The outlook is far from rosy for Travis Perkins (TPK) with shares hitting a 15-year low (1 April) as the builders' merchant warned profit this year would miss forecasts due to 'challenging conditions'. The Northampton-based firm blamed deflation as it slipped to a pre-tax loss of £38.4 million for 2024 from a profit of £121 million the previous year. The company's plan to revive its fortunes...

Weak prices and volumes hit salesFTSE 250 firm swings to pre-tax loss for 20242025 guidance below expectationsLuckless shareholders in builders' merchant Travis Perkins (TPK) saw their shares hit a 15-year low after the firm posted a loss for 2024 and warned profit this year would miss forecasts due 'challenging' trading conditions.The stock price fell 55p or 10% to 495p, taking out the...

European indexes sank on Tuesday as fears of a full-blown trade war grew after increased tariffs were imposed against Canada, Mexico and China by the US.The FTSE 100 index ended down 112.31 points, 1.3%, at 8,759.00. The FTSE 250 slumped 431.79 points, 2.1%, at 19,950.50, and the AIM All-Share fell 14.93 points, 2.1%, at 686.87.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 1.6% at 875.00, the Cboe UK 250...

Stock prices in Europe were in the red at Tuesday midday, with airline stocks hit badly in particular, as European countries intend to boost their militaries amid a US freeze on aid for Ukraine.'Investors were desperately hoping that Trump would delay tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China at the eleventh hour, yet the US president has stuck to his guns and brought them into power,' commented AJ...

Quarterly rental revenue up just 1%High interest rates impacting US market2025 guidance kept but no 2026 outlookFrom being a market darling and almost the poster child for the long-term benefits of compounding, the last couple of years have seen equipment hire firm Ashtead (AHT) struggle to make much headway.The shares, which have more or less traded sideways for the last three years, dropped...

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...

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...

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%...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...