Q4 earnings beat Street estimatesStrong demand in China and BrazilPlans to create the Amazon of travelShort-term lettings platform Airbnb (ABNB:NASDAQ) jumped more than 14% on Friday (14 Feb) to $161.2, the biggest one day move in the shares since listing on Nasdaq in 2020, after the company reported better than expected fourth quarter earnings and announced bold expansion plans.The gain took the

Wilkinson to step away from roleUnderlying business trading wellSecond 35p/share special dividendIt was a day of mixed emotions as homewares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) posted a positive first-half sales performance at the same time as revealing chief executive Nick Wilkinson was stepping down after seven years at the helm.The shares dropped as much as 34p or 3.5% to 937p before stabilising at 955p for

Keen investor Phil first got the bug in the mid-1980s when his mum bought him 100 shares in Cable & Wireless shares.Cable & Wireless was a trailblazing cable company set up more than a century ago and by the start of 2000, C&W Group, as it was then, had a market value of around £38 billion. When the business was demerged in 2010 its value had shrunk to £4 billion ? with the now two separate busi

First quarter revenue up 14%On track to meet full year targetsIndian IPO expected in the SpringSSP Group (SSPG) was one of the best mid-cap performers, gaining over 4% after the operator of restaurants and bars in travel locations said positive trading momentum has continued into the remainder of its first quarter to 31 December.The shares have struggled over the last year, underperforming the FTS

ProCook (PROC) 37p Gain to date: 22%Kitchenware outfit ProCook (PROC) has continued to outperform its wider market since we said in October 2024 the company was a compelling recovery play.WHAT HAS HAPPENEND SINCE WE LAST SAID BUY?The shares have gained more than 20% benefiting from sales generated by its relaunch on Amazon [AMZN:NASDAQ] and a decent showing across Christmas and Black Friday. The

The number of companies on London's AIM market worth more than £1 billion has hit a nine-year low. A mere six stocks were worth more than £1 billion at the end of November 2024 compared with 30 at the end of 2021.From those 30 companies and excluding those still worth more than £1 billion, seven have disappeared through takeovers, three have moved to the Main Market, and the rest have fallen be

Funds play a really important role in most investors' portfolios. Many of us may not have the time or the inclination to research our own investment ideas and would rather entrust a professional to pick stocks (and other investments for us).The strength of broad market indices, particularly global and US ones, has made it difficult for actively managed funds to outperform over the last decade and

London's blue chip index was up milder than its peers in Paris and Frankfurt at Monday midday, as UK service sector growth for December was softer than anticipated.As well as Monday's composite and services PMI readings, the first full trading week of 2025 has various jobs data releases from the US culminating in Friday's nonfarm payrolls.More than half of UK companies plan to raise prices by earl

London's FTSE 100 started 2025 strong, boosted by retailers on Christmas cheer and gains in miners, despite weak manufacturing data and a falling pound.The FTSE 100 index ended up 87.07 points, 1.1%, at 8,260.09. The FTSE 250 rose 17.62 points, 0.1%, at 20,640.23. The AIM All-Share jumped 4.07 points, 0.6%, at 723.70.The Cboe UK 100 closed up 1.1% at 827.66, the Cboe UK 250 fell 0.2% at 18,028.35,

London's FTSE 100 was in the green at midday on Thursday, as climbing oil and gold prices offset declines for banking and airline firms on the first day of trading in 2025.The FTSE 100 index traded up 9.94 points, 0.1%, at 8,182.96. The FTSE 250 was down 78.07 points, 0.4%, at 20,544.54, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.45 points, 0.3%, at 722.08.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 820.39, the Cboe UK 25

Confidential settlement reachedChrysalis gets 'non-material sum'FCA investigation still ongoingShares in Revolution Beauty (REVB:AIM) soared 16% to 16p after the unloved cosmetics company agreed a settlement with disgruntled former shareholder Chrysalis Investments (CHRY).Investment trust Chrysalis had previously threatened legal action against Revolution Beauty, alleging the makeup-to-skincare pr

UK water firms had their gains pulled back by Friday's close following yesterday's Ofwat induced bump, as Trump threatened the EU with tariff's if it failed to address its trading deficit.The FTSE 100 index closed down 12.67 points, 0.2%, at 8,092.65. The FTSE 250 ended up 31.24 points, 0.2%, at 20,430.62, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.1, or 0.73 of a point, at 711.05.The Cboe UK 100 ended d

After the initial buzz around its June 2024 IPO, Raspberry Pi (RPI) seemed to be getting a few raspberries from the market as the shares drifted from their early highs.However, over the last month the stock has advanced more than 40% to trade at record levels.Founded by chief executive Eben Upton in 2012 with the premise of making computing 'more accessible to young people', Raspberry Pi designs a

After what has been a poor year for UK listings, the London Stock Exchange could afford to celebrate this week with the float of French media group Canal+ (CAN) which debuted with a market value of around £2.5 billion.Although the shares were listed in London, and at that value would normally be eligible for inclusion in the FTSE 250 mid-cap index, they are excluded as the company is still French

The last 10 years have been pretty rough for UK stocks but there could be some signs of life emerging as we head towards 2025.Brexit, Covid and other political and economic shocks as well as a tilt towards 'old economy' stocks and a minimal footprint in technology have combined to undermine the relevance and appeal of the UK market.The resulting underperformance has led to people consistently poin

Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and calls from incoming US president Donald Trump for NATO members to increase defence spending as a percentage of national income will continue to provide a tailwind for the defence sector.AIM-quoted Cohort (CHRT:AIM) is well positioned to benefit from an increase in defence spending and at the first-half results on 11 December, the group disclosed

Pubs group JD Wetherspoon's (JDW) value credentials continue to shine through. According to fund manager Anna Farmbrough at Ninety One the company has doubled its average price advantage over competitors to 40% since the pandemic.Farmbrough notes that a few years ago there were three pubs in her local area while today there is just a single Wetherspoons, demonstrating its ability to benefit as con

Notable win for London marketFloat to 'unleash potential'Analysts see £5 billion valuationAfter what has been a poor year for UK listings, the London Stock Exchange celebrated this morning with the float of French media group Canal+ (CAN), which debuted with a market value of around £2.5 billion.Although the shares are listed in London, they don't qualify for inclusion in the FTSE 250 index as t

Some of the most successful businesses of our time (and all time in fairness) are effective monopolies (or perhaps part of a duopoly or triopoly) with such dominant market positions they are able to enjoy significant pricing power and generate above-average margins and returns on investment.This type of situation can be overturned in two main ways: either competition emerges, attracted by the retu

Sadly it's been less a case of 'lights, camera, action' and more 'brace for impact' lately for shareholders in Facilities by ADF (ADF:AIM), the firm which provides on-set serviced production facilities to the UK high-end TV and film industry.Floated in 2022 with hopes of bringing a touch of Hollywood glamour to the AIM market, the firm soon found itself under the spotlight as a result of the Holly