Deal priced at a 53% premiumNews caps stunning Ascential returns this yearStrong strategic logic behind takeoverAfter a remarkable start to the year in terms of shareholder returns, investors in events and analysis firm Ascential (ASCL) woke to the news today that the board had agreed a £1.2 billion conditional bid for the company from rival Informa (INF).Ascential shares jumped 116p or 26%...

Full year revenue to be at upper end of expectationsProfit guidance reiteratedShare buybacks continueInternational events group Informa (INF) said strong operational performances across all its businesses in the first five months of the year mean it is on track to deliver full year results at the upper end of market expectations.The shares ticked up 0.6% to a new 12-month high of 872p in early...

Stock prices in London opened higher on Wednesday, beating Asian peers which trended lower over night, and following a flatter session in the US.The FTSE 100 index opened up 34.20 points, 0.4%, at 8,347.87. The FTSE 250 was up 30.83 points, 0.2%, at 20,443.91, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.94 points, 0.3%, at 778.36.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 833.39, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at...

The events of the past three years have completely altered the investment backcloth against which fund managers are trying to earn above-average returns.Fund managers can have an investment framework to operate within, but what do they do when a 'black swan' lands? How do they adapt their strategies and reshuffle portfolios when a once-in-a-century event happens - like a global pandemic or an...

- Full year guidance reaffirmed at top end of range- Dividend payments resumed- Targeted acquisition potential post Maritime disposalManagement calling guidance towards the top of the consensus range did little for investors in Informa (INF). Shares in the FTSE 100 exhibitions and publishing company drifted 4% lower in early trading to 578.6p despite seemingly strong results for the six months...

- Shares jump on confirmation of full year outlook at top end of range- Interim dividend payment resumed- Industry Dive acquisition enhances digital service offeringShares in information services and events company Informa (INF) jumped 4% following an upbeat trading statement.Management has confirmed full year guidance, with underlying revenue growth of 40%-plus expected during the first...

Shareholders are baring their teeth as the annual general meeting season progresses, as Shares predicted would be the case back in April. Unsurprisingly, given many investors will have taken a fair amount of pain so far in 2022, much of the action has centred around pay for top executives.Among the more recent high-profile rebellions was Marks & Spencer (MKS), where investors accounting for...

-Guidance confirmed at the the upper end of range-Strong recovery in events business-Share buyback more than doubledShares in information services and events company Informa (INF) jumped 2.6% on Thursday following a trading update which re-confirmed full year guidance at the upper end of the range and expanded the share buyback programme from £300 million to £750 million.For the first five...

London's major stocks opened modestly lower as the inflation genie continues to work its way out of the bottle, although banks defied the gravitational pull.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 was 0.13% down at 7,317.61 after UK inflation rose to its highest in almost a decade. But there was plenty of demand for bank stocks, seen as benefitting from an increasingly likely rise in interest rates,...

The benchmark FTSE 100 finished higher on Wednesday although weaker-than-expected US ADP private sector jobs data dented investor sentiment took UK markets off earlier highs.The UK index of the biggest shares closed 0.42% higher at 7,149.84, while mid-caps were firmer, the FTSE 250 ending the day up 0.62% at 24,250.83.In August, according to the ADP report, the US economy added 374,000 jobs,...

The FTSE 100 built on morning gains early in the afternoon session on Wednesday thanks to the promise of a firm start to US trade in New York.The UK's benchmark index had put on nearly 0.9% by 1pm to trade at 7,182.81, with mid-caps also putting on gains, the FTSE 250 up 0.7% at 24,285.61.US stocks are expected to push higher on Wednesday ahead of manufacturing data, buoyed by hopes that...

The latest results from Informa (INF) and Relx (REL) have pointed to an improving environment for the exhibitions segment of their businesses.This marks a key change from the recent torrid trading environment. Covid travel-related restrictions, coupled with the need to socially distance, caused exhibitions to be cancelled or postponed during the height of the pandemic. However, the rapid...

The FTSE 100 staged a late rally aided by a positive start on Wall Street to close on Wednesday 0.7% higher at 7,151.64, rebounding from yesterday's steep sell-off.The biggest blue-chip risers remained mostly unchanged from earlier in the day, with the miners still reaping rewards from the upsurge in commodities prices, while fintech unicorn Wise (WISE) enjoyed a strong first day on the London...

UK stocks recovered from their midday lows on Thursday but investors turned to worrying over tomorrow's US jobs report amid rising signs of inflation in the labour market.The US non-manufacturing activity index hit the highest level since the series started, while the European composite purchasing managers' index hit its highest level since early 2018.Brent rrude prices were easier at $71.12...

UK stocks slumped on Thursday as geoplitical tensions rose between the US and Russia over a recent cyber-attack on the biggest US meat producer and Russia's decision to reduce its exposure to dollar assets.There was also a degree of nervousness ahead of the government putting out an update of its 'green list' of countries deemed safe for foreign travel later today.Brent rrude prices were...

UK stocks traded lower on Thursday dragged down by B&M European Value Retail (BME) after results and National Grid (NG.) after going ex-dividend. There was also a degree of nervousness ahead of the government putting out an update of its 'green list' of countries deemed safe for foreign travel later today.Overnight trading in Asia was mixed with China's SE Composite down 0.4% and Japan's...

UK shares made a hesitant start to the new week, with a strong pound holding back export-oriented shares and lower oil prices knocking the energy sector.Brent crude fell 1% to $65.4 a barrel and the pound gained 0.3% against the US dollar to $1.39.Overnight trading in Asia was mixed with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 0.3% and China's Composite index losing 0.95%.At 9am the FTSE 100 index of...

UK stocks soared on Wednesday after the chancellor promised greater fiscal support for struggling businesses, spurring a major rally in bank shares.At the same time a decision Saudi Arabia to reduce output by more than expected sent Brent crude futures up 1% to $54 per barrel, their highest level since February 2020, sparking a rally in major oil stocks.By the close the FTSE 100 index of...

UK stocks surged on Wednesday after the chancellor promised more help to struggling businesses and hopes were raised for greater US fiscal stimulus, spurring a major rally in bank shares.At the same time a decision Saudi Arabia to reduce output by more than expected sent Brent crude futures up 1% to $54 per barrel, their highest level since February 2020, sparking a rally in major oil...

Information services and events company Informa (INF) gained 4.3% to 559.8p as it guided for annual performance to hit guidance despite impact of the pandemic on its events businesses.The company also confirmed the appointment of John Rishton as chair, succeeding Derek Mapp, starting June 2021.Revenue outturn for 2020 was expected to be within the range of £1.65 billion to £1.68 billion and...