ) has snapped up out of town retailer Go Outdoors for £112.3m in a highly complementary acquisition. The tents-to-waterproof jackets purveyor dramatically boosts the size of JD’s improving outdoor products division, where existing brands...
IQE flies under the radar
Thursday 01 Dec 2016Compound semiconductor technology company IQE ( IQE:AIM ) is making faster progress in new markets than analysts had previously anticipated. This creates the opportunity to reduce its exposure to its biggest wireless end market, worth 69% of half year to 30 June revenue, improve profit margins from...
Property stocks: the aftershock
Thursday 01 Dec 2016The potential impact to earnings from the recently-announced ban on upfront lettings fees is beginning to emerge for the quoted property agent contingent. The move, announced in the Autumn Statement, led to big share price declines at the likes of Countrywide ( CWD ) , compounded by a mild Brexit-...
The Autumn Statement is good for equities
Thursday 24 Nov 2016The pledge by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his Autumn Statement on 23 November to cut corporation tax from 20% to 17% by 2020 is positive for equities. The money that listed companies will save on tax could be used to hire more staff which could boost productivity. Firms could also pay higher...
Ashtead’s canny deal
Thursday 24 Nov 2016Equipment rental firm Ashtead (AHD) is snapping up the assets and name of Manchester-based rival Hewden out of administration for £29m. The deal includes the powered access and power generation fleet of Hewden, five depots which service major petrochemical customers and the Interlift lifting and...
Lloyds privatisation takes shape
Thursday 24 Nov 2016The privatisation of Lloyds Banking Group ( LLOY ) is progressing as the Government cuts its stake to just below 8%. At its peak following the £20.3bn bail out during the financial crisis, 43% of the bank was in public hands. Plans for a retail share offer were abandoned in October in favour of...
Robot army rocket
Thursday 24 Nov 2016Virtual workforce technology disruptor Blue Prism ( PRSM:AIM ) says it will beat already increased forecasts for the full year to 31 October 2016. Surging demand for its robotic software task army has encouraged further investment. The shares have soared since we wrote about the company on 21 July...
Trump lifts US small caps to record high
Thursday 24 Nov 2016The Russell 2000 index is steaming ahead. The main US small cap index is riding the Trump bump along with the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and NASDAQ Composite. All these indices closed at record highs on 21 November. Russell 2000 +10.6% since Trump election win Stocks on the Russell...
Essentra is too good to ignore
Thursday 24 Nov 2016Investors on the lookout for bombed out opportunities should check out industrial distributor Essentra ( ESNT ) after a mild profit warning triggered a 20% share price slump. Essentra’s share price tumbled on Monday 21 November as operating profit guidance was reduced by around £20m to between £...