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

Spin-offs, demergers and disposals are often good news for investors, although it's not often a firm sees its share price rise when it has to pay someone to take assets off its hands, especially when those assets were previously thought to be earnings positive.In the case of hospitality firm Restaurant Group (RTN), however, that is exactly what happened.The group, best known for its Wagamama chain

Jefferies analysts keep FY2024 outlook unchangedFall in UK revenue to £177 millionHollywood actors' strike impacts upon CanadaShares in Ashtead (AHT) fell over 5% to £51.84 in morning trading despite the construction equipment rental group reporting an 11% rise in adjusted pre-tax profits to $615 million for the first quarter ending 31 July 2023.Adjusted earnings per share increased by 14% to 10

Ashtead Technology revenue soarsFull-year results seen 'comfortably' above forecastsWood Group inks $330 million dealAshtead Technology (AT.:AIM), the offshore energy services firm spun out of construction equipment hire group Ashtead (AHT) in late 2021, seems to be following in the tracks of its parent company with its latest trading update.After a 57% jump in first-half revenue, the firm now exp

Construction equipment rental specialist Ashtead (AHT) has setitself quite a high bar when it comes to its first-quarter earnings report on 5 September.The firm has beaten revenue forecasts in nine out of the last 10 quarters. Moreover, the comparison with the same quarter last year is a tough one as rental revenue was up 26% to just over $2 billion and adjusted pre-tax profit was up 29% to $555 m

There are an increasing number of large firms which are thinking about changing their main share listing from the UK to the US or elsewhere, raising fears London is losing its importance.This article explains why companies are giving serious thought to this issue and who might be next to press the button.Irish building materials giant CRH (CRH) is the latest firm to decide to move its main listing

Share prices in London had given up early gains by midday on Tuesday as caution took hold ahead of a US inflation reading seen as influencing this week's Federal Reserve policy decision.The Federal Open Market Committee begins its two-day meeting on Tuesday, issuing an interest rate decision late Wednesday. The US consumer price index is due out at 1330 BST on Tuesday as the meeting gets underway.

Sales and earnings grow by over 20%Robust end markets support higher rental ratesFirm upbeat on its current-year prospectsIndustrial equipment hire firm Ashtead Group (AHT) delivered record revenue and earnings for the year to the end of April driven by what it described as 'robust' end-markets.Having rallied roughly 20% since the start of the second quarter, the shares eased 80p or 1.5% to £53.3

Will Ashtead continue to benefit from a US infrastructure boom?Tool hire firm reported its end-markets were 'robust with ongoing momentum' in MarchUS-focused construction equipment hire group Ashtead (AHT) is set to report its full-year results on 13 June with investors hoping for its recent strong performance to be sustained.In its third-quarter trading update in March, the company described its