Trust returns to long-run outperformance trendBenchmark-beating 17.6% returnUK mid-caps cheaper than large-capsJean Roche-run investment trust Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP) returned to form in style over the year ended 30 September 2023, delivering a net asset value total return of 17.6% versus the disappointing 30% decline in the previous year.This beat the 13.6% total return from the benchmark

Stocks across the Atlantic surprised in the wake of the 6 October US jobs report as they registered their largest daily gains since late August, snapping a four-week losing streak.Bond yields, which had surged earlier in the day to their highest since 2007, backed off giving some respite to risk assets.Puzzlingly, the gains came after September's jobs report revealed the economy added 336,000 jobs

Shares in oil and gas firm Energean (ENOG) continue to rise as it benefits from higher energy prices and first gas from its Karish field offshore Israel in October.The FTSE 250 constituent is up 68% year-to-date to £14.96 as it has successfully brought the flagship Karish asset on stream.Berenberg analyst James Carmichael says: 'This is a significant milestone for the company and should drive mat

- Savvy stock-pickers are up this year- Mega-cap energy and value stocks top performers- Attractive valuations spur more M&A dealsWhile it hasn't been the best of years for investors, judging by the performance of the main stock market indices around the world, there have still been plenty of stocks that could have made you decent money.So far in 2022, the FTSE 350 index has fallen by 12%. That's

London's FTSE 100 finished Wednesday's trading session 0.36% lower at 7,248.89 points as investors fretted over interest rates and oil majors Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and BP (BP.) weighed on the blue chip benchmark, the shares off 1.75% to £16.29 and 2.9% to 334.85p respectively.The US Federal Reserve was set to announce its rates decision later on Wednesday, with the Bank of England following on

London's FTSE 100 traded lower by midday on Wednesday, the blue chip benchmark marked down 0.4% to 7,246.42, as nervousness built ahead of two key central bank decisions.The US Federal Reserve was set to announce its rates decision later on Wednesday, with the Bank of England following on Thursday.Overnight, US equity markets were firmer with the Nasdaq Composite edging 0.34% higher at 15,649.60,

Investors appeared to be keeping their powder dry on Wednesday ahead of key interest rate decisions, from the US Federal Reserve later today, and Bank of England tomorrow.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 was trading 0.25% lower at 7256.74, although mid-caps managed modest gains, the FTSE 250 nudging 0.07% higher to 23,156.07.Overnight, US equity markets were firmer with the Nasdaq Composite edging 0

London's FTSE 100 remained flat at midday on Thursday at 7,145.94 points, with shares in mining titan BHP (BHP) down 6.3% at £20.91 as it traded without the rights to its dividend.The high-flying FTSE 250 was 0.25% lower at 24,189.71 points by lunch.CORPORATE NEWSEngineering firm Melrose Industries (MRO) gained 4% to 179p to top the risers on the FTSE 100 after it confirmed alongside first half r

The FTSE 100 index opened Thursday's trading session on a slightly firmer note, trading up by 0.07% at 7154.8, but lacking any real momentum or direction.This partly reflected the mixed performance of American equity markets. The S&P 500 index ended the session marginally higher at 4524.09, with the NASDAQ Composite also closing 0.33% firmer at 15,309.38.The Dow Jones Industrial index ended the tr

There was a notable excess of selling by insiders in the latest weekly director dealings, both in terms of the number of trades and the overall size.The biggest insider trade of the last week was the sale of 700,000 shares of Israeli gas producer Energean (ENOG) at 800p by its chief financial officer, Panos Benos, netting him a cool £5.6 million.Having started the year well, Energean shares have

The FTSE 100 finished higher on Monday in a relatively quiet day following some of the volatility seen during the last few weeks.Reopening optimism offset a drag from inflation-related fears giving the benchmark FTSE 100 index a 0.5% lift to close at 7,051.59. The more domestically-focused FTSE 250 also made ground, adding 0.4% to 22,483.73.The FTSE 100 traded higher despite miners' share prices b

UK stocks consolidated morning gains at lunchtime trading as reopening optimism offset a drag from inflation-related fears. At midday, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 0.2% at 7,033.37, while the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 also made ground, adding 0.15% at 22,434.11.The FTSE 100 traded higher despite miners' share prices being pulled down by falling iron ore prices as Chinese authoritie

Oil and gas company Energean (ENOG) fell 3.2% to 767p on a delay to expectations of first gas from its flagship Karish project following fresh Covid-19 restrictions in Singapore.These restrictions will impact preparation of the floating production vessel which will be used on the field. In January Covid measures were blamed for first gas potentially shifting from the end of 2021 to the first quar

UK stocks edged higher in early dealings on Monday, despite a drag from inflation-related fears, as local businesses continued to report a bounce back in trading activity following the easing of lockdowns.At 8.36 am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 0.3% at 7,040.12 points, while the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 was 0.1% higher at 22,420.15.The FTSE 100 traded higher despite miners' share

Leading UK stocks reversed earlier gains to fall at the finish on Monday, with the FTSE 100 retreating but managing to stay above 7,000 by the skin of its teeth. The UK's benchmark lost 0.3% to end the day at 7,000.08, while the FTSE 250 nudged 0.1% lower to close at 22,490.86, easing off its record finish on Friday.It was a largely dull day for company news with attention very much grabbed by the

A quiet morning for UK shares belies the action and outrage in the football world, and thousands of investors will be closely watching Wall Street's opening bell to see how Manchester United's New York-listed stock trades after the ructions of its decision to join a breakaway European Super League.Shares in Italian club Juventus, also one of the breakaway dozen, saw its stock jump 14% on Monday.Le

Confirmation that FTSE 350 oil and gas firm Energean (ENOG) intends to pay a maiden dividend next year weren't enough to support the shares which fell 3.3% to 828.5p on a widened loss for 2020.For the year ended 31 December, pre-tax losses widened from $113.6 million a year earlier to $404.3 million as revenue fell 63% to $28 million.Working interest production averaged 3,600 barrels of oil equiva

UK stocks made modest gains in early trading on Monday, edging higher as investors continued to bet on a global economic recovery with vaccine rollouts gathering pace.By 8.32 am, London's FTSE 100 was up 0.06% at 7,023.92 points, consolidating its position above 7,000 as investors balanced reopening optimism with a need to take stock following recent gains, while the FTSE 250 crept 0.26% higher to

Some of the most interesting director deals of the past week have come from the world of commodities, where company bosses have used share price weakness to up their stakes.CENTAMIN DIRECTORS SHOW FAITHIt's been a bad week for FTSE 250 gold miner Centamin (CEY) with its shares losing around 25% of their value, falling from 200p to around the 150p mark today, since it reported an operational proble

UK stocks erased their early gains to end lower on Wednesday as investors awaited an update from the US Federal Reserve due after the market close regarding the outlook for the US economy.At 4.35pm the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 7 points at 6,078, led lower by supermarket groups Sainsbury (SBRY) and Tesco (TSCO) and engineers Melrose (MRO) and Roll-Royce (RR.).The FTSE 250 mid-cap index clo