Craneware will use Microsoft's Azure platformShares up 38% year-to-dateStrengthens existing relationship with MicrosoftShares in Craneware (CRW:AIM) were up over 2% to £23.65 in morning trading as the Edinburgh-based healthcare software company announced a tie-up with tech giant Microsoft (MSFT:NASDAQ).Craneware provides software solutions that help hospitals and other healthcare providers...

Stock markets have been making new all-time highs in the US, Europe and Japan and investors are asking whether they are witnessing a new global bull market for stocks which began in November 2023.Momentum is a powerful factor in stock markets. Prices tend to trend in the same direction which mean buying winners and selling losers can be a profitable strategy.It is not only about price but also...

The VCT (venture capital trust) offer season is in full flow and recent launches include Octopus Group's £35 million fundraise for its Octopus Apollo VCT (OAP3) and Gresham House's £76 million raise for its generalist product Mobeus Growth & Income VCT (MIX).The Mobeus offer opened on 17 October and raised £52 million in the first three days, showing the popularity of these types of funds....

- $400 million Sentry acquisition doubled revenues for software company- Craneware tools deeply embedded in how US hospitals run- Cloud upselling opportunity as Trisus platform modules offeredIf analysts are right, Craneware (CRW:AIM) is on the cusp on a new organic growth drive that could return the share price to the £30 level before the pandemic.Edinburgh head-quartered Craneware operates...

The US dollar is trading at 20-year highs against a basket of major currencies. It has benefited from the twin tailwinds of big interest rate hikes from the US Federal Reserves and recession fears.When rates are rising faster in the US than in other parts of the world, the higher returns on offer attract more money into the US currency. In addition, the dollar is considered a safe haven...

Sanford DeLand's CFP SDL UK Buffettology (BF0LDZ3) and CFP SDL Free Spirit (BYYQC27) funds have forged top-notch long-term performance records since respective launches in 2011 and 2017 thanks to the unwavering pursuit of 'Business Perspective Investing', a quality-focused approach championed by 'Sage of Omaha' Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.Unusually however, both portfolios managed by...

The massive sell-off of technology growth stocks in 2022 to date may see an acceleration of opportunistic buyouts from private equity funds flush with cash.On 9 May, compliance and regulation software supplier Ideagen (IDEA:AIM) agreed a takeover deal from private equity outfit firm Hg worth £1.09 billion, while also opening its books to Hg's counterpart Astorg.'Following initial reports of...

Individuals looking to shield wealth from inheritance tax should consider London's AIM stock market as investing in certain shares can help keep the taxman at bay. The standard rate of inheritance tax is 40% which is a meaningful amount.AIM shares that qualify for business property relief and held for at least two years do not form part of the estate for inheritance tax purposes and can be...

US healthcare organisations are embracing new technology to navigate the complexities of a post-coronavirus world, and this is great for made in Britain software firm Craneware (CRW:AIM).The company uses automation and analytics tools to highlight operational and financial risks, identify new income opportunities to US hospitals management and improve patient experience. The financial health...

There's a reason people queue up outside shops at dawn on 26 December, and it's not just to get away from annoying relatives. We all love a bargain, picking up quality merchandise when it is on sale and often we only have a short window to play with.A similar logic can apply to the stock market. Sometimes quality stocks can trade at knockdown prices but typically not for that long. After doing...

At 4.8%, the average dividend yield on UK stocks is back at levels not seen since the global financial crisis, according to Link Asset Services. However, if you're investing for the long-term, a sound approach is to focus on companies with the capacity to keep on growing their dividend year-after-year rather than obsessing over the initial yield.By reinvesting this flow of dividends back into...

Scotland-based technology company Craneware (CRW:AIM) has shot down its stock market doubters with a timely trading update that will renew confidence in this growth story.Telling the market today not only that trading is going great guns, but that cash flows are typically robust, is doing wonders for the share price. The stock has rallied more than 9% to £23.50 on 21 December, although that...

MARKET CAP: £1BN & ABOVE OCADO +101%Shares in Ocado (OCDO) have doubled in value in 2018 as the company made progress with signing international contracts where it sets up large distribution centres to enable online grocery services.Building on a 2017 tie-up with France's Groupe Casino, Ocado has this year signed deals with Canada's Sobeys, Sweden's ICA and most significant of all, with US...

Scotland's Craneware (CRW:AIM) supplies innovative financial analysis, performance and monitoring tools to hospitals and other healthcare providers.It may seem something of a curiosity to many investors since nearly all of its business is in the US despite the company being based in Edinburgh. That stems from the private healthcare system across the pond.What is most important for investors to...

Our best buy ideas in the wake of the global equity shake-outASHTEAD IS A STOCK TO OWN NOT TO RENTPlant hire business unfairly affected by the sell off given strong returns and dividend track recordShares in plant-hire group Ashtead (AHT) have fallen more than 17% in the market rout.it's main business is leasing construction and industrial equipment. The US accounts for almost 85% of sales...

Today's news of significant multi-year contracts with two new US hospital providers is further firm evidence of Craneware's (CRW:AIM) investment quality. Investors are certainly pleased with the latest progress, sending its shares up 6% to £16.92.Edinburgh-based Craneware largely supplies innovative financial analysis tools to hospitals in the US.Its cloud-based technology solutions help...

UK markets take a pause for breath in early trade on Tuesday with little in the way of macroeconomic or corporate news to drive share prices one way or the other.This is illustrated by a barely moving FTSE 100 index, which nudges around 12 points higher in early deals to 7,189.51. That's a far cry from the 84 point bounce seen for the blue-chip index in Monday's trading session following...

GOOD NEWSPlus500 (PLUS:AIM): Trading is yet again ahead of market expectations, prompting analysts to upgrade forecasts.Johnson Service (JSG:AIM): Expects full year results to be ahead of management expectations.H&T (HAT:AIM): Says full year pre-tax profit will be ahead of market expectations.Carr's (CARR): Positive trading update leads Investec to say Carr's is on track to grow profit this...

'It has been a good year, but it is still early days,' says Rosemary Banyard, manager of the CFP SDL Free Spirit (GB00BYYQC271) fund, a £7.2m OEIC which has just celebrated its one-year anniversary (3 Jan 2018).The investment objective of this concentrated fund is to achieve real growth in capital and income over the long term, through investments mainly in UK equities listed on the LSE, AIM...

There's a neat trick investors can use to gain exposure to international earnings without buying a single overseas-listed stock. The US, Europe, China, India plus emerging markets in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East are all accessible from the relative comfort of the London stock market.Companies in the FTSE 100 collectively earn far more from overseas markets than they do from...