Sainsbury’s shares crash as Asda merger torpedoed February 27, 2019 A strongly worded report from the regulator appears to have torpedoed this supermarket mega merger. What a difference a day makes. Until this morning, Sainsbury's (LSE:SBRY) was the best-performing supermarket stock over the past 12 months by some margin. Now, after the regulator's report on its proposed merger with Asda, it's the worst! After months [...]
How VCTs can be used to build the next ARM in the UK February 27, 2019 When Venture Capital Trusts were launched in 1995, their purpose was simple: enable SMEs to raise risk equity finance. It’s easy to see why. In 2018, small businesses made up 99.3 per cent of the private sector in the UK and 60 per cent of all private sector jobs. SMEs play an important role in the economy, [...]
Funds and investment trusts for all the family February 26, 2019 by Jemma Jackson from interactive investor. As the current tax year approaches an end, interactive investor selects some great funds for your ISA. Whilst reviewing or selecting an ISA portfolio might seem like a solo pursuit (the clue is in the name – Individual Savings Account), it doesn't have to be. interactive investor explains why [...]
Leaked information on M&A deals leads to higher valuations February 26, 2019 Leaking information on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals before any public announcement of the transaction added an extra US$21m to the average value of deals announced in 2016 that leaked, according to new research from Intralinks and Cass Business School. In addition to evidence of higher valuations for M&A deals that leak, the 2017 Intralinks [...]
Barclays rallies as shareholders promised more February 25, 2019 In a bear trend since 2007, Barclays has won over the market with this update, at least temporarily. These numbers from Barclays (LSE:BARC) have been well received on the basis of "jam tomorrow", as the high street bank continues to suffer from litigation and conduct fines, whilst growing strongly excluding these charges. The increase to [...]
Are Centrica shares a buy at 20-year low? February 24, 2019 At prices not seen since 1999, a 10 per cent dividend yield appears tempting, but it's not that straightforward. Two years ago, Centrica (LSE:CNA) shares were worth over 230p. Today they dived 12 per cent to just 120p. Last time they were that low you could have bought a loaf of bread for 51p* and Shanks & [...]
Innovative Finance ISA: The New Kid On The Block February 14, 2019 The Traditional ISA Landscape ISA’s have seen something of a resurgence in recent times. According to HMRC, we invested £69 billion in them during the 2017/18 tax-year.[1] Last years’ growth in ISA subscriptions was driven by an increase in investment in Stocks and Shares ISA’s – which may have ultimately been painful for many investors [...]
Wray of light: serial investor on why small firms are the ‘spice of life’ February 5, 2019 Westminister can be a little sleepy over the weekend – the politicians, civil servants, lobbyists and other politicos drifting off to the shires. But the weekend of 30 March will be different. For starters the Saturday is the day after the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union. It seems unlikely the country will ‘go [...]
Banking on diversification February 1, 2019 With a number of headwinds facing markets in 2019, it can be hard to see the wood for the trees. Alex Crooke, Fund Manager of The Bankers Investment Trust, explains how his team approaches the complexities of global stock markets. As we start 2019 there are plenty of reasons for investors to be cautious, as [...]
Bear markets: Lessons from history December 21, 2018 Simon Edelsten, manager of the Artemis Global Select Fund and the Mid Wynd International Investment Trust, asks what history can tell us about bear markets… There are many who claim an ability to anticipate the next correction, whether through fundamentals, charts, or the fact that their taxi driver has started offering stock tips. Others take [...]