UK takeovers moved up a gear in 2024 as predators targeted bigger companies. The average value of deals was £1.07 billion, nearly three times higher than the £390 million average in 2023. In total, there were £49 billion worth of recommended bids versus £17.2 billion last year.A bounty of unloved or underappreciated companies were swept off their feet, signalling the UK market as being 'on sal

European markets were lifted on Thursday as the European Central Bank enacted its second consecutive rate cut following cool inflation prints from the eurozone.The FTSE 100 index closed up 56.06 points, or 0.7%, at 8,385.13. The FTSE 250 ended up 121.42 points, or 0.6%, at 21,100.92, while the AIM All-Share closed up 2.96 points, 0.4%, at 742.39.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.7% at 840.03, the Cboe UK

Stock prices in Europe were higher at Thursday midday, after data showed that annual consumer price inflation in the eurozone decelerated more than expected in September, ahead of the European Central Bank announcing its next interest rate decision, with a cut expected.The FTSE 100 index was up 26.95 points, 0.3%, at 8,355.94. The FTSE 250 was up 106.07 points, or 0.5%, at 21,085.57, and the AIM A

£191 million takeover recommendedAlliance family controls 60% of shares'Better able' to grow as a private companyOnline clothing and homewares retailer N Brown (BWNG:AIM) is set to become the latest UK stock to be taken private after receiving and recommending a £191 million takeover bid from a group controlled by non-executive director Joshua Alliance, a member of the family which originally bu

Shares in N Brown (BWNG:AIM) have enjoyed a bounce since early summer, taking year-to-date gains to the best part of 60% as investors applaud progress against CEO Steve Johnson's multi-year transformation plan.The turnaround of the Manchester-headquartered online clothing and homewares seller is all the more impressive considering a soft trading backdrop and 2024's unseasonal weather.N Brown whose

Burberry chair backs fashion houseN Brown former chair buys shares Billington and First Tin owners sellFashion firm Burberry (BRBY) received a vote of confidence from chair Gerry Murphy and chief financial officer Catherine Ferry who both bought shares in the company this month.Murphy picked up 20,000 shares at 725p on 16 July for a total consideration of £145,000 while Ferry acquired over 8,000

Annual results beat expectationsTurnaround plan yielding resultsImproving sales trajectoryShares in N Brown (BWNG:AIM) rallied 18% to 17.6p after the online clothing and footwear retailer behind the JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo brands returned to statutory pre-tax profit and claimed it was positioned for 'sustainable growth' amid demonstrable progress with its multi-year turnaround strategy.T

Frasers increases stake to 8.9%Sports Direct-owner a ?strategic shareholder?Opportunity to sell more products via GAME chainMike Ashley-controlled Frasers (FRAS) has shunted its way up the shareholder register at model trains-to-planes maker Hornby (HRN:AIM) as the deal-hungry conglomerate pounces on yet another retail name going through tough times.Shares in Hornby leapt 40.5% to 29.5p on news Fr

New £80 million buybackJD Sports warning a recent overhangN Brown stake tops 20%Mike Ashley?s Frasers (FRAS) has launched a fresh £80 million share buyback to address a near-10% year-to-date share price pullback at the retail powerhouse behind sporting goods chain Sports Direct as well as House of Fraser and Flannels.Analysts at Liberum believe shares in the FTSE 100 conglomerate have suffered d

Frasers ups stake above 15%Billionaire Ashley spies a bargainBoohoo shares down 90% in five yearsMike Ashley-controlled Frasers (FRAS) has raised its stake in bombed-out Boohoo (BOO:AIM) above 15% for the first time as the retail conglomerate continues to build on its 'strategic investment' in the embattled online fashion seller.Sports Direct, House of Fraser and Flannels-owner Frasers has upped i

Retail powerhouse raises Boohoo stake again'Natural crossover' between Sports Direct and Boohoo customer baseScope for collaborations between Boohoo and MissguidedMike Ashley-controlled retail conglomerate Frasers (FRAS) has quietly increased its stake in Boohoo (BOO:AIM) from 7.8% to 9.1%, picking up more stock after shares in the online fast-fashion seller fell to their lowest level in eight yea

Profitable growth in core sports retail business'Further strong profit progress' expectedStrong cash generation bringing down net debtMike Ashley-controlled retail conglomerate Frasers (FRAS) shrugged off the impact of the cost-of-living pressures weighing on consumers to report forecast-beating full year results driven by a standout performance from Sports Direct.The FTSE 100 retail giant also up

Cost inflation and spending squeeze clobber profitabilitySofter sales persisting in new financial yearInvestment in digital transformation continuesShares in N Brown (BWNG:AIM) slumped 15% to 23.4p after the struggling online clothing and footwear retailer reported an 83% plunge in annual adjusted pre-tax profit to just £7.5 million as the company was clobbered by 'challenging' market conditions

With the FTSE 100 hitting new all-time highs and global stock markets in the ascendency since the Autumn it has arguably become more difficult to find stocks which offer good value.This article delves into the unloved parts of the UK stock market to search for opportunities which investors may have missed. A problem with looking at cheaper stocks is they may be cheap for good reason and they are o

- Sports Direct-owner to repurchase further £80 million shares- Frasers has slipped outside of UK's top 100 listed firms- Retail conglomerate remains misunderstoodShares in Frasers (FRAS) firmed 3.2% to 794p after the Mike Ashley-controlled retail conglomerate announced a new £80 million buyback ahead of possible relegation from the FTSE 100 in next month's quarterly reshuffle of the blue-chip i

- Dunkerton increases Superdry stake- N Brown largest shareholder ups stake- Bango director sells shares to meet divorce settlementWhile squashing market rumours of plans to take embattled clothing and footwear retailer Superdry (SDRY) private, founder and chief executive Julian Dunkerton was busily topping up his shareholding.Between 31 January and 3 February, Dunkerton purchased 353,756 shares a

Among the most resilient operators in a retail sector battling with inflationary pressures and the squeeze on household budgets is Frasers (FRAS), the FTSE 100 conglomerate controlled by retail tycoon Mike Ashley, which he founded in 1982 as a sports shop in Maidenhead.There are many misperceptions about Frasers, which remains best-known as the company behind value-for-money trainers and tracksuit

Mike Ashley-controlled retail conglomerate Frasers (FRAS) has become troubled online fashion seller ASOS' (ASC) fourth biggest shareholder and increased its investment in German fashion brand Hugo Boss (BOSS:ETR).These bold investments have been made despite further evidence of a downturn in the sector's fortunes, with numerous retailers coughing up profit warnings and the latest Office for Nation

- Billionaire's empire-building continues- Frasers becomes ASOS' fourth biggest shareholder- Hugo Boss holding has increasedMike Ashley-controlled retail conglomerate Frasers (FRAS) has become the fourth biggest shareholder in struggling online fast fashion seller ASOS (ASC) and increased its investment in Hugo Boss (BOSS:ETR), moves which demonstrate retail kingpin Ashley is not done with the sec

- Downbeat 2023 outlook could send the shares south- Ballooning stock levels are a big concern- Analyst says ASOS in a 'precarious' positionInvestors in ASOS (ASC) are nursing a year-to-date loss of 78%, shares in the online fast fashion retailer having fallen from just under £24 at the start of 2022 to 527p on negative newsflow.Now, the fear is ASOS stock could come under further selling pressur