The FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices were trading higher at midday with the former ahead by 0.4% to 7047.89 points and the latter ahead by 0.5% to 23,562.47 points.Investors are anticipating the release of US retail sales figures later today.ASHTEAD IN DEMANDEquipment rental giant Ashtead (AHT) advanced 4% to £60.94 after raising its outlook on full year performance following 'strong' first...

Faberge owner Gemfields (GEM:AIM) has returned to AIM after an almost three year absence.The gemstone miner left London's junior market in July 2017 following an acrimonious takeover saga which culminated in it being taken off the market by South African private equity firm Pallinghurst.But having cited a 'lack of broker research and share trading liquidity, as well as feedback from...

The 11% Chinese owner of travel agent Thomas Cook (TCG) has entered into a bidding war for emeralds and rubies miner Gemfields (GEM:AIM). Fosun has proposed to pay 40.85p cash per share, approximately 10% higher than Pallinghurst Resources' all-share offer which is currently equal to 37.1p.Gemfields' share price jumps 12.7% to 40p on the news, albeit still some 40% below the levels at which it...

The majority shareholder of Gemfields (GEM:AIM) wants to acquire the emeralds-to-rubies miner on the cheap. Pallinghurst has tabled a nil-premium bid equal to 38.5p per share. It has already exceeded the 75% minimum support level for the offer, meaning it can technically push to delist the business from AIM. The suitor says it might relist the broader Pallinghurst group on London's Main...

London's FTSE 100 opens 33 points higher at 7,469, tracking gains in the US and Asia overnight as markets recovered ground after a sell-off prompted by calls for the possible impeachment of US President Donald Trump.Hikma Pharmaceuticals' (HIK) share price continues to fall, off another 6.2% to £15.95 after the drug developer downgrades full year earnings guidance. This reflects the delayed...

Shares in housebuilders are dragged down by disappointing results from Bovis Homes (BVS) which reports a decline in pre-tax profit, operating margins and return on capital employed. The company is targeting 10% to 15% fewer property completions in 2017 while it tries to improve operations and customer service.Bovis' shares slump 9.3% to 762.75p with stockbroker Davy calling 2016 'a year to...

Buy into the upwards share price momentum at Gemfields (GEM:AIM) as potential near-term news on an acquisition could give the shares another lift higher. The miner tells Shares that it hopes to close a $15 million deal by December 2016 to buy one of Colombia's biggest emerald mines.Gemfields has been trying to secure a 70% in the Coscuez mine for the past year. The transaction is pending...

The Alternative Investment Market (AIM) turned 21 in June yet many investors remain conflicted about the London Stock Exchange's (LSE) junior market. For some AIM has really matured into adulthood, others believe it remains the difficult child of the stock market family and is best avoided.AIM was launched on 19 June 1995 with a clear objective to attract small companies from around the world...

Shares as well as sterling are off to a flyer at the start of the week as the FTSE 100 gains 2.1% to 6,144 and Britain's currency surges close to three cents against the dollar.On the back of gains overnight in Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Mumbai, the blue chip rally in London is led by banks and housebuilders in a continuation of Friday's trading action.Moving the other way, pharmaceuticals...

The start of 2016 has seen one the biggest sell-offs to confront investors since markets hit rock bottom in the wake of the global financial crisis in March 2009. Though the direction of travel has been north in the last seven years there have been some big lurches south through that period. We take a look at six major corrections to see if there is anything you can learn to prepare for the...

Full disclosurePledging of shares in an AIM company in excess of 3% by management to secure personal financing should be subject to full disclosure to the Stock Exchange by the shareholders and financing institution. Financing institutions in accepting a single share as collateral are highly likely to hedge their position in the derivative markets putting downward pressure on the cash price...

There is no real safe haven in the commodities space. Diamonds and gemstones were long considered to be the only place in the natural resources industry where share prices would go up. Investors have been caught out this year with a sudden drop in demand for luxury goods leading to a major sell-off in most of the diamond miners.The near-term outlook remains poor, so investors wanting to take...

Year-to-date, a number of British brands with rich heritage have been picked off at a premium. Derbyshire-based Thorntons (THT), the beloved British chocolate brand established by Joseph William Thornton back in 1911, exited the stock market on 20 August. It recommended a £112 million takeover, representing a 72.3% premium to the average closing price over the previous six months, from...

London shares surge in early trade on Monday as investors scent a short-term solution to ongoing Greece debt problems, with speculation running high that a near-term deal with creditors is at last on the cards. That positive spurs the benchmark FTSE 100 index to leap more than 1.3%, or close on 80 points, to 6,790.Utilities are in demand with water supplier behind Severn Trent (SVT) up nearly...

If you're looking for the next Gemfields (GEM:AIM) which enjoyed a huge re-rating after finding the right asset (the Kagem emerald mine) and delivering operational excellence, then we suggest you take a closer look at Richland Resources (RLD:AIM) at 5.65p.The two companies have interesting similarities - the former tried to buy the latter in 2008; both are trying to build coloured gemstone...

Could dividends be on the cards for emerald to rubies producer Gemfields (GEM:AIM)? The business is 'comfortably cash generative' says FinnCap which calculates the miner can afford its planned capital expenditure programme.'At some point in the not too distant future, it will be in a position to consider returning cash to shareholders, says the broker.Shares put the question to Gemfields chief...

The scale of the ongoing commodities slump is fully laid out by stark performance figures unearthed by Shares. Every single one of the major commodities apart from uranium have declined in price so far in 2015, leaving investors with a bitter attitude towards natural resources. There are buying opportunities for the brave, but you must understand the fundamentals for each relevant commodity...

Eagle Eye (EYE:AIM) 165pAIM is littered with strugglers chasing the mobile commerce dream but Eagle Eye is off to a decent start. SMS marketing and vouchers space has potential, but this is also high-risk territory.Earthport (EPO:AIM) 45.25pNew management is key to ending years of failure and cash calls. Making rapid progress to promised global platform for medium-sized cross-border payments...

Gemfields glow on ruby saleThe latest sale of rubies from Gemfields' (GEM:AIM) Mozambique assets has smashed expectations with $689 per carat realised price, the highest ever achieved at any of the miner's auctions. As we predicted (see Shares, Commodities, 4 Dec), the company beat its previous auction with a 29% increase in revenue to $43.3 million. (DC)Bellway dateA trading update from...

Results of Gemfields' (GEM:AIM) second ever ruby auction are imminent and could act as a major share price catalyst. Snap up the £269 million cap at 49.75p ahead of the news as we believe the sale will exceed the $33.5 million achieved at its maiden auction in June.Chief executive officer Ian Harebottle confirms to Shares that higher-quality rubies will feature in the new event compared with...