magazine archive
magazine archive
Big News
The bull and bear case of newly-listed Watches of Switzerland
Thursday 06 Jun 2019Despite an inhospitable retail backdrop and a poor post-float showing from another luxury goods group, Aston Martin Lagonda ( AML ) , luxury watch-to-prestige jewellery retailer Watches of Switzerland ( WOSG ) has met with a positive investor reception following its stock market flotation. Shares...
Why Provident Financial’s rally could be short lived
Thursday 06 Jun 2019At 502.6p shares in sub-prime lender Provident Financial ( PFG ) may be in recovery mode after it successfully fought off a hostile takeover by smaller rival Non-Standard Finance ( NSF ) but there are several reasons why investors should not get carried away. Non-Standard is walking away having...
What happens next for holders of Woodford funds?
Thursday 06 Jun 2019Investors in several funds managed by Neil Woodford have been dealt a blow over the past week. Firstly, dealing was suspended in LF Woodford Equity Income Fund (BLRZQ62) on 3 June after an increased level of redemptions. Anyone invested in the fund will temporarily not be able to sell. The...
Polarised Brexit views leave investors in the dark
Thursday 30 May 2019If investors had hoped for clearer direction of the UK economy and its stock markets they have been left sorely disappointed in the wake of European elections and the news that Theresa May has finally called it quits. The centre ground has almost completely given way as the UK electorate becomes...
Rollercoaster ride for Merlin amid shareholder call for sale
Thursday 30 May 2019Shareholders in theme park operator Merlin Entertainments ( MERL ) , have plenty to digest at present, not least a downgrade by investment bank HSBC on 28 May, which pushed the shares 4% lower to 337p. On 23 May, the second largest shareholder, ValueAct, sent an open letter to management, claiming...
The week's big news: Galliford Try, Mothercare and Serco
Thursday 30 May 2019Investors were excited by the prospect of merger activity potentially heating up across the UK housebuilding sector with shares in Galliford Try ( GFRD ) gaining 5.6% to trade at 568.5p on 28 May after the Uxbridge-headquartered company rejected an approach for its Linden Homes and regeneration...
Huawei technology ban fallout threat to IQE semiconductor earnings
Thursday 30 May 2019Compound semiconductor technology designer IQE ( IQE:AIM ) has become the first UK-listed business to confirm that its revenue is at risk from the US government ban on Chinese firm Huawei. The Cardiff-based company said on Friday 24 May that up to 5% of its 2019 revenue could be on the line as...
Why this big development is significant for ETF investing
Thursday 30 May 2019Typically cheaper to own than traditional funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become a core part of portfolio construction and their popularity with investors continues to rise. And in a significant move that recognises how these passive vehicles are fast becoming the product of choice, the...
From bad to worse: Woodford income fund under fire again
Thursday 23 May 2019Neil Woodford’s flagship income fund has had its rating cut to neutral by analysts at data researcher Morningstar after prolonged underperformance and ‘persistent redemptions’. Morningstar analyst Peter Brunt says the manager’s ‘relentless willingness’ to push the LF Woodford Equity Income Fund’s (...
Entertainment One eyes large profit boost from China
Thursday 23 May 2019China presents a significant opportunity for media group Entertainment One ( ETO ) , according to chief executive Darren Throop. He tells Shares the country could be ‘as big as the US from a consumer standpoint’ in the future, meaning significant potential to earn large amounts of money from...