On 22 January, as Shares was preparing to go to print, the board of Herald Investment Trust (HRI) announced all of the resolutions put forward by activist investor Saba Capital had been defeated.The meeting was a first test of whether shareholders would stand by the boards of the trusts called out by US activist hedge fund Saba for underperforming. Votes against the resolutions totalled more than

London's blue chip index was up milder than its peers in Paris and Frankfurt at Monday midday, as UK service sector growth for December was softer than anticipated.As well as Monday's composite and services PMI readings, the first full trading week of 2025 has various jobs data releases from the US culminating in Friday's nonfarm payrolls.More than half of UK companies plan to raise prices by earl

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREThe remainder of 2024 looks set to be volatile, with geopolitical tensions and a major election in the US likely to create noise. The energy sector is always vulnerable to short-term shifts in sentiment and changing views on the outlook for global growth, but the long-term trends are strong, as demand expands and supply remains constrained. Capital at risk. The value

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREWorld energy markets: it's complicatedMultiple elements need to combine to meet the world's burgeoning energy needs while moving to cleaner fuels. This creates complexities for investors to navigate, says the team on the BlackRock Energy & Resources investment trust. Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are no

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURENatural resources have been seen as vulnerable to economic weakness, but there are structural reasons why demand for commodities ? and the companies that produce them ? can thrive, says Mark Hume, manager on the BlackRock Energy & Natural Resources trust. Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guarantee

There is no hotter area to invest in today than artificial intelligence, or AI as it is commonly known. Ever since OpenAI's ChatGPT took the world by storm, investors have been racing to find winners from this explosive trend.Corporate leaders, meanwhile, have been scrambling to prove to investors that they are harnessing the technology to drive revenue growth, improve operational efficiency, and

- API first release in collaboration with Microsoft- Mirriad will work on product roadmaps- Another example of investors jumping on anything AI-relatedA tiny company on the UK stock market has just seen its share price soar by 300% after announcing a tie-up with Microsoft (MSFT: NASDAQ).Mirriad Advertising (MIRI:AIM) has built an API to link with Microsoft Azure and its artificial intelligence cap

Equities in Europe were on the up on Wednesday afternoon, with focus squarely on the Federal Reserve, ahead of what is expected to be the central bank's final rate lift of the current hiking cycle.The European Central, which announces its decision on Thursday, is also largely expected to hike by 25 basis points. In contrast to the Fed, however, it may continue hiking thereafter.US labour market da

Another reassuring earnings report from a major UK bank helped shares in London to start positively on Wednesday, despite continued banking sector concern in the US.The FTSE 100 index opened up 40.58 points, 0.5%, at 7,813.61. The FTSE 250 was up 47.61 points, 0.3%, at 19,361.84, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.01 points, 0.1%, at 829.21.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at 781.15 the Cboe UK 250 was up

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE2022 saw an acceleration of the energy transition, as the war in Ukraine prompted a wholesale re-evaluation from governments of the way they source and use energy, says Mark Hume, manager of the BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Investment trust. Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. In

Stocks in London finished largely higher on Monday, while the FTSE 100 ended in the red, hurt by a disappointing growth outlook from China which knocked its mining stocks.The FTSE 100 index closed down 17.32 points, 0.2%, at 7,929.79. The FTSE 250 closed up 138.34 points, 0.7%, at 20,064.11, and the AIM All-Share closed up just 0.34 of a point, at 865.31.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.3% at 793.30,

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREThe energy sector has been weaker in recent months as investors have started to anticipate significantly weaker global growth. Cyclicality has been a persistent feature of commodity markets and they will not be immune in an economic downturn.1 However, recent weakness in the energy sector is obfuscating some very important structural issues. Such is the tightness in g

Rising interest rates since the turn of the year, runaway inflation and Russia's shocking invasion of Ukraine have shaken the investment kaleidoscope in 2022 and forced many investors to reposition portfolios for an increasingly uncertain world.This is reflected in developments in the investment trusts universe, which has thrown up some obvious and more surprising winners in the opening months of

Soaring energy prices and fuel shortages are leading to punch ups at the pumps and spiralling bills for consumers and businesses. However, the current turmoil is not bad news for everyone.The oil and gas sector, which has been a strong performer so far in 2021, is gathering even greater momentum as we head into autumn as natural gas markets reach record levels and oil trades above $80 per barrel f

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREThe world's energy mix is changing, but the transition to renewables is a process that demands the coordination of all stakeholders. Investing through an evolution such as this requires a nuanced approach, says Mark Hume, Co-Portfolio Manager of the BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust plc. Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATUREEnergy and resources companies have long been seen as a hedge against inflation. Tom Holl, Co-Portfolio Manager of the BlackRock Energy and Resources Income Trust plc asks whether they can fulfil that role in a portfolio today?Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back

If you want to add some spice to your portfolio and mitigate your tax bill it is worth looking at the current range of venture capital trust (VCT) offers.Investing in a VCT enables you to get immediate exposure to a portfolio of small businesses which the VCT's manager reckons have significant growth potential. They might be companies that are disrupting existing sectors or ones offering opportuni