At the start of 2024, I speculated that interest rate cuts could lead to takeovers involving bigger companies than the type of deals seen in 2023. While the rate-cut journey still remains in its infancy for the UK and other key geographies, the predicted wave of large-cap takeovers is firmly in motion. It's a reminder there is value on the UK market in droves.There have been bids or expressions of

With the UK economy seemingly headed for a 'soft landing' and interest rates set to fall at some point this year, more adventurous investors will be looking to add a little more risk to their portfolios.Given the UK market, and the mid-cap space in particular, is widely acknowledged to be cheap, the passive option would be to buy a mid-cap ETF (exchange-traded fund) such as the iShares FTSE 250 (M

London stocks outperformed its European peers on Thursday morning, as investors await a key interest rate decision by the European Central Bank.The FTSE 100 index opened 78.02, or 1.0%, at 8,266.64. The FTSE 250 was up 54.31 points, or 0.3%, at 21,147.65, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.63 points, or 0.2%, at 788.43.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at 824.37, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 18,435.38, an

Equity prices in London fell on Wednesday, as stocks struggled to find their feet amid rising US Treasury yields.There was also a flurry of M&A news threatening to hog the spotlight. The prospect of a mega mining merger between BHP and Anglo American was ruled out, though Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services has agreed to a takeover.The FTSE 100 index ended down 71.11 points, 0.9%

Stock prices in Europe were lower at midday on Wednesday, with major firms Ocado and St James's Place set to lose their spots in the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index was down 19.58 points, 0.2%, at 8,234.60. The FTSE 250 was down 112.26 points, 0.5%, at 20,593.01, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.43 points, 0.4%, at 804.93.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 821.69, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.7% at 18041.

Cash bid at 370p per shareStock trading at just 332pQuestions over likely approvalThe board of Royal Mail-owner International Distributions Services (IDS) said it had agreed to a raised £3.57 billion bid from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, already a major shareholder in the firm.Despite the bid valuing IDS shares at 370p each, the stock traded just 11p, or 3.5% higher at 332p suggesting inve

Stock prices in London were in the red on a rather calm Wednesday morning, with Royal Mail owner IDS, and Foresight Sustainable Forestry boosted by takeovers.In the FTSE 250, Royal Mail owner IDS agreed to a takeover by a Daniel Kretinsky-led group. Meanwhile, Foresight Sustainable Forestry shares shot up, after Averon Park said it will buy the firm for £167 million.The FTSE 100 index opened down

One of the factors undoubtedly helping lift the UK stock market to new highs this year is an upturn in M&A (merger and acquisition) activity.According to Dealogic, the value of UK takeovers so far in 2024 is more than $78 billion, the highest level since 2018, as overseas buyers in particular home in on the undervaluation of the market.'The UK has become structurally very attractive for M&A. There

Equities on both sides of the Atlantic registered record highs on Wednesday, as a slowdown in US inflation prompted stocks to move higher as Federal Reserve interest rate cut hopes strengthened.Aside from the US data, there was a slew of M&A developments threatening to steal some of the spotlight in London. The owner of the Royal Mail backed a possible bid, while Wood Group said no to a suitor aga

Stock prices in London closed largely up on Wednesday, as the FTSE 100 shrugged off hotter-than-expected UK inflation data.The FTSE 100 index closed up 27.63 points, 0.4%, at 7,847.99. The FTSE 250 ended down just 4.40 points at 19,340.14, and the AIM All-Share closed up 4.84 points, or 0.7% at 743.12.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 785.06, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.1% at 16,784.15, and the Cbo

Equity prices in London found some composure heading into Wednesday afternoon, recovering from an uncertain start following an unnerving UK inflation reading.International Distribution Services jumped, after a billionaire shareholder?s takeover proposal that was rebuffed by the Royal Mail parent.The FTSE 100 index rose 46.18 points, 0.6%, at 7,866.54. The FTSE 250 climbed 107.23 points, 0.6%, at 1

Stock prices in London were mostly in the green at the close on Wednesday, helped by economic data from the US amid ongoing discussions about the interest rate cut trajectory.The FTSE 100 index closed up 2.35 points at 7,937.44. The FTSE 250 ended up 39.75 points, 0.2%, at 19,753.64, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.32 of a point at 742.08.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 793.01, the Cboe UK

Stocks in London were lower on Wednesday midday, as investor sentiment suffered with a persistently resilient US economy dampening expectations that US interest rates cuts will come sooner rather than later.The FTSE 100 index was down 30.55 points, 0.4%, at 7,904.54. The FTSE 250 was down 35.35 points, 0.2%, at 19,678.54, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.62 of a point, 0.1%, at 741.78.The Cboe UK

Ofcom fines Royal Mail £5.6 millionMissed delivery targets to blameIDS loses its monopoly to deliver mailThe UK's communications regulator Ofcom has punished Royal Mail owner International Distributions Services (IDS) with a £5.6 million fine for its failure to meet delivery targets over the year to March.The sanction follows a probe initiated by the regulator in May and includes a 30% reduction

The Schroder Recovery Fund (B3VVG60) aims to generate capital gains superior to the FTSE All-Share Total Return Index, net of fees, over a three- to five-year horizon by investing in 'UK companies which have suffered a severe setback in either share price or profitability'.The fund was launched back in 1970 and has stood the test of time, beating its target return over one, three and 10 years and

Firmly out of favour with investors since the Brexit vote seven years ago, the FTSE 250 index rallied strongly on the release of the latest UK inflation data (19 July). This showed UK CPI rising by 7.9% year-on-year in June, lower than forecasts of an 8.2% rise, theoretically reducing expectations for the scale of future interest rate hikes from the Bank of England.Yet even after a big one-day jum

Company ekes out first quarter revenue growthKeeps adjusted profit target for year to March 2024Group could be vulnerable to a break-upShares in Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS) have been on a tear over the last month, up nearly 40% following settlement of industrial action which has brought the company to its knees.Further positive news was delivered on Thursday after th

Cautious full year 2024 outlook sends shares lower in after marketFlat to low single digit growth expectedPrioritising cost reductions and transformation plansShares in air freight and delivery giant FedEx (FDX:NYSE) dropped 3% in after hours trading after giving a disappointing outlook despite beating fourth quarter earnings estimates.The cautious outlook calls for 'flattish' revenue and full yea

Growing confidence that US politicians will manage to avoid a destructive government debt default was giving share prices a boost globally on Thursday, though a fall in BT shares was holding back the FTSE 100 in London.The large-cap index opened up 35.60 points, 0.4%, at 7,758.83. The FTSE 250 was up 32.84 points, 0.2%, at 19,248.29, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.79 of a point at 809.99.The Cboe

Being a value manager often means taking a positive view on a stock which seems to be universally unloved and facing plenty of headwinds, which is certainly the true in the case of logistics firm International Distributions Services (IDS).The FTSE 250 company, which recently changed its name from Royal Mail Group to emphasise its international scale, has delivered a string of profit warnings and i