European markets and the pound had a strong day on Thursday, with the afternoon's US inflation reading boosting risk appetite.Markets in New York got off the line slowly, however, amid an apparent rotation out of tech following a bullish run in recent days.The FTSE 100 index closed up 29.83 points, 0.4%, at 8,223.34. The FTSE 250 was surged 261.15 points, 1.3%, at 21,188.91, and the AIM All-Share

Progress made with growth strategyFull year pre-tax profit up 24%Over the past year shares have gained 16%Shares in Jet2 (JET2:AIM) were up over 1% in morning trading at £13.08 as the airline and package holidays provider reported a 43% jump in pre-tax profit to £529.5 million for the year ending 31 March 2024.Total revenue was up 24% to £6.25 billion compared to £5.03 billion last year.The ai

Share prices in London closed up on Wednesday as New York climbed midday, following Fed Chair Jerome Powell's testimony and ahead of key US inflation data on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index closed up 53.70 points, 0.7%, at 8,193.51. The FTSE 250 ended up 282.74 points, 1.4%, at 20,927.76, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.91 of a point, 0.1%, at 772.85.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.7% at 816.35, the Cboe

While the shares prices of many housebuilders are still well below where they were pre-pandemic, so are their earnings which means although the sector may look cheap at first glance it could be a classic 'value trap' instead.In the case of Barratt Developments (BDEV), whose shares are still almost 50% below their March 2020 level and which has a trading update on 10 July, sales for the year to Jun

$350 million sale completes transformationCash proceeds to be returned via buybacksResilient results deliveredTate & Lyle (TATE) was in demand with investors on Thursday, shares sweetening up 5.2% to 712.5p after the company completed its strategic shift towards a speciality food and beverage business with the $350 million (£279 million) sale of its remaining 49.7% stake in Primient to KPS Capita

UK stocks look cheap on so many different valuation metrics, not just one or two, suggesting a robust, genuine investment opportunity is available to long-term investors. So why does nobody seem convinced?This article explores the scepticism surrounding the UK?s market?s attractive valuation and examines the underlying evidence to support it. Shares concludes UK stocks really are a compelling inve

Fund outperforms benchmark in 2023Dividend increases by 7% to 7.65pShares sit at 13% discount to NAVMid- and small-cap UK growth investor Mercantile Investment Trust (MRC) outperformed its benchmark in the year to 31 January, delivering a net asset total return of 4.5% and total shareholder returns of 6.1%.The dividend was increased by 7% for the year to 7.65p per share, comfortably covered by rev

JPMorgan UK Small Cap Growth & Income(JUGI) 293.5pMarket cap: £403.4 millionA major trend in the investment trust sector is mergers between sub-scale trusts with similar remits to create funds large enough and sufficiently liquid to attract wealth managers and retail investors.One example which Shares believes offers a compelling proposition is JPMorgan UK Small Cap Growth & Income (JUGI), which

Stock prices in London were up on Thursday afternoon, although the FTSE 100 pared its initial progress and traded only a hair higher.The UK economy slipped into recession in the final quarter of 2023, according to the latest data, buoying hopes of speedier interest rate cuts from the Bank of England.But for the FTSE 100, gains were hard to come by as the equity trading session dragged on, with sha

Winter bookings above expectationsPre-tax profit guidance raisedShares up 11% year-to-dateShares in Jet2 (JET2:AIM) were up nearly 5% to £13.88 as the airline and package holiday provider said winter 2023/24 forward bookings were up by 17% for both flight-only and package holiday products for the year ending 31 March 2024.The company also slightly raised its outlook for group pre-tax profit (befo

Stock prices in London were higher on Thursday morning on news the UK has officially entered a mild recession, raising Bank of England interest rate cut hope.The economic figures could also carry political significance, as the UK prime minister faces a pair of by-election tests.On the corporate front, results from British Gas owner Centrica impressed. Among mid-caps Genus plunged on a China warnin

In this third part of our investor survey, we asked some of the UK?s leading fund managers which sectors or stocks they thought were the most promising for 2024.The responses were as varied as they were thought-provoking, with only a couple of managers singling out technology stocks.As before we would like to thank all those who took part for sharing their views, and we hope readers enjoy them. WH

For the second part of our annual survey, we asked fund managers if they had changed their view on any stocks this year, for better or for worse, and what lay behind their decisions.As with the winners and losers survey last week, the answers were often frank and once again we would like to thank everyone who took part.Thomas Moore - Aberdeen Equity Income Trust (AEI)THE STOCK THAT I CHANGED MY MI

Revenue up 24% to £4.4 billion7% increase in seat capacityAverage price of a Jet2holidays package holiday up 11%Shares in Jet2 (JET2:AIM) were down more than 3% to £10.95 in morning trading despite the UK package holidays business reporting a 47% rise in pre-tax profits of £660.5 million for the first half of the year ending 30 September.Flight only net ticket yield per passenger sector was 18%

The FTSE 100 made modest gains in London on Thursday morning, while the FTSE 250 slipped at the start of what should be a quieter day for traders as US markets close for the Thanksgiving break.The FTSE 100 index opened up 19.77 points, 0.3%, at 7,489.28. The FTSE 250 was down 30.21 points, 0.2%, at 18,449.96, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.13 of a point at 717.03.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 746

Stock prices in London closed mixed on Wednesday, as pubs were boosted while the UK?s autumn statement offered no big surprises for investors.The FTSE 100 index closed down 12.48 points, 0.2%, at 7,469.51. The FTSE 250 ended up 132.54 points, 0.7%, at 18,480.17, and the AIM All-Share closed up 0.59 of a point, or 0.1%, at 716.90.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.2% at 745.25, the Cboe UK 250 closed up

Sale seat capacity 15.26 millionShares up 17% year-to-dateMarket share will grow says analystsShares in Jet2 (JET2:AIM) were up more than 7% to £11.04 as the low-cost airline posted a positive trading update ahead of its annual general meeting.Jet2 shares are up 17% year-to-date as investors continue to be pleased with the company's post-pandemic strategy. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity bel

It's now 10 years since the government allowed AIM shares to be held in a stocks and shares ISA, opening the door to investors protecting themselves not just from income and capital gains tax, but from inheritance tax too.That's because many AIM companies, though not all, are free from inheritance tax (IHT) if held for two years or more, under business property relief rules that are designed to en

Ryanair first quarter revenue up 40% to €2.60 billionBritish Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) swings to profitLondon's Stansted airport reports a 13% increase in passenger numbersShares in airlines and holiday companies including EasyJet (EZJ), Jet2 (JET2:AIM), TUI (TUI) and International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) took a battering as wildfires ripped through popular h

To say online travel agent On The Beach (OTB) has had a bad year is an understatement.The first summer holiday season not besmirched by either Covid or major delays has been marred by escalating marketing spend which has helped keep the company loss-making - £6 million in the red for the six-month period to 31 March 2023.The company has faced strong competitive pressures in the value short-haul m