Trian confirms interest in RentokilAshtead chief executive flies the flagChapel Down director buys sharesUS activist investor Trian Fund Management, a vehicle controlled by billionaire Nelson Peltz, significantly raised its stake in UK pest control and hygiene business Rentokil Initial (RTO) earlier this month shortly after securing a board spot for its head of research.According to company filing

Ashtead CEO buys 4,000 sharesTen Lifestyle chief operating officer sells £270,000 worth of stockDSW Capital CEO snaps up 508,700 sharesThe CEO of equipment rental firm Ashtead (AHT), Brendan Horgan, has bought 4,000 shares at £53.20 for a total value of £212,800 on 12 December.Horgan's move comes after the company announced it was planning to move its primary listing to the US over the next 12-

UK indices slipped into the red on Tuesday as the London exodus continues, with Ashtead unveiling plans to shift its primary listing to the US.The FTSE 100 index closed down 71.72 points, 0.9%, at 8,280.36. The FTSE 250 ended down 75.33 points, 0.4%, at 20,973.94, and the AIM All-Share shed 3.28 points, 0.4%, at 737.57.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.8% at 831.35, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.5% at

Blue-chips in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red midday Tuesday, as investors fretted over the outlook for China's economy after some less-than-stellar data.'Chinese exports grew at a slower pace in November versus October, and imports shrank. That doesn't install much confidence about Beijing's efforts to get the country back on top. The prospect of higher tariffs on Chinese goods export

Group's move will happen over the next 12-18 monthsGroup rental revenue up 6% to $5.26 billion for first halfFull-year guidance revised downwardsShares in Ashtead (AHT) fell as much as 10% in morning trading as the equipment rental firm issued a profit warning and said it will be moving its primary listing to the US.The equipment rental firm joins a growing list of UK companies moving their primar

Stock prices in Europe opened in the red on Tuesday as the FTSE 100 faded amid a softer start for miners.Mining firms climbed on Monday amid hopes of a China economic bounce back next year, but returned some progress on Tuesday. Anglo American was 2.2% lower, Glencore fell 2.1% and Antofagasta lost 2.0%.The FTSE 100 index traded down 38.21 points, 0.5%, at 8,313.87. The FTSE 250 was up 87.63 point

Anniversaries are often an opportunity to take stock so the Shares team has had a look at the best performing shares, funds and investment trusts since the magazine's first issue in September 1999.Read on to discover the identity of the top performers and find out names we think will continue to impress in the years to come and those where we think the good times might be over. But first, Ian Conw

Stock prices in Europe opened in the green on Tuesday morning, with investors awaiting a manufacturing PMI print from the US later in the day.The FTSE 100 index opened 6.38 points, or 0.1%, at 8,370.22. The FTSE 250 was up 34.51 points, or 0.2%, at 21,015.02, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.94 points, or 0.3%, at 768.84.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 837.86, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.1% at 18,504.60

Stock prices in London closed higher on Tuesday, as markets wait for the latest Bank of England interest rate decision and UK inflation data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 49.14 points, 0.6%, at 8,191.29. The FTSE 250 ended up 250.21 points, 1.2%, at 20,409.93, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.39 points, 0.4%, at 778.32.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 815.73, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 1.1% at 17,7

Stock prices in Europe were higher on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of a US retail sales reading, while stocks in the UK were up after data showed grocery price inflation eased in June.The FTSE 100 index was up 32.94 points, or 0.4%, at 8,175.52. The FTSE 250 was 132.88 points, or 0.7%, at 20,292.77, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.01 points, or 0.3%, at 776.94.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 814.27, the

Full-year pre-tax profit downDebt and interest costs climbUS revenue target fails to inspireEquipment rental firm Ashtead (AHT) posted a fall in pre-tax profit for both the final quarter and the full year to the end of April and forecast a slowdown in revenue growth in the key US construction market.The shares dropped 180p or 3.3% to £53.30, undoing all their gains since mid-March and sending the

Stock prices in London closed mixed on Monday ahead of UK inflation data and a rate decision from the Bank of England, and as investors digested the latest house price reading.The FTSE 100 index closed down 4.71 points, 0.1%, at 8,142.15. The FTSE 250 ended up 39.36 points, 0.2%, at 20,159.72, and the AIM All-Share closed up 1.11 points, 0.2%, at 774.93.The Cboe UK 100 ended down slightly at 810.9

Equipment hire outfit Ashtead (AHT) is set to announce it's results for the 12 months to 30 April 2024 amid swirling speculation it might consider shifting its primary listing to the US.Around 90% of its business is done in the US so there is logic to the move but if its motivation is to attract a higher valuation ? often the driver for a shift across the pond ? it might ultimately prove to be dis

Stock prices in Europe were lower at midday Monday, as investors digested the results of the EU election, which saw a rise in support for right-wing parties.The FTSE 100 index was down 23.67 points, 0.3%, at 8,221.70. The FTSE 250 was down 66.99 points, 0.3%, at 20,488.38, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.26 points, 0.5%, at 789.27.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 819.76, the Cboe UK 250 was down

In the last few weeks, the drumbeat of companies complaining about the lowly valuation of their shares and floating the idea of moving to the US market has grown steadily louder.First there was miner Glencore (GLEN), then oil major Shell (SHEL) started making noises and most recently online retailer Ocado (OCDO) has come under shareholder pressure to move its listing.What is significant is these a

In an environment marked by intense global competition and industry disruption, successful mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are increasingly important to the growth and profitability of many companies.Yet research shows most mergers disappoint. Over the decades, multiple studies have shown that mergers and acquisitions fail to generate the anticipated synergies, and many actually destroy value inste

We have always liked Ashtead (AHT) as a business but the shares seemed to be on never-ending upward path, so when the opportunity arises - as it has this week - to buy shares on a rare setback, investors should seize the chance.Ashtead, which has an exceptional track record for dividend growth, rents a full range of more than a million pieces of construction and industrial equipment to a wide base

Shares fell nearly 12% to £46.15Downgrades 2024 profit estimatesFull-year depreciation charge of circa $2.1 billionShares in Ashtead (AHT) fell nearly 12% as the industrial equipment rental group said in a trading update that Hollywood strikes and ?fewer naturally occurring events? hit second quarter earnings.Over the past year, Ashtead shares have dropped 4%, however, it shares have ?failed to r

Stock prices in London opened mixed on Monday morning, making few moves in anticipation of UK fiscal announcements and US central bank minutes.The FTSE 100 index opened down 25.58 points, 0.3%, at 7,478.67. The FTSE 250 was up 5.81 points at 18,573.68, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.39 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.44The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 746.20, the Cboe UK 250 was slightly lower at 16,070.

If there is one thing investors can agree on, it is that the UK stock market is cheap.How cheap depends on who you ask, but the strategy team at Morgan Stanley believe the FTSE 100 is trading at a 35% discount to the MSCI World Index on a PE (price to earnings) basis.If inflation pressures continue to ease and the economy shows further signs of cooling, there is a fair chance the Bank of England m