There is a lot to be said for being boring, especially when markets are volatile, and no firm quite captures that essence like FTSE 100 specialist distribution group Diploma (DPLM), whose shares have already sailed serenely to half a dozen all-time highs so far this year.Diploma operates a decentralised model with three divisions: Controls, which supplies components including specialised wiring, S

Can Primark-owner Associated British Foods continue to beat the squeeze?The diversified conglomerate has shown resilience in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, but its customers are feeling the pinchFTSE 100 foods-to-fashion conglomerate Associated British Foods (ABF) updates on trading on 26 June, where investors will look for comment on the state of the consumer and (hopefully abating) cost

Using data from Stockopedia, Shares has searched for the companies with the best earnings upgrades for this year and next over the last month.We also noted their performance over the same period to see how much the upgrades had lifted the share prices, and the evidence is clear: all else being equal, upgrades tend to lead to outperformance.Top of this month's list is 'challenger' gas, electricity

London's blue-chip stocks endured a mini last minute sell-off to close Friday in the red but managed to post modest gains for the week. In a typically quiet session the FTSE 100 tracked largely sideways, with a late slide into negative territory leaving the benchmark index 0.2% down at 6,489.33.That meant ending around 1% ahead on the week with UK investors seemingly happy to sit on the sidelines.

London's blue-chip stocks remained subdued through the morning session on Friday, continuing a second half of the week sideways drift after the encouraging rally seen through Monday and Tuesday trading. UK investors seem to be happy sitting on the sidelines ahead of this afternoon's US non-farm payroll numbers, which means missing out on the strong gains made in the US and Europe.The pa-European E

European markets were rather subdued on Friday morning, with investors seemingly sitting on the sidelines ahead of this afternoon's US non-farm payroll numbers.By 8.50, the FTSE was up a mere 0.08% at 6,508.6 points, with the FTSE 250 edging 0.6% higher to 20,935.8.The blue chip benchmark was also constrained by strength in sterling as the Bank of England indicated yesterday that negative rates we

UK markets were dragged lower in early trade on Tuesday by worries of investor over-exuberance after another surge for Wall Street overnight.Monday's rally in US stocks pushed the S&P 500 back into the green for the year as easing lockdowns bolstered optimism on an economic rebound. The benchmark closed at a 15-week high, bringing its rally from the March low to almost 45%, while the Nasdaq 100 ro

By the Shares teamInvestors are spoiled for choice when it comes to small cap stocks with exciting events. As a taster for what's to come in 2018, we've scoured the markets to look for some of the most interesting activities.Read on to discover 19 stocks either expecting big news in the very near future or ones which are in the middle of developments which could have a big impact on their longer t

On 5 September the £24.3 billion acquisition of UK microchip designs champion ARM by Japan's Softbank (9984:T) was officially sealed and, in doing so, a high quality company has been removed from the UK stock market.Investors who were lucky enough to own the shares are set to get their slice of the takeover proceeds over the coming days. ARM's timetable implies the cash will be making its way to

Shares in the construction sector are in freefall as the Bank of England says the Funding for Lending (FLS) scheme will no longer be aimed at housebuilders. Governor Mark Carney says an overheated housing market would be a risk to the economy.This shock announcement causes the sector's main constituents to drop between 4% and 7% in value, wiping millions of pounds from their market caps. Persimmon

Mark Slater, co-founder, chairman and chief investment officer (CIO) of City-based Slater Investments, is lauded for his pedigree in delivering 'risk adjusted alpha' and consistently outperforming benchmarks and both bull and bear markets. He is a generalist who seeks out inexpensive growth shares offering a considerable margin of safety, in the belief this approach offers clients the best combina

Record low interest rates, lowly government bond yields and stubbornly sticky inflation all mean the long-term investor must still concentrate on how to steadily accumulate dependable income from portfolio holdings, in the form of dividend payments. Under such circumstances it is no wonder the Royal Mail (RMG) flotation went so well. The indicative market value of £2.5 billion to £3.3 billion im

Insurance claims specialist Quindell Portfolio (QPP:AIM) refuses to budge from the spotlight with new queries raised by the emergence of an unconventional derivative contract used by the company. The equity swap, which was flagged in Tuesday's full-year results was reported in the national press as a way of protecting the owners of Accident Advice Helpline, one of the UK's biggest no-win, no-fee c

Year to date, the Household Goods & Home Construction sector has proved the fifth best FTSE All-Share performer, rallying alongside other cyclicals including General Retailers as bolder investors bet the worst of the consumer depression is over. The sector is formed of two distinct parts however; the quoted house builders accounting for the 'Home Construction' segment have had a phenomenal run in