Group revenue rises 3.7%New UK import centre for 2026France revenue grows 6.8%Shares in B&M European Value (BME) gained over 3% to 392p in morning trading as the low-priced variety goods retailer said group revenue for the 26 weeks to 28 September increased by 3.7% to £2.64 billion.The increase was driven by UK sales growth, which improved across the first half of the year by 6% against 1.5% in t

Junior exchange founded in 2012Revenue has grown around 500%Offer at 727p vs 330p close FridayIn the latest example of UK small-cap companies being taken over, junior stockmarket operator Aquis Exchange (AQX:AIM) announced it had agreed an offer for the company from Swiss bourse operator SIX Exchange Group at more than double the current share price.Aquis shares jumped 112% to 700p giving the firm

Now that the dust has settled after the UK elections and attention has turned back to markets, we have updated the performance stats on our tips for 2024. Overall, our picks have gained 8.7% year-to-date compared with an 8.3% rise in the FTSE All-Share. That's not to say it has been plain sailing ? our returns range from a gain of almost 60% to a loss of more than 40%, the latter is in a US tech s

First quarter sales up 2.4%On track to open 45 UK storesNew stores performing wellShares in B&M European Value Retail (BME) gained more than 4% on Tuesday topping the FTSE 100 leaderboard after the discount variety retailer revealed less worse than feared first quarter like-for-like trading in the UK.B&M UK like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to the end of June declined 3.5% after adjusting for t

Defence and banks stocks top tableM&A wave creates big winnersConsumer stocks on the skidsIt hasn't been a vintage year for the UK stock market, but there are signs investors are coming back attracted by the cheap valuations on offer compared with the US as well as decent earnings prospects for UK companies.The FTSE 350 index is up 5.5% year-to-date, with the FTSE 100 large-cap benchmark up 5.6% j

As Shares goes to press, reports suggest online fast-fashion behemoth Shein is preparing an IPO (initial public offering) on the London Stock Exchange after its attempt to list in New York faced opposition from US lawmakers due to perceived China links.The IPO could value the fashion group at around £50 billion, making Shein the biggest-ever IPO in London by value, topping the £36.3 billion tag

EBITDA at top end of guidanceProfits above Covid-era peakBut guidance absence spooks investorsCash-generative discounter B&M European Value Retail's (BME) annual results came in towards the top end of the guided range, while management reiterated the growth opportunity from the FTSE 100 retailer's store opening programme.Why then, did shares in the affordable general merchandise seller sink 5.6% t

Ultimate Products (ULTP) 156pMarket cap: £142.9 millionStrong brands, a resilient business model and multiple growth opportunities ahead are among the investment attractions the market is missing at Ultimate Products (ULTP). This company is the owner of homeware brands including Salter and Beldray. The Oldham-headquartered firm is well placed to profit with UK and international retailers starting

Full year 2024 earnings at top end of guidanceQ4 like-for-like growth deceleratesHas the UK estate matured?Bargain stores giant B&M European Value Retail (BME) said it expects profits for the year ended 30 March 2024 will be at the ?top end? of previous guidance as the cash-generative discounter hailed a year of ?strong operational execution?.Yet shares in the variety goods value retailer softened

Our portfolio of picks for 2024 is off to a solid start in what proved an uneven first quarter for the stock market as a whole.Our return of 9% is comfortably ahead of our FTSE All-Share benchmark at 3.9%. It?s a tale of feast and famine, however, with half of our selections achieving double-digit gains while 40% are in the red.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a

The retail sector accounts for £104 billion of the FTSE 350 index by value of its 22 constituents, making it of significant importance to the UK stock market and to any investor with exposure to UK equities.The fortunes of retailers can tell us about the state of the consumer and in turn provide clues on economic activity. Therefore, even if you do not have exposure to individual stocks in this s

Sales down 4% in December and JanuaryFashion retailer unveils new CEONew broom Erver has work cut outShares in H&M (HM-B:STO) cheapened 9% to SEK153.5 (£1/SEK13.2) in Stockholm after the Swedish fashion retailer disappointed the market with news of a 4% sales slide for December and January that demonstrated there is still work to be done to turn the business round.In order to shake things up, H&M

Primark?s Christmas trading performance, as well as management commentary around trading early in the new calendar year, will be the main focus when the discount fashion chain?s parent Associated British Foods (ABF) next updates the market on 23 January. With a tailwind from the cost-of-living crisis, value-focused retailers and discounters including German grocers Aldi and Lidl, bargain stores gi

Sales up 5% in ?Golden Quarter?Retailer declares 20p special dividendBut Q3 growth slowdown disappointsBargain stores giant B&M European Value Retail (BME) delivered ?strong profitable growth? in the third quarter including the run-in to Christmas, with group sales rising 5% year-on-year to the best part of £1.65 billion.The variety retailer also reiterated full-year guidance and treated investor

Stock prices in London were in the red on Tuesday morning as weak UK retail data and company updates overshadowed optimism after a tech rally on Wall Street.The FTSE 100 index had opened higher before returning early gains, and edging into the red by 0.29 of a point at 7,693.90. The FTSE 250 was down 85.57 points, 0.4%, at 19,308.23, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.56 of a point, 0.1%, at 750.26.

Firm rakes in money on higher ratesPanama and Suez passages chokedUK retailers could be affectedShares in shipbroking and shipping services group Clarkson (CKN) were the stand-out performer in the FTSE 250 after chief executive Andi Case raised the outlook for full-year earnings.Clarkson shares jumped as much as 9.5% to £35.95, taking them to a new 12-month high and straight to the top of the mid

Aldi sales up 8% year-on-yearLidl GB delivers best-ever ChristmasTesco gains on festive feelgood factorDiscount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have both reported ?record? Christmas trading after consumers on a budget flocked to their stores for cheap food and drink over the festive period.Neither of these grocers are listed on the stock market.However, shares in Tesco (TSCO) and Sainsbury?s (SBRY) tic

Next kicks off festive reporting seasonScope for upbeat news from B&MPotential Christmas winners include CurrysRetail bellwether Next (NXT) kicks off the post-Christmas reporting season on 4 January followed by discounters B&M European Value Retail (BME) and Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) on 9 January.Investors will be eager to learn if the sector benefited from some last-minute festive shopping when all th

Investors seeking a resilient, dividend-paying growth company at the forefront of the consumer trend towards trading down should buy B&M European Value Retail (BME). The variety goods value retailer is benefiting from the cost-of-living crisis.2024 should see the cash-generative discounter continue to capture market share in the UK, where inflation and rising rates have cut consumer purchasing pow

AdobeIt may look like odd timing to back Adobe (ADBE:NASDAQ) just after lukewarm guidance, but we think this is a great opportunity.The creative digital software firm called for fiscal 2024 earnings per share of $17.60 to $18 on $21.3 billion to $21.5 billion revenue, a little light compared with the consensus of $18 and $21.7 billion revenue respectively.The shares plunged 7%, which seemed harsh