Wealth managers least likedBank of Georgia gets full houseReal estate popular among analystsHumans generally feel more comfortable in groups which partly explains why stock prices often move in broad trends: knowing other investors and analysts have come to the same conclusion about a company breeds confidence in the investment case, whether or not it turns out to be correct.A rarer breed of...

JPMorgan UK Small Cap Growth & Income (JUGI) 322pGain to date: 9.7% In March 2024 we made the case for investing in the newly merged JPMorgan UK Small Cap Growth & Income (JUGI).The trust is the result of a merger between JPMorgan Mid Cap and JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies, finalised in November 2023, and since then it hasn't disappointed investors.Managers Georgina Brittan and Katen Patel are...

Top-yielding stocks in the FTSE 350 dominated by banksBank of Georgia has been the best-performing bank shareRedde Northgate offers a 7.1% yield covered 2.4 timesThe prevailing market consensus is that central banks are close to the end of their rate hiking cycle and as long as inflation behaves, rate cuts are back on the agenda for 2024.If that view prevails competition from bonds and cash...

Shares in Bank of Georgia (BGEO) are 171% higher than they were three years ago and up more than 20% in just the last six months to all-time highs of nearly £36.More good news if you are a shareholder is that the European lender has raised its interim dividend by 65% to 3.06 lari (0.92 pence) per share, while the board has approved a further 62 million (£18.6 million) of share...

Profits reflect strong local economyIncreased dividend and buyback pleaseShares surpass their previous peakShares in central European lender Bank of Georgia (BGEO) jumped 10% to a new high of £35.95, their highest level since coming to market in 2006, after the firm posted a 38% increase in first-half profits, a 65% increase in the interim dividend and a buyback.Investors who purchased the...

If a week can be a long time in politics, in financial markets it can make investors feel as though their whole world has been turned upside down.For years, analysts have consistently peddled the line that higher - or at least rising - interest rates are positive for banks because it means they can generate a bigger margin on their lending.Instead, last week's collapse of Silicon Valley Bank...

Despite the sombre macroeconomic backdrop, the blue-chip FTSE 100 index is close to making new 12-month highs. This reflects the defensive composition of the index and its large exposure to international earnings and commodity markets.With many strategists expecting a tough first half for equities the index may well continue to shine.Despite macro challenges some stocks continue to outperform...

Most investors will remember 2022 as being one of the toughest years for stock markets around the world in a long time. However, plenty of stocks have delivered positive returns.In this feature we look at the best performing London-listed stocks spread across four different parts of the market, covering small, medium and large sized companies.£5 billion+ market capIreland has been one of the...

US markets posted their biggest one-day gain in two years yesterday with the S&P 500 index surging 5.5% and the technology heavy Nasdaq rising a whopping 7.4% after consumer price inflation for October came in lower than expected.Despite many months of higher-than-expected inflation, investors have been fixated on anticipating a Fed 'pivot' and yesterday's inflation print could give the US...

The FTSE 350 index finished a volatile third quarter to September 2022 down 4.5% amid continuing worries over stubbornly high inflation and rising rates as well as geopolitical instability.A slew of profit warnings, notably from consumer stocks, and a sell-off following the mini-Budget, capped off a testing quarter for investors.Stocks that performed strongly ranged from companies receiving...

- Shares jump on earnings upgrades for 2022- New GEL 40 million (£11.9 million) share buyback- Interim dividend increased by 25%Shares in Bank of Georgia (BGEO) rose 5% to £19.16 in early trading following the release of forecast-beating first-half results.The strength of the results surprised analysts and prompted several to upgrade earnings estimates for this year. The market has also been...

China reported an increase in the number of deaths from and cases of coronavirus, while the first patient has been diagnosed in London, news that gave investors the jitters on Thursday. The FTSE 100 traded down 0.9% at 7,468.37, with its heavy weighting towards commodity stocks, which are particularly sensitive to events in China, contributing to the weakness.Barclays (BARC) cheapened 2.8% to...

UK stock markets are on the front foot in early trade on Friday as investors are somewhat soothed by a bounce on Wall Street overnight.The leading FTSE 100 index rises by nearly 100 points to 6,683.60 at 10am, recovering some of the losses chalked-up during pre-Christmas trading sessions. Much of that can be related back to action across the pond in New York, where major US markets regained a...

Bank of Georgia's (BGEO) first half results show a 29% increase in pre-tax profits to 232.6m Georgian lari (£71.1m).A lot has happened in the six months to June 30 2018, not least the company splitting itself in two. This came into effect at the end of May, the original BGEO business separating its retail banking arm (Bank of Georgia) from its higher risk investment operation, now called...

The tables featured in this article give you the perfect starting point to swot up on stocks during the summer lull and before the market kicks back into gear in the autumn.We've pulled together five data-driven snapshots that should help drive idea generation for all investors whether or not your focus is on value, growth or income.LOW PE CANDIDATES (PRICE TO EARNINGS)The widely-used PE ratio...

Demergers are back in fashion with five companies in the FTSE 350 index each preparing to split into two separately-listed entities. Another one has just completed its split and there are rumours that a further FTSE 350 stock could spin off one of its businesses.Unbundled companies often flourish because they have the freedom to be more entrepreneurial and not be part of a larger company where...

The FTSE 100's end of year rally has failed to extend to 2018 as the blue chip index trades 27 points lower on the first of trading in the New Year. At 8.45am, it was 0.36% lower at 7,660.Miners, oil producers and insurers are some of the worst FTSE 100 performers. Among the stragglers is oil giant BP (BP.) which dips 0.4% to 520.8p after saying it will incur an approximate $1.5bn one-off...

We've run some numbers to see which FTSE 350 stocks come out as the cheapest based on three of the most popular valuation metrics.It is important to remember that some stocks will be cheap for a reason, so make sure you always research each one thoroughly before making an investment decision.STOCKS ON A LOW PE RATIOThe PE (price to earnings) ratio is a simple way of establishing the value of a...

The FTSE 100 shed almost 13 points in early trading as Thursday's general election looms. The polls are narrowing and investors' eyes will be on the exit poll released at around 10pm tomorrow to give the first solid indication of how the election will go.Plastic product design company RPC's (RPC) full year results to 31 March failed to convince the market as it shares fall by 2.4% to 829.5p....

Six directors of FTSE 250 Georgian banking group BGEO (BGEO) have cashed in a combined £7.6m worth of shares over the past week and a half.The heavy bout of selling comes off the back of third quarter results which saw BEGO report a 19% increase in underlying pre-tax profit to GEL106.9m (£33.1m). The director dealings also follow a 64% rise in the share price year to date.BAD SIGNMultiple...