Trian confirms interest in RentokilAshtead chief executive flies the flagChapel Down director buys sharesUS activist investor Trian Fund Management, a vehicle controlled by billionaire Nelson Peltz, significantly raised its stake in UK pest control and hygiene business Rentokil Initial (RTO) earlier this month shortly after securing a board spot for its head of research.According to company filing

Sales weakness persistsDeflation to impact profitsFurther £200 million buyback announcedRenowned for its resilience, outsourcing business Bunzl (BNZL) said it expects to deliver a 'strong' year-on-year adjusted operating profit increase for the year ending 31 December 2024 in the face of an uncertain economic backdrop.So why were shares in the distribution and services business the FTSE 100's big

FTSE mining stocks on Wednesday were boosted by an uptick in gold prices while the Nasdaq Composite hit an all-time high, topping 20,000 for the first time.A jump in the gold price boosted Endeavour Mining and Fresnillo, while Lloyds Banking Group climbed as the Supreme Court agreed to an appeal brought by motor finance companies regarding car loans.The FTSE 100 index closed up 21.26 points, 0.3%,

Fidelity Special Values (FSV) 311.5pMarket cap: £1.01 billionWider than the five and 10-year average of 4%, a near-9% share price discount to NAV (net asset value) at Fidelity Special Values (FSV) presents an attractive entry point into a fund with an impressive long-run record and a contrarian, value-focused investment philosophy that's proven to work.The trust, which recently celebrated its 30

Q3 like-for-likes down 0.5%Robust performance from health brandsOperational separation on trackReckitt Benckiser's (RKT) shares bounced up 3.3% to £49.20, extending their recent rally off of five-year lows, after the consumer goods goliath's third quarter sales beat subdued expectations.An organic sales decline of 0.5% proved better than the 1.8% drop called for by consensus, as a beat from the h

London's FTSE 100 moved higher in early trade on Wednesday, boosted by some strong corporate updates, while the dollar marched on as a tempering of US interest rate cut zeal continued.The FTSE 100 index traded up 13.14 points, 0.2%, at 8,319.68. The FTSE 250 was up 26.44 points, or 0.1%, at 20,976.09, and the AIM All-Share added 0.61 of a point, 0.1%, at 734.77.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.1% at 832.8

Third-quarter trading mutedFull-year margin seen downPre-tax profit target maintainedLooking through the third-quarter update from pest control and hygiene group Rentokil Initial (RTO) there was little to write home about, but the lack of further downgrades combined with the fact the stock price was at multi-year lows probably explains today's positive market reaction.The shares opened up 34p or a

This feature marks two new beginnings. The first is a three-part-series exploring portfolio construction, management and how to adapt for major life milestones. It is also the start of a brand-new section in the magazine. We want to find out how readers approach their own investment portfolios and the methods they use to construct and manage them. You can read more about how to get involved at the

Homecare brands on the blockAirwick and Cillit Bang no longer coreSale could raise around £6 billionConsumer and household goods group Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) is pushing ahead with the sale of its homecare brands according to press reports.The news was applauded by shareholders, with the shares gaining as much as 150p or 3% to a three-month high of £47.60 in early trading. SIX BILLION POU

Stock prices in London rose on Thursday afternoon ahead of the European Central Bank's decision, after New York trade overnight was boosted by tech shares.The FTSE 100 index climbed 63.71 points, 0.8%, at 8,257.65. The FTSE 250 was up 233.47 points, 1.1%, at 20,770.72, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.91 points, 0.4%, at 741.00.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at 826.13, the Cboe UK 250 rose 1.0% to 18,266

Stocks in London pulled back by Wednesday afternoon, after stubborn US core inflation figures all but extinguished hopes of a 50 basis point rate cut from the Federal Reserve.The FTSE 100 index fell 12.04 points, or 0.2%, at 8,193.94. The FTSE 250 ended down 118.89 points, 0.6%, at 20,537.25, and the AIM All-Share eased 5.77 points, or 0.8%, at 738.09.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.3% to 819.82, the Cboe

European markets were slightly higher during midday trade on Wednesday, as investors braced for a key US inflation reading.The FTSE 100 index edged up 5.21 points, 0.1%, at 8,211.19. The FTSE 250 was up just 10.14 points at 20,666.28, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.93 points, 0.5%, at 739.93.The Cboe UK 100 was flat at 821.80, the Cboe UK 250 up 0.2% to 18,227.15, but the Cboe Small Companies wa

Third-quarter sales miss forecastsCosts running above budgetShares slump to new year-lowFor investors in pest control and hygiene group Rentokil (RTO) this will be a day to forget after the firm released an unscheduled trading update warning profits would be lower than expected due to lower sales and higher costs.The shares were roiled, dropping 85p or almost 18% to a new 12-month low of 390p mark

Stocks in London made steady progress in early exchanges on Wednesday, although Rentokil slumped, ahead of key US inflation figures later.The data is released at 1330 BST. Data is expected to show the rate of annual US consumer price inflation faded to 2.6% in August, from 2.9% in July.The first US presidential debate between candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump took place late Tuesday. Dutch

It seems wise to follow what the most successful investors have been buying and selling. US Investment managers are required to file quarterly 13F reports detailing their holdings which gives investors a small insight into what the gurus have been doing.Second-quarter filings for the end of June were released on 14 August and reveal some intriguing moves.Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B:NYSE) chairman Wa

International distribution and services firm Bunzl (BNZL) isn't the kind of business to grab the headlines, rather it works away in the background, steadily growing its operations both organically as it takes on more customers and inorganically as it buys bolt-on businesses.In much the same way, its share price rarely raises eyebrows ? it moves stealthily higher quarter after quarter moving within

From being one of the hottest properties in the market pre-pandemic, and having had a 'good crisis' as it were thanks to its hygiene division, global personal and household products group Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) now finds itself in the investment equivalent of the bargain bin.Shares in the Nurofen-to-Airwick-maker hit a new 10-year low this week after investors reacted badly to a US court ruling a

Shares fall on read-across from US verdictLiabilities could total up to $1.5 billionNews muddies potential unit saleShares in hygiene, health and nutrition products powerhouse Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) sank as much as 10% to around £40.40, their lowest level since 2013 after a US jury found Abbot Laboratories' (ABT:NYSE) specialised infant formula caused an Illinois girl to develop a dangerous bowl

Business simplification plan unveiledHome care and nutrition brands up for saleFull year sales guidance cutShares in Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) rallied 4% to £45.86 after the consumer goods powerhouse unveiled plans to sell a raft of non-core homecare brands and said it was reviewing options for its troubled infant formula business.In a similar strategy to many of its rivals including Unilever (ULVR

European stocks opened lower on Wednesday, as underwhelming results from US tech titans Alphabet and Tesla, and French luxury goods retailer LVMH, dented the mood.Still, the FTSE 100 index traded down 38.31 points, or 0.5%, at 8,129.06. The FTSE 250 was down 41.30 points, 0.2%, at 21,050.19, while the AIM All-Share was down 1.24 points, 0.2%, at 778.93.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 811.48, the