After a decent showing in 2022, the UK stock market has failed to fire in 2023. The good news for investors is shares in other parts of the world have done much better and it has never been easier to have a globally diversified portfolio.There is an excellent range of products and instruments which allow you to participate in the returns from markets across the globe and, in this article, we provi

As we enter what could be the roaring 2020s, many commodities have been soaring in value in recent months. Silver has even reached an eight-year high as it became the next target of the Reddit Wallstreetbets retail investor community.In general investors are turning bullish on a range of metals because of rising optimism over a recovery in the global economy thanks to the rollout of coronavirus va

Shares in small cap oil and gas firms Aminex (AEX:AIM) and Solo Oil (SOLO:AIM) are riding high after a big upgrade to the estimated natural gas resources at their Ntorya development in Tanzania.An independent audit of the asset (75%-owned by Aminex and 25% by Solo) carried out by RPS Energy identified 1.87 trillion cubic feet of gas-initially-in-place.This is up 12-fold on the previous third-party

US businesses under pressureCommercial bankruptcy filings in the US jumped 29% in the first half of 2016 prompting more worries of an economic slowdown in the country. In June, commercial filings increased 35% year-on-year, the eighth consecutive month the series has increased, according to a report by the American Bankruptcy Institute. (WC)Australia clamps down on gamblingA ban on greyhound racin

A rebound in resources stocks is helping to recover some of the previous session's losses with the FTSE 100 up 0.61% at 6128.73 this morning.Online second hand car marketplace Auto Trader (AUTO) is down 1.7% to 384.7p as directors and management sell shares following the expiry of their lock-up period post the company's IPO. Between them chief executive Trevor Mather and finance director Sean Glit

Hogg Robinson (HRG) 68pGain to date: 11.0%Original entry price: Buy at 61.25p, 8 Oct 2015Corporate travel services firm Hogg Robinson (HRG) continues to deliver the goods as it reveals trading over the winter was solid.Revenue was unchanged at constant currencies compared to the previous year and trading in general was 'broadly similar' in the second half of Hogg's financial year, which runs to 31

UK equities continue yesterday's rally away from three-year lows as a plethora of resources, retail and financials press ahead in early deals. There's also better news from China as the world's second biggest economy shows a trade surplus widening to 382.05 billion yuan in December from 343.10 billion in November, beating analysts' forecasts of 338.80 billion yuan.Exports rose unexpectedly by 2.3%

The market loves a good narrative. An easy-to-understand story which chimes with people's own experience and the latest global developments can sustain the momentum behind a stock for an extended period.Just look at ASOS (ASC:AIM) - once a penny share, the stock hit an all-time high above £70 in February 2014 as it benefited from an increasing shift towards people buying high street fashion items

Recovering European business sentiment, a stabilising euro exchange rate and falling commodity prices all point to a good year at corporate travel services specialist Hogg Robinson (HRG).Markets don't look like they are fully pricing these developments so we're reinstating Hogg to our Plays list after it treated us to a 41% return (including dividends) over the past year.Despite big gains, Basings

As we write crude oil prices remain highly volatile. Despite a big bounce in the last week prices are some way below the highs of recent years. A surfeit of supply and question marks over demand as global stocks see-saw on China-inspired panic the contributing factors. This is reflected in the performance of the FTSE All Share Oil & Gas sector which has fallen 21.9% year-to-date.Thereby extending

UK stocks rally strongly in early trade on Tuesday bolstered by optimism surrounding Greece's proposed debt plan, while rising commodity prices give resource shares a boost. The benchmark FTSE 100 index shoots 82 points higher, or 1.2%, to 6,865, with oil and mining sectors leading the charge.The new government in Greece is hoping to push through a debt swaps deal in exchange for a new wave of gro

UK stocks make solid gains in early deals Thursday, matching the strong progress of Wall Street overnight after the Federal Reserve calmed nerves over monetary policy tightening. The benchmark FTSE 100 index is trading roughly 50 points higher, or 0.7%, at 6,389, its third straight trading session of gains, easing investors concerns after the recent sell-off on falling oil prices and other macro w

London's FTSE 100 stays weak, reversing 45.68 points to 6,286.15 following yesterday's rebound, as volatility in global markets continues. One standout blue chip performer is Dixons Carphone (DC.), which sparks up 3.7% to 442.5p as better-than-expected maiden figures following the summer merger of Carphone Warehouse and PC World-to-Currys owner Dixons Retail drives upgrades.Excluding merger costs,

UK stocks snap a five-day winning streak on Wednesday that had sparked the FTSE 100 to a six-week high, as investors turn cautious over a swathe of corporate earnings and await the Bank of England's (BoE) Inflation Report. News of massive fines across the UK banking sector also drag on the Footsie. The benchmark FTSE 100 index drifts 26 points lower to 6,601, having closed at 6,627.4 on Tuesday, i

UK markets continue to slide on Tuesday as gains across the mining sector are offset by gloomy corporate newsflow, led by upmarket fashion brands Burberry (BRBY) and Mulberry (MUL:AIM), and from recruiter Michael Page (MPI). The benchmark FTSE 100 index loses 30 points in early trading, down to 6,337, testing 2014 lows.Fashion brand Burberry slides 5% to £14.05 as chief executive Christopher Bail

Bombed-out grocer Morrisons (MRW) is marked up 3.75p (2.1%) to 180.35p on relief its interim results statement contains no further nasty surprises. The UK's fourth biggest supermarket chain confirms full-year guidance of a slump in taxable profits to between £325 million and £375 million after unveiling poor first-half figures. These show a 7.4% decline in like-for-like sales amid the UK superma

A decline in like-for-like sales at fashion retailer Supergroup (SGP) is nowhere near as bad as feared in the first quarter, helping the stock to lead the FTSE All-Share leaderboard with a 10% jump to £11.51. The update reveals another quarter of double-digit sales growth across retail and wholesale and flags ongoing internationalisation of the Superdry brand.Insurer and wealth manager Standard l

Turnaround stories are highly desired by investors with an appetite for risk. Get your timing right and stocks can soar in value once the market realises problems have been fixed. Because the stock market is forward looking, prices can start to re-rate ahead of a company confirming its recovery is in full swing. But that doesn't necessarily mean you've missed the boat. The challenge is spotting wh

UK drug giant AstraZeneca (AZN) drops 13.9% to £41.49 on the company rejectinga third and final £55 a share bid from Pfizer (PFE:NYSE). This latest offer values the Cambridge-based company at £69 billion. The US outfit cannot make another bid for at least six months.Centaur Media (CAU) falls 7.5% to 65p after a weak trading update raises risks over its earnings forecasts. We take a closer look

Tanzania-focussed oil firm Aminex (AEX:AIM) could be poised for a turnaround in its fortunes as fresh funds provide a route to maiden production in 2015 and prompt a better understanding of the potential of its assets in the highly prospective Ruvuma basin.The group plans to raise £10 million through a placing and open offer (30 Jan) although the transaction still requires the approval of shareho