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Airline shares dive as summer earnings expectations decline
Thursday 22 Jul 2021Shares in the main UK-listed airlines have fallen by 14% on average in the past two months as analysts continue to downgrade their earnings forecasts for the sector. Airlines had hoped for a big rebound in activity during the summer as Covid-related restrictions are lifted and more people are...
Stagflation fears trip up global stock markets
Thursday 22 Jul 2021The mood on the markets was hardly celebratory as England lifted its lockdown restrictions on 19 July. Gloomy warnings from the UK Government, rising Covid-19 cases linked to the Delta variant and growing signs of inflationary pressures all helped to drive the FTSE 100 to a two-month low on the day...
ECB makes first tweak to inflation target in two decades
Thursday 15 Jul 2021The European Central Bank has made the first change to its monetary strategy since 2003 after admitting that raising rates in 2011 just before the Eurozone debt crisis was a mistake. Following years of failing to achieve a 2% inflation target the governing body has moved to a symmetrical target of...
The small cap e-commerce play which could follow in THG’s footsteps
Thursday 15 Jul 2021Cash shell Hawkwing’s ( HNG ) proposed takeover of Internet Fusion could create a small cap lookalike of e-commerce play THG ( THG ) . Internet Fusion has developed a digital platform called Reactor and acquired nine specialised, web-based retail brands in areas such as surfing, horse riding and...
Tate & Lyle could see higher share rating but lower dividends
Thursday 15 Jul 2021Investors might be prepared to pay a higher earnings ratio for sweeteners-to-ingredients giant Tate & Lyle ( TATE ) once it completes the sale of a controlling stake in its lower growth Primary Products business to private equity firm KPS Capital Partners for $1.3 billion. By concentrating...
Tobacco companies make push into healthcare space
Thursday 15 Jul 2021Just one day before putting a takeover offer from private equity firm Carlyle to a shareholder vote, inhalation specialist Vectura ( VEC ) received a higher all-cash offer from tobacco company Philip Morris, which the board has recommended shareholders accept. The shares closed higher than the new...
Potential UK-listed takeover targets as the M&A frenzy heats up
Thursday 15 Jul 2021A key theme in the UK market in 2021 has been a spate of takeovers, mergers and strategic deals involving British businesses as buyers, often from overseas, have been attracted by lowly valuations relative to other international equities. By the reckoning of stockbroker Peel Hunt, nearly £25...
Admiral raises forecasts and dividends despite lower insurance rates
Thursday 15 Jul 2021Given the downward trend in insurance premiums this year, car and van insurer Admiral ( ADM ) surprised the market on 12 July when it raised its half-year earnings and dividend guidance, sending its shares to an all-time high. Research group Consumer Intelligence says there has been a downward...
Pullback in hydrogen shares hasn’t deterred new fund launch
Thursday 08 Jul 2021A hydrogen-themed investment trust planning to launch on the UK stock market will hope it has a better debut than another hydrogen investment product which launched earlier this year. Exchange-traded fund L&G Hydrogen Economy ( HTWG ) floated on the London market in February and has since...
Why Ocado’s latest deal is more important than you might think
Thursday 08 Jul 2021First-half results from online groceries business Ocado ( OCDO ) on 6 July are arguably less relevant than the company’s latest deal – a partnership with Spanish supermarket chain Auchan Retail for its Alcampo brand. One reason why Ocado shares had stalled in 2021 after a strong run in 2020 was the...