Stocks in London and Europe were down at midday on Friday, following a steady eurozone inflation reading from Eurostat for April, with Land Securities and GSK among the largest fallers on the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index was down 31.84 points, 0.4%, at 8,406.81. The FTSE 250 was down 117.22 points, 0.6%, at 20,705.62, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.98 of a point, 0.1%, at 791.52.The Cboe UK 100 w

At Shares, we have been flagging the potential for M&A in the investment trust space for months, not least in the REIT (real estate investment trust) sector due to the abundance of companies trading well below their net asset values.In the last month alone, three real estate mergers have been announced ? between LondonMetric (LMP) and LXI (LXI), Tritax Big Box (BBOX) and UK Commercial Property (UK

The recent wave of takeovers and mergers in the quoted UK commercial real estate sector has continued this week with the proposed all-share takeover of UK Commercial Property (UKCM) by Tritax Big Box (BBOX).The deal, which values UKCM at 71.1p per share or a 10.8% premium to the previous day?s closing price, would create the UK?s fourth-largest REIT (real estate investment trust) by market cap wit

All-share deal to create top four REITOffer at a 10.8% premium to closing priceStrong strategic rationale for combiningThe wave of consolidation in the UK listed property sector looks set to continue with today?s announcement of an proposed deal between Tritax Big Box (BBOX) and UK Commercial Property (UKCM) to create the fourth-largest REIT (real estate investment trust) by market value.Shares in

Jefferies cuts stocks to 'hold' or 'sell'Analysts see 'recession' in officesMorgan Stanley takes a more positive viewShares in four of the UK's biggest property companies fell after analysts at investment bank Jefferies cut their recommendations on the basis office rents in the capital are headed for recession.British Land (BLND) shares eased 1.9% to 320p, Derwent London (DLN) shares were 1.6% low

If you could buy a selection of the best-quality UK real estate investment trusts all under one roof rather than individually, it would save a lot of time and effort. You can, thanks to the open-ended VT Gravis UK Listed Property Fund (BK8VW75).While property has been out of favour recently, weaker valuations means you can get exposure at a cheaper price.The fund is owned and run by Gravis Capital

We suggested at the start of 2023 that commercial property stocks could prove to be a good bet this year, with valuations offering significant upward reversion potential from their depressed levels and dividend yields at the top end of their historic range.While valuations have improved slightly, if anything sentiment is even more negative than it was in January, especially after April's stubbornl

- Rent roll increasing on positive demand trends- Property valuations leveling out- Sector bouncing off recent lowsIndustrial warehouse owner and operator Segro (SGRO) published a pleasing trading update for the year to date and promised to deliver 'further compound growth in earnings and dividends during 2023 and beyond'.The shares, which have been bumping along at post-pandemic lows, jumped to t

Mid-cap companies have always attracted investors. Seen as large enough to compete on a global scale, but not so big that their capacity for growth is capped, like many FTSE 100 stocks, an increasing number of investors spend time researching stocks on the FTSE 250 index, or simply buy the index through the handful of inexpensive targeted ETF tracker funds that are available.While many investors m

- Wealth preserver delivers 10.5% return- TIPS and REITs shine- Trust is defensively positioned for uncertain outlookWealth preservation specialist Capital Gearing Trust (CGT) delivered a net asset value (NAV) total return of 10.5% for a slightly shortened year to 31 March 2022 following a change in year-end from 5 April.This was ahead of inflation of 9% for the same period as measured by the UK R

It is one thing for analysts to forecast which stocks and sectors will do well in a rising-rate or inflationary environment, but when it actually comes to pass it's always fascinating to see what works in practice.Judging by the list of stocks making 12-month highs over the past week, those who favoured real assets were on the money.Standing tall are 3i Infrastructure (3IN), AEW UK REIT (AEWU), GC

If you'd been keeping an eye on news from the UK commercial property market, you might be forgiven for thinking the sector was a complete basket case.Bankrupt retailers have left gaping holes on the high street, while office occupancy has been decimated by the pandemic.Meanwhile many open-ended commercial property funds suspended trading for over a year, with some ultimately shutting their doors p

The news last month that distribution firm Clipper Logistics (CLG) had agreed a £965 million takeover offer from US-based rival GXO Logistics has propelled the normally staid world of third-party logistics into the limelight.Crucially, the deal is predicated on revenue synergies, derived from moves like cross-selling and having complementary geographic locations, rather than cost cutting. This re

For now, the escalating conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of easing. After the initial shock, markets were hopeful the economic impact of the war might be contained as the West's opening salvo of sanctions in response to Russia's invasion (24 Feb) were weaker than some had anticipated.However, any relief soon dissipated as Ukraine put up stiff resistance against the Russian invaders and sanctions

In the end 2021 proved a rewarding year for stock markets as vaccines were rolled out and economies began to recover from the worst ravages of the pandemic. In the early part of the year, growth was shunned for value before bouncing back into fashion as the year progressed.On the whole, this was a volatile period, with investors contending with concerns over inflation and the rising interest rates

Shares in large-scale logistics warehouse investment company Tritax Big Box REIT (BBOX) jumped 3% to a new all-time high of 221.5p after the firm recorded its strongest ever take-up of space in the first half of the year.The company described demand as 'unprecedented', with 21 million square feet of space let and a further 16 million square feet under offer, of which roughly half is for sites over

The UK's major shares opened on the up on Friday led by gains in heavyweight banking and commodity stocks, while investors awaited key US inflation data that has kept them on edge this week.The benchmark FTSE 100 rallied 0.3% in early deals to 7,041.55, gains that didn't quite match those seen on Asian markets overnight as they welcomed the strong economic recovery in the US.Japan's Nikkei 225 jum

Real estate investment trusts, or REITs for short, launched in the UK in 2007 and there are now more than 50 of these vehicles listed on the London Stock Exchange.In effect a REIT looks to replicate the experience of holding property directly for an investor.The average person can only afford to own their home, and some might also have a buy-to-let property as well. For most, the idea of having a

UK shares traded higher on Wednesday following yesterday's sharp fall, helped by gains in oil shares with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and BP (BP) gaining just over 2% each.The pound was steady despite a 0.7% jump in consumer price inflation for March, lifted by higher fuel prices which reflect the large falls seen last year at the start of the pandemic.Sterling was 0.2% lower against the US dollar at

UK shares opened higher on Wednesday following yesterday's sharp fall, helped by gains in oil shares with Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and BP (BP) gaining just over 2% each.The pound was steady despite a 0.7% jump in consumer price inflation for March, lifted by higher fuel prices which reflect the large falls seen last year at the start of the pandemic.Sterling was 0.2% lower against the US dollar at