Investors got seriously spooked back in February 2024 when Palo Alto Networks (PANW:NASDAQ) lowered revenue and billings guidance for fiscal year 2024 (to 31 May), causing analysts to lower forecasts and price targets. Palo Alto stock tanked, losing nearly 30% in a day, a savage reckoning after running hot since the start of 2023. That?s been a problem. Equity markets can get carried away when a s

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Magnificent businesses are not confined to the US. In this article, Imran Sattar, Portfolio Manager of the Trust, explains why there are reasons for investors to be optimistic about the UK stock market despite the well documented headwinds, including the fact there are many companies with high returns and good growth prospects.I was appointed portfolio manager of

Breedon purchase related to non-exec chairmanSofcat sale related to current chief executiveLight Science Technologies director buys sharesA PCA or person closely associated to Amit Bhatia, non-executive chair of construction materials giant Breedon (BREE:AIM), bought 1.1 million shares at 383p for a total value of £4,210,250 on 10 May.The purchase was made through Abicad Holding Limited, similar

UK stocks continue to make new highsLower rates and stronger economy fan gainsBest-performing stocks over the last yearUK stocks continue to make new highs buoyed by increasing hopes interest rates will be cut this summer and decreasing worries of economic Armageddon.A dovish tone from Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey at this week?s (9 May) interest rate policy meeting and today?s (10 May) s

One of the most compelling reasons for investing through a Junior ISA is to help provide your offspring with the necessary funds to leave university without the burden of onerous debts.If you invested the whole allowance of £9,000 every year from birth until your child reached 18 they would inherit a pot worth £229,000 based on an annual return of 4.5% and with charges of 0.75% factored in. Best

From pop groups, TV shows, cars, home appliances, electronics and smartphones, South Korean brands have for years been familiar to global consumers. Millions of homes are filled with Smartphones and TVs made by Samsung Electronics (005930:KRX) and LG Electronics (006657:KRX), cars made by Hyundai Motor (005380:KRX) and Kia (000270:KRX), while microchips made by Hynix (000660:KRX) power these gadge

Stock jumps 7% after Q1 earnings/revenues beatGlobalFoundries handed $1.5 billion in US Gov grantsAnalysts predict record revenues and earnings in 2025Taiwan?s TSMC (TSM:NYSE) may dominate the chip foundry sector but it is far from being the only potential winner as the industry picks up through 2024 and beyond. For example, South Korea?s SK Hynix (000660:KRX) recently revealed that it had nearly

Full-year results low-endMargins seen improvingPositive trends in core brandsOnline fast fashion seller Boohoo?s (BOO:AIM) adjusted pre-tax losses widened by 30% to £31 million in the year to February 2024 as sales continued to plunge amid weak consumer demand and cut-throat competition.The Manchester-based clothing and beauty purveyor also reported a 7% drop in adjusted EBITDA (earnings before i

Like-for-like sales down 8%Chinese demand softensFull-year guidance unchangedWhen we lifted the bonnet on FTSE 250 precision equipment-maker Spectris (SXS) back in March, we suggested the first-quarter update would be the first test of whether analysts were on track with their downbeat views on the firm's prospects.As expected, the group reported a decline in like-for-like revenue against a strong

Chemicals companies produce the compounds used in a huge variety of different industrial and consumer products across sectors which include agriculture, healthcare, technology, aerospace, sports, leisure and beauty.The breadth of the industry?s focus means its fortunes are closely tied to the economy and movements in GDP as well as volatility in raw material prices and energy costs.In 2023 the sec

London?s FTSE 100 pushed higher on Tuesday afternoon, as its winning streak looks set to continue, though blue-chip benchmarks in Frankfurt and Paris struggled as shares in carmakers went into reverse.The FTSE 100 index was up 47.90 points, 0.6%, at 8,194.93. The FTSE 250 slipped just 2.92 points, to 20,081.87, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.85 of a point, 0.1%, at 764.18.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.

Stock prices were up in London heading into the afternoon on Thursday, with Anglo American leading the charge on confirming it was ?reviewing? a takeover bid from its larger Australian rival BHP Group.The FTSE 100 index was up 54.22 points, 0.7%, at 8,094.60. The FTSE 250 was down 20.05 points, 0.1%, at 19,699.32, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.33 of a point at 755.02.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% a

Investors in London bought at the open on Thursday, looking ahead to US GDP data this afternoon, while Anglo American shares jumped after it confirmed that it was ?reviewing? a takeover bid from its larger Australian rival BHP Group.The FTSE 100 index opened up 33.81 points, 0.4%, at 8,074.19. The FTSE 250 was down 98.85 points, 0.5%, at 19,620.52, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.60 of a point, 0

It must be maddening for analysts that every time they?ve put forecasts for Darktrace (DARK) into the market, they?re forced to tear them up and start again. It happened for the third time already this year earlier this month (11 April), in the wake of a surprisingly strong third fiscal quarter update (to 31 March) that the company predicts will mean an extra $2.4 million of ARR, or annual recurri

I?m going to be 50 next year, and so far, I have saved about £18,000 in a workplace pension. I have been automatically enrolled since 2016.My question is should I stick with it and get a SIPP pension as well? Or should I just put more in the workplace one until retirement?I hadn?t really thought about a pension until I hit 50.FranRachel Vahey, AJ Bell Head of Public Policy, says:Generally, for th

Interest rates are expected to stay higher for longer to combat the sticky inflation which remains a threat to investors? hard-earned wealth and purchasing power. During periods of high inflation, it is crucial to invest in companies that possess pricing power, because these firms can pass on increased costs to customers, enabling them to maintain profit margins and generate the robust cash flows

This feature explores spin-offs or de-mergers, looking at the rationale for them and how they have performed, and asks if they can be a promising hunting ground for investors.One of the UK?s largest recent spin-offs was GSK?s (GSK) demerger of its consumer healthcare division in 2022.GSK reportedly rebuffed a £50 billion offer from personal goods giant Unilever (ULVR) to buy the division, named H

Signs of customer restockingFirst quarter tops forecastsShares up over 7% after-hoursAI (artificial intelligence) has dominated the chip conversation in recent months but from the sounds made by Texas Instruments (TXN:NASDAQ), the industry could be primed for a far more broadly-based demand bounce as the months roll forward.The Dallas-based business is the world?s biggest manufacturer of analog se

Lowest profit margins in four years predictedElectric vehicle maker appears to have ditched its low-cost model plansStock has fallen 42% this yearMega tech earnings kick-off this week with Tesla (TSLA:NASDAQ) set to get the ball rolling after the market close Tuesday (23 Apr), and the results and commentary are likely to be bleak.The electric vehicle giant earlier this month reported an 8.5% decli

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.Latin American economies welcomed 2024 with new economic vigour. They have shaken off a legacy of economic mismanagement, and now look set to play a new role in the global economy. The region?s e