Ocado still the number one shortRetailers in general unlovedEnergy services stocks drilledShort-selling, or borrowing shares to sell in the hope of buying them back at a lower price, is not something most retail investors have the nerve or the skill-set to pull off as it requires a certain mindset and a willingness to tolerate heavy losses on occasion until your bets come right.For the pros,...

Quarterly index changes this weekThree new names to join FTSE 100Four new stocks to join FTSE 250This Wednesday, FTSE Russell ? part of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) ? will announce the results of its latest quarterly index review.This includes potential changes to the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and FTSE Small-Cap indices which will become effective from the start of trading on 23...

The FTSE 100 opened lower Friday morning despite a boost in retail sales in July, and underperforming against its counterparts in Paris and Frankfurt which traded higher.The FTSE 100 index opened just 3.93 points lower at 8,343.31. The FTSE 250 was down 14.52 points, or 0.1%, at 21,080.53, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.81 points, or 0.1%, at 773.98.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 834.20, the...

US oil and gas producer Diversified Energy (DEC) launched a tender offer on 26 February as an alternative to its dividend for the three-month period to 30 September. In this article we explain why the company has taken this decision and what options investors have.WHAT IS A TENDER OFFER?A tender offer is an invitation by a listed entity for investors to sell them some or all of their holding....

Most investors probably think they only need to fill in paperwork on dividends if they are investing in stocks listed in other parts of the world - but that is not necessarily the case.Withholding tax is levied by the government of an overseas company on dividends received by people who are not residents of said country.The UK market is home to several big companies, including in the FTSE 100...

After a strong 2022 as energy prices surged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UK's contingent of UK small and mid-cap oil and gas companies has endured a much more challenging time in 2023. Windfall taxes have taken a big bite out of profits and commodity markets have fallen back as fears of recession dampen demand expectations.Facing the prospect of an unstable and more onerous...

NatWest CFO sells shares after HMG reduces stakeDiversified Energy's COO 'cashes in' on good resultsCentralnic director sells over 1 million sharesKatie Murray, chief financial officer at state-owned lender NatWest (NWG) Group, sold 604,000 shares in the bank at 274p for a total value of £1,657,297 on 23 May.Murray's sale comes just a day after the government announced it was selling £1.26...

- Diversified Energy Company directors snap up shares- Lloyds CFO gets share award worth nearly £66,000 - Premier Miton director awarded 150,000 sharesSeveral Diversified Energy Company (DEC) board members have recently bought shares in the US-based gas and oil production company.Chair David Johnson snapped up 30,000 shares at an average price of 93.93p per ordinary share, for a total value...

This year has brought some tentative optimism from investors linked to easing inflation and Chinese reopening. Corporate confidence is gradually recovering after the invasion of Ukraine brought fundraisings to a halt, with businesses beginning to tap the market for growth capital again.In this article, we outline why the year ahead should see a rebound in equity fundraisings and explain how...

Lots of people like to use the income from stocks and funds to help meet their monthly outgoings. In this article we look to help with the process of selecting appropriate investments by examining the range of UK stocks, funds and investment trusts paying monthly or quarterly dividends.Bearing in mind the need to avoid concentrating too much on one area of the market, taking a judicious...

It's been a tricky 2022 for global stock markets and that's made life hard for ordinary and professional investors alike. In this feature several leading fund managers explain what worked out for them over the course of the year and what went wrong.James Harries - Securities Trust of Scotland (STS)What worked?At Troy (Securities Trust of Scotland's investment manager) we seek companies that...

American business magnate John Rockefeller famously remarked: 'Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It's to see my dividends coming in.'While you can now get more than 3% interest on a fixed-rate cash savings account, it is still possible to get a much bigger rate of income via dividends from investment products.In fact, you can get double the current best-buy savings account -...

Diversified Energy Company (DEC) 123.9pGain to date: 4.1%Original entry point: Buy at 118.8p, 31 March 2022US natural gas producer Diversified Energy Company (DEC) has moved higher since we said to buy in March and its first quarter numbers reinforced our view that the stock is a good option for investors looking to beat inflation.The company's quarterly dividend at 4.25 cents per share was up...

A Western world looking to wean itself off Russian energy is increasingly looking to the US and that is great news for FTSE 250 US natural gas producer Diversified Energy (DEC) as it should provide a strong driver for domestic energy prices.Shares in the company trade at a mere six times 2022 consensus forecast earnings and offer an inflation-busting dividend yield of 11.2%.Diversified Energy...

How does a 5% return on your money sound right now? With UK interest rates showing little sign of increasing from rock bottom levels despite mounting inflation, a 5% rate is certainly appealing.If you are using your investments to pay the bills or to fund your living expenses in retirement the income you receive is vital. The great news is that the dividends from stocks and shares can offer...