There are plenty of options these days when it comes to investing your hard-earned cash. Now in her mid-60s, Sarah first started putting her money to work in the markets in 2003 through a wealth management firm and stockbroker, however it was not until the pandemic that 'she got the investing bug' and began trading through a stocks and shares ISA.During the pandemic she became increasingly...

Over the long haul, small-caps have historically outperformed large caps, fuelling the research highlighting the so-called 'small-cap effect' ? the idea that smaller companies offer higher risk-adjusted returns than larger ones. Unfortunately, the higher interest rate environment of recent years has proved tough for the stock market's small fry, who've spent more than a decade lagging more...

- Distributor acquires TIE from private equity- Raises £236 million for further acquisitions- Confident of another year of strong growthShares in specialist distributor Diploma (DPLM) rose 4% to £27.42 as investors got their first chance to react to news, announced after yesterday's market close, of the acquisition of Tennessee Industrial Electronics (TIE) from private equity as well as a...

There is growing evidence from industrial surveys that supply chains are starting to ease in some areas of manufacturing, although the global economy is still far from 'normal' as we enter 2023 and a return to growth is a long way off.According to the IFO research institute, companies in Germany are experiencing 'noticeably fewer' material shortages than previously.In December, 50.7% of...

The FTSE 100 closed Wednesday's session with a modest gain, edging 0.16% higher to 7,516.87 points on ongoing optimism over the impact of the less severe Omicron strain and support from a solid ADP private sector payrolls report across the pond, which prepared investors for a decent non-farm payrolls print on Friday.Blue chip miners Rio Tinto (RIO) and BHP (BHP), banks Lloyds (LLOY) and...

UK stocks were trading higher early on in Wednesday's session as US lawmakers moved closer to agreeing on a new stimulus package for the world's biggest economy.Investors also were holding out hope that Britain and the EU could agree on a post-Brexit trade deal before the transition period ends on 1 January.Meaningful progress on either the stimulus or Brexit fronts could help put the markets...

The stock market's smallest and riskiest companies have always held fascination for private investors. On the premise that 'elephants don't gallop, but fleas leap,' to borrow Jim Slater's often quoted phrase, it's easier for a tiny company to double its size, and investor's money, than for a big one. Let's face it, a blue chip company worth £1 billion will find it much harder to double or...

Credit provider International Personal Finance (IPF) falls 17.6% to 445p, no doubt as more investors discover the £2.4 million fine imposed by Polish authorities at lunchtime on Christmas Eve over the way it calculates interest rates for consumer loans. Given today's fall reduces its market value by £228 million, the market is clearly worried about the longer-term financial implications to...