Retailer reels in forecast 'beat'Growth accelerated in H2European losses reducedShares in Angling Direct (ANG:AIM) ticked up 3% to 40.5p after the fishing tackle and equipment retailer delivered a positive full-year trading update in the face of an uncertain consumer backdrop, which served to demonstrate the resilience of the angling sector and the micro cap company itself.Thanks to strong...

Blue chip indices in London, Paris and Frankfurt opened higher on Wednesday morning, despite Hikma Pharmaceuticals falling on the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index opened up 57.40 points, 0.7%, at 8,726.07. The FTSE 250 was up 172.77 points, 0.8%, at 20,621.05, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.76 points, 0.5%, at 711.82.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% at 873.03, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0% at 17,972.11,...

UK high street enduringLow ticket leisure a winnerValue retail showing resilienceMany have sounded the death knell for the UK high street, notably during the Covid crisis as retail trends shifted towards online shopping. Yet, the high street has endured amid the consumer's persistent demand for physical retail.And despite many high street stocks successfully adapting to this evolving retail...

Positive momentum continues in H2Utrecht store sales continue to scaleConfidence in meeting full year expectationsAngling Direct (ANG:AIM) was in demand with investors on Wednesday, shares in the specialist fishing tackle retailer rallying 4.2% to 37p on news of a robust first half performance delivered despite challenging weather conditions and a tough consumer backdrop.There was relief as...

ANGLING DIRECT (ANG:AIM) 36pMarket cap: £27.8 millionRisk-tolerant investors looking to net a stock market minnow with exciting growth potential at home and abroad and scope for a margin recovery-driven re-rating should reel in Angling Direct (ANG:AIM).!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var...

Encouraging start for small caps trustHulse sees value opportunity in UK small capsWindward?s potential excitesShares in Onward Opportunities (ONWD:AIM) rose 1.5% to 111.5p after the smaller companies-focused trust reported an 11.3% NAV (net asset value) total return to 106.5p for the nine months from its March 2023 IPO (initial public offering) to the end of December.That performance compares...

Recent weeks have seen a couple of encouraging economic data points for investors betting on the resilience of the UK consumer.Second-quarter GDP (gross domestic product) grew at a faster rate than expected, even as interest rates have risen, pushing up mortgage costs on top of rising food and energy bills.Wage growth also surprised to the upside at 8.2% in the second quarter, a new record and...

UK stocks continued their positive progress on Monday with technology and energy stocks lending support to the main index.US markets pushed to new highs on Friday after a strong October payrolls report and news that drugmaker Pfizer had developed a new Covid-19 pill.Brent crude future firmed 0.8% to $83.60 per barrel after OPEC rejected US calls for it to step up production, while sterling was...

Fishing tackle and equipment retailer Angling Direct (ANG:AIM) grew first half sales by 19.5% in the face of Covid restrictions and tough comparatives. The company also said it is 'well positioned to leverage the growing interest in fishing' helping to nudge the shares 2.4% higher to 73.75p on Wednesday.Strong performance in the first half means full year EBITDA is expected to be 'not less...

UK stocks fell sharply after heavy overnight falls in the US and Asia as inflation concerns hammered technology stocks.The Nasdaq 100 index fell more than 2.5%, prompting a 3% fall in Japan's Nikkei index and a 3.7% fall in the Taiwan stock market. US futures are still pointing to the downside with Nasdaq indicated down a further 1.4%.Within 30 minutes of the open the FTSE 100 had fallen 2% or...

Shares in fishing tackle and equipment seller Angling Direct (ANG:AIM) rallied 9.5% to 69p after the rods-to-reels retailer upgraded guidance for the year to January 2021 on the back of strong second half trading across all channels and a successful Black Friday performance.A rare bit of bright news for the retail sector, the upgrade demonstrates the positive progress omni-channel minnow...

Directors of online fashion retailer Boohoo (BOO:AIM) have swooped in to take advantage of a drop in the company's share price after it was hammered by the market earlier this week.Shares in the business fell significantly on Monday, down from 315p to around 250p, after it confirmed press reports that its auditor PwC had resigned, having reportedly cited reputational risks associated with...

The FTSE 100 fell further into the red after an earlier rise as the exporter-heavy index was hit by a gain in the pound following news that the UK has compromised over its initial deadline for a Brexit trade deal to be done.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pushed back the deadline for a trade deal with the EU from 15 October, with talks now set to continue until the end of the month.The UK's...

UK shares swung to the red by lunchtime on Wednesday with the benchmark FTSE 100 index hit by rising Brexit uncertainty, the growing threat of another national lockdown and a rise in the pound.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reportedly pushed back the deadline for a Brexit deal to be completed, with the original deadline for a trade deal with the EU of 15 October scrapped as talks are now set...

UK started Wednesday's trading session on the front foot as a weaker pound lifted shares of exporters, although growing political wrangling over new Covid-19-related restrictions and uncertainty over a Brexit trade deal capped gains.The benchmark FTSE 100 rose 0.4% to 5,995.04, led by shares of Just Eat Takeaway (JET) and Bunzl (BNZL). Aero-engineer Rolls Royce (RR.) and the usual mix of...

Specialist fishing tackle and equipment seller Angling Direct (ANG:AIM) has reeled in strong like-for-like sales since re-opening stores in June and continues to deliver eye-catching online growth rates, news that sent the shares 16.3% higher to 57p on Tuesday.Catering to anglers who participate in an outdoor, socially-distanced sport and currently capitalising on pent-up demand, Angling...

London's FTSE opened lower on Thursday as the UK government prepared to lift the two metre distancing rule in a bid to boost the economy.The blue chip benchmark's jittery start followed the US Federal Reserve's June FOMC meeting yesterday, where chairman Jerome Powell announced the FOMC expects there to be no rate increases until 2022 and forecast that the US economy will contract by 6.5% in...

London's FTSE 100 opened higher on Wednesday, up 0.96% to 6,279.16 early on, after positive Chinese services data stoked hopes of an economic rebound as lockdowns are eased.Oil giants Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and BP (BP.) both caught a bid amid expectations that a softening of COVID-19 restrictions would spark more demand for transport fuels.Travel food outlet operator SSP (SSPG) softened 1.6%...

UK stocks inched higher on Tuesday in anticipation of the government setting out details on how to make workplaces 'Covid secure' and restart the economy.The FTSE 100 index of leading stocks added 28 points or 0.5% to 5,968 led by telecoms and retailers, while travel stocks and property companies limited the gains.Mobile operator Vodafone (VOD) helped support the index, rising 3.7% to 117p...

Shares in fishing tackle and equipment specialist Angling Direct (ANG:AIM) slumped 9.5% to 62p on Tuesday after the retailer warned on profits as winter flooding hurt fishing activity.Nevertheless, the Norwich-headquartered company continues to reel-in the sales, both at home and abroad, while a robust balance sheet should help it cope with near-term earnings pressures.PROFITS WASHED...