Up in smoke: Tobacco firms feel burn of disruption July 22, 2019 | City Talk Disruption, whether as a result of new technology, stricter regulations or changing consumer habits, is affecting all sectors of the global economy, as we discussed here. It’s the new normal and the question is no longer which areas are affected; the question now is to what extent they are affected. Read more: Stranger Things vs Mickey Mouse: How the media [...]
Dividend star British American Tobacco gets cheaper June 13, 2019 | City Talk The well covered payout is an invite to income seekers, but the shares are falling after this update. This relatively upbeat first-half trading statement comes against what has been a torrid time of late for British American Tobacco (LSE:BATS). Last year was an “annus horribilis” for the company, with the shares halving in value amid concerns around [...]
British American Tobacco boosted by vaping sales June 12, 2019 British American Tobacco (BAT) announced that sales of e-cigarettes and vaping products would accelerate in the second half of the year as demand for traditional cigarettes declines. Shares fell nearly five per cent despite the positive trading update as the company revealed it had lost market share. Corporate volume share was down ten percentage points [...]
Vodafone dividend cut: which UK shares might be next? May 28, 2019 | City Talk By Tom Bailey from interactive investor. Vodafone's cut might be a canary in the coalmine for FTSE 100 shares. Over the past year the market has increasingly cooled on Vodafone (LSE:VOD). The company has a long list of problems, including the high cost of 5G investment, being squeezed by competition on the continent and high [...]
UK’s biggest companies pull away as profits for rest of pack plunge May 8, 2019 Average profits at the UK’s 40 biggest companies rose by 11 per cent in the first quarter of the year while those outside the group saw a fall of 18 per cent, new analysis has shown, laying bare a stark division in the fortunes of British companies. Read more: 'Zombie firms' dragging down UK economy, [...]
British American Tobacco calls in headhunters as chairman prepares to step down April 9, 2019 The chairman of British American Tobacco (BAT) is set to step down as changes to financial regulations mean he can no longer serve on the board. Richard Burrows, who has chaired the firm since 2009, is the latest victim of new City rules meaning directors can no longer be considered independent after nine years. Read [...]
Lloyds Bank stars as FTSE 100 rockets in Q1 April 9, 2019 | City Talk By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. After a great first quarter for stock markets, we assess the best and worst blue-chips of 2019 so far. It’s been a storming start to 2019 for the FTSE 100 index, with popular interactive investor stocks including Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY), Next (LSE:NXT) and Tesco (LSE:TSCO) among those on [...]
Nine UK shares that tick all of Warren Buffett’s boxes March 26, 2019 | City Talk By Kyle Caldwell from interactive investor. Looking for equity-based ISA inspiration? We run through the investment checklist of the Berkshire Hathaway chairman to identify UK shares that pass his stockpicking rules. American investor Warren Buffett is to the world of investment what Lionel Messi is to football: the greatest of his generation in the profession [...]
Stocks for a durable ISA portfolio in the Brexit years March 24, 2019 | City Talk By Edmond Jackson from interactive investor. With the Brexit outcome still uncertain, companies analyst Edmond Jackson picks five larger cap stocks and three AIM shares for a resilient ISA. Be aware how sentiment towards equities hinges currently on whether Brexit is "resolved" by way of "Soft" business-friendly outcome, or the UK leaves the EU without [...]
British American Tobacco hit with £436m damages claim from Canada court cases March 5, 2019 British American Tobacco (BAT) has taken a £436m charge related to Canadian court cases, it said today. Read more: No smoke without fire in BAT boardroom The tobacco giant must pay the money to smokers from Quebec who said cigarette firms did not warn them of the risks associated with smoking. The companies at fault [...]