Healthcare arm sold £945 million in net cash proceeds DCC to focus on energy business Dublin-based DCC (DCC) has agreed to sell its healthcare division for £1.1 billion as part of a strategic overhaul that will see the group focus on its core energy business and return surplus capital to shareholders once the deal completes in the third quarter of this year. Having been widely telegraphed...

Group to focus solely on energyHealth and Technology no longer coreCash return could top £2 billionIrish-based sales and marketing group DCC (DCC) surprised investors with a major strategic overhaul alongside its results for the six months to the end of September.The shares responded positively, jumping as much as 900p or 18% to a high of £58.65 before settling up 750p or 15% at £57.20...

Stock prices in blue chip indices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red on Tuesday morning, as traders digest an increasing likelihood that incoming US president Donald Trump will enact punitive tariffs and a very hawkish stance on China.'The latest moves from Trump's camp, especially with China hawks joining his inner circle, are sending chills through the markets and casting a...

There were several trends in the UK stock market this year which, if you managed to identify them, served you well.Most obviously, although it may not have seemed it at the index level, large-cap stocks generally performed better than small- and mid-caps, although for the lucky few the small-cap space has been rife with takeover activity.In terms of sectors, aerospace and defence topped the...

Among the strategies that can richly reward those investors with a bit of patience is dividend growth investing.At its heart this involves putting money to work in companies that compound their earnings over time and convert a high proportion of profits into the cold, hard cash needed to fund consistent increases in the shareholder reward.One fan of this investing style is legendary US fund...

Given present geopolitical and economic uncertainties and the stock market declines seen year-to-date, the portfolio support provided by dividends remain important to investors.Thankfully this year, we have continued to witness a restoration of dividend payments by an array of companies following the hiatus seen in 2020 when firms suspended payouts to preserve cash at the onset of the...

Having briefly touched a two-year high, London's FTSE 100 ended Tuesday's trading session marginally lower, off a mere 0.09% at 7,567.07 points, despite a decent start on Wall Street and as an early boost from oil major BP (BP.) faded by the close.Investors remained cautious in the face of worries over inflation, interest rates and geopolitical tensions and a decline in oil prices acted as a...

London's FTSE 100 lost some of its early momentum to trade just 0.1% higher at 7,584.12 points by midday on Tuesday.The blue chip benchmark began the session on the front foot, despite a mixed trading session in the US overnight, with investors encouraged by positive results from BP (BP), SSE (SSE) and Bellway (BWY).The most recent BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor also showed continuing...

UK equity markets are higher in early trading on Tuesday despite a mixed trading session in the US overnight. Investors were encouraged by positive results from BP (BP), SSE (SSE) and Bellway (BWY).The most recent BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor also showed continuing resilience among consumers with sales growth of 11.9% in January 2022, compared to 2021. Growth was 7.5% on pre-pandemic 2020...

Once upon a time, Irish-headquartered distribution firm DCC (DCC) was a market darling. It traded on an elevated rating for years as it gobbled up competitors, until one day investors began to question the returns they were getting for the price they were paying.Now, the firm is much more focused both in terms of its business areas and its capital allocation policy, with a real emphasis on...

Risk-averse investors wary about rising rates and their potential to roil long-duration assets including highly rated growth stocks should look at Fidelity Special Values (FSV), the investment trust with stakes in cheap UK stocks that boast significant recovery potential.While the shares have swung from a net asset value discount to a modest premium, this reflects the fund's strong performance...

Despite initial enthusiasm over 'Freedom Day' on Monday and buying of retail, hospitality and travel and leisure stocks, the FTSE turned south on Friday afternoon as concerns re-emerged over the strength of the US economy.US markets compounded Thursday's losses, with the S&P500 index and the Nasdaq both down around 0.3% despite strong retail sales data for June.Oil remained weak, with Brent...

UK stocks gained on Friday ahead of the planned removal of all remaining Covid-19 restrictions on 'Freedom Day' on Monday with retail, hospitality and travel and leisure stocks gaining.After losing ground yesterday, US markets looked primed to trade higher ahead of the latest employment and retail sales data.Oil remained weak, with Brent crude futures losing 0.3% to $73.3 per barrel, while...

Shares in sales and distribution group DCC (DCC) rallied 3% to £60.80, leaving behind their recent three-month lows, after the firm reported 'very strong growth' in the quarter to June.While the company didn't raise its guidance, the news that operating profit growth was 'well ahead of the prior year and modestly ahead of expectations' was enough to shake the stock out of its slumber of the...

UK stocks gained on Friday ahead of the planned removal of Covid-19 restrictions on 'Freedom Day' on Monday with travel and leisure stocks gaining.Trading in Asia was weak with Japan's Nikkei 225 losing 1% and China's SE Composite index down 0.8%. Oil prices continued to be weak with Brent Crude losing 0.3% to $73.3 per barrel and Gold was 0.4% lower at $1,823 per ounce.At 08:50 the FTSE 100...

UK shares ended the day flat on Tuesday despite earlier optimism after positive overnight trading in Asia and a positive start on Wall Street.Commodity prices were generally higher with Brent crude rising 0.9% to $70.10 a barrel and gold prices up 0.2% to a three-month high of $1,870 an ounce.At the close the FTSE 100 of leading shares was virtually unchanged at 7,036 points with financial and...

UK shares traded higher on Tuesday as risk appetite returned despite fears of the Indian variant dampening enthusiasm.Overnight trading in Asia was positive with the Japan's Nikkei 225 index gaining 2% and China's SE Composite index 0.3% higher.Commodity prices were higher with Brent crude rising 0.9% to $70.10 a barrel and gold prices up 0.2% to a three-month high of $1,870 an ounce.At 12.30...

UK shares opened higher on Tuesday as risk appetite returned despite fears of the Indian variant dampening enthusiasm.Overnight trading in Asia was positive with the Japan's Nikkei 225 index gaining 2% and China's SE Composite index 0.3% higher.Commodity prices were higher with Brent Crude prices 0.9% ahead at $70.1 a barrel and gold prices were 0.2% higher at $1,870 an ounce.At 8.30 am the...

With 'value' investing still in the ascendancy in global markets, and with UK stocks still trading at a hefty discount to their international peers, we have screened the FTSE All-Share index for cheap stocks which we believe offer significant upside potential.As well as looking at straightforward price to earnings ratios for the next 12 months, we have included returns on capital - in order to...

UK stocks closed higher on Tuesday on optimism over an economic recovery and as President Biden pushed for a large US stimulus package.Trading overnight in Asia was buoyant with Japan's Nikkei 225 index up 1% while the China SE Composite index gained 0.8%. Brent Crude prices were 1% higher at $57 a barrel.After strong gains yesterday, silver dropped 5% to $27.4 an ounce while gold prices...