Soft UK economic figures did little to deter a market uplift on Friday, as Asian stocks are boosted on hopes of consumer spending stimulus.The FTSE 100 index traded up 59.66 points, 0.7%, at 8,600.72. The FTSE 250 was up 175.56 points, 0.9%, at 19,863.93, and the AIM All-Share was up 5.86 points, 0.9%, at 685.32.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% at 859.45, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0% at 17,326.55,...

Fund outperforms benchmark in 2023Dividend increases by 7% to 7.65pShares sit at 13% discount to NAVMid- and small-cap UK growth investor Mercantile Investment Trust (MRC) outperformed its benchmark in the year to 31 January, delivering a net asset total return of 4.5% and total shareholder returns of 6.1%.The dividend was increased by 7% for the year to 7.65p per share, comfortably covered by...

Midwich director Fenby adds to his portfolioBodycote non-executive director snaps up 10,000 sharesWise CFO sells over £211,000 sharesStephen Fenby group managing director at Midwich (MIDW:AIM), the global specialist audio visual distributor to the trade market, has bought 50,000 shares at 376p for a total value of £187,885 on 30 October 2023.Following this transaction, Fenby and 'persons...

The chief executive and chief financial officer of Restaurant Group (RTN) have both acquired stock with a combined value of over £220,000 as part of a deferred bonus schemes.The company, which owns Wagamama and Frankie & Benny's, said under its bonus scheme, half of any annual bonus payable to executive directors each year was deferred into ordinary shares and held in escrow by its employee...

Stocks sold off globally on Monday as the Omicron variant continued to spread unabated, causing governments in several countries to impose restrictions and throwing the global recovery into doubt.In recent business surveys looking at the prospects for next year the virus had been seen as less of a concern compared with inflation and supply chain issues, but the rapid transmission of the latest...

Stocks around the world lurched downward on Monday as the Omicron variant spread, causing governments in several countries to impose restrictions and threatening the global recovery.In addition, the decision by US Democrat senator Joe Manchin to oppose president Biden's $2 Trillion infrastructure bill sent US futures sharply lower on fears growth next year could disappoint.Brent crude were...

Global markets have taken fright at the rapid spread of Omicron and government actions to slow the virus' progress, threatening the global recovery.The blue-chip German DAX index opened 2.6% lower while US futures indicated the S&P 500 index would open 1.4% lower. Overnight in Asia, the Nikkei 225 was 2% lower and China's SE Composite was 1% down.Brent Crude was 3% lower at $71.32 per barrel...

Income investors will be relieved that another long-standing dividend has not gone to the pandemic dogs after Bodycote (BOY) maintained its 30-years plus payout record.The engineering company proposed a 19.4p per share dividend for 2020 despite the intense pressure placed on the business by the Covid outbreak. This was particularly true on its aerospace side, which saw hundreds of jobs axed...

London's FTSE opened lower on Friday morning, as data showed the UK economy shrank by 2.9% in January, weighed down by a slump in trading activity with the EU, albeit the decline was somewhat lower than the 4.9% drop many were anticipating.By 9 am, the blue chip benchmark was off 0.15% at 6,727.15 points, while the FTSE 250 was 0.35% lower at 21,459 points.Strength among banking and energy...

UK stocks closed well into the red on Thursday as the Government set out strict restrictions once lockdown ends on 2 December.Most of England will have tough measures to follow, with just the Isle of Scilly, Isle of Wight and Cornwall in the lightest tier one of the Covid tier restrictions.There was also no direction for investors from Wall Street, as US stock markets were closed due to...

UK stocks tumbled throughout morning trading on Thursday as the Government announced England's new regional Covid tiers.Tougher tier restrictions will see more people in England placed under the highest tier, though cities like Liverpool and the capital London have avoided the harshest measures.The new system will come into effect once lockdown ends on 2 December.By lunchtime the UK's...

The FTSE 100 made modest declines in early trading on Thursday in what is likely be a quiet-ish day with markets across the pond closing for the Thanksgiving holiday.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 had slipped around 0.2% to was 6,376.64, led by falls for banks, construction and oil stocks, with tobacco firm Imperial Brands (IMB), Lloyds (LLOY) and house builder Persimmon (PSN) topping the FTSE...

It's been a tough year for people who rely on their investments for income thanks to widespread dividend cuts. Income fund managers have now rejigged their portfolios to names which they believe will be dependable source of dividends or bond coupons going forward.Their changes make for interesting reading, particularly for anyone who prefers individual stocks to investment funds as it might...

The UK Government's wage subsidy scheme is due to end in October, a deadline that could spark a fresh wave of corporate redundancies and financial stress.For investors, this means taking action to ensure their stock portfolios are culled of potential financial basket cases and focused on quality companies that are stable, robust, and most likely to sustain shareholder returns through future...

UK stocks lost almost all of their gains in an afternoon trading session dominated by a weak start of Wall Street as profit takers moved in. US stocks turned lower as investors assessed data showing an unexpected rise in jobless claims versus a slate of solid earnings from the likes of Tesla and Twitter.The S&P 500 Index looked set to halt a four-day advance, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell...

UK stocks continued their bright start in early afternoon trading on Thursday as investors looked beyond rising diplomatic tensions between the US and China.Chinese authorities called Washington's order to close its consulate in Houston, Texas 'political provocation' after China had been accused by US officials of the widespread stealing of intellectual property.Despite being one of the most...

UK stocks opened higher on Thursday as investors put aside concerns surrounding renewed diplomatic tensions between the US and China.The US has ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, Texas, after accusing it of stealing intellectual property. Beijing called the move a 'political provocation'.Despite being one of the most significant developments in the ongoing diplomatic battle...

London's FTSE 100 rose 0.6% to 6,179 on Thursday, an 11-week high, driven by early signs of a pick-up in business sentiment fuelled by hopes of a post lockdown economic rebound. The mid-cap index was 0.7% higher at 17,262.Shares were higher across Asia overnight with Japan's Nikkei 225 2.3% up and the China's SSE composite 0.3% ahead, while the tensions in Hong Kong pushed stocks there 0.7%...

UK markets made a strong start in this shortened trading week with European equity futures rising this morning as some commentators turn less gloomy.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index is up 2.7% at 5,563.52, led by aero-engineer Rolls-Royce (RR.), while the rally of the mid cap FTSE 250 is even firmer, jumping 4.6% at 14,752.45.A slowdown in the growth rate of new US coronavirus cases may...

Thursday trading starts with another huge sell-off gripping UK markets as investors scramble for safety assets and ditch higher risk shares. The benchmark FTSE 100 index continued to plunge in early trade having fallen to its lowest point in four years when it closed yesterday.At 9am, the FTSE 100 had slumped nearly 6% at 5,530.86 as the UK implements its 'delay' plan in response to the...