It's ingrained in us as investors that the best way to get superior, risk-adjusted long-term returns is to distance ourselves from the crowd and seek out value.That approach has always needed courage and patience, and 2024 has proved to be a particularly fierce test of this discipline for the simple reason that what worked last year worked well again this year.It did so because the consensus macro

The result of the US presidential election has created shockwaves in the financial markets and beyond and I'm sure raised questions about your own portfolios.That's understandable and arguably this was among the more consequential elections of recent times. However, the occupant of the White House has historically made little difference to the long-term returns available from the financial markets

There is a lot to be said for being boring, especially when markets are volatile, and no firm quite captures that essence like FTSE 100 specialist distribution group Diploma (DPLM), whose shares have already sailed serenely to half a dozen all-time highs so far this year.Diploma operates a decentralised model with three divisions: Controls, which supplies components including specialised wiring, S

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an astonishing £40 billion of tax rises in her maiden budget, and yet, despite that, there will be relief in some quarters that things didn't turn out worse.Capital gains tax is one of the areas where the Reeves' raid was not as bad as feared, as there had been speculation she would bring capital gains tax rates into line with income tax, with the top rate risin

Prime minister Keir Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves have made no bones about making 'painful' decisions in order to stabilise public finances and grow the economy, so investors are right to be nervous over what might be included in the Labour party's first Budget since 2009 at the end of this month.Top of the list of investor concerns is that rather than raising income tax, national insurance

Investors will be keen to discover if insurer Direct Line Insurance (DLG) has continued its positive start to the year when it reports first-half results on 4 September after a tumultuous 12 months.The business delivered a strong first quarter, with double-digit written premium growth in Motor, Home and Commercial businesses and overall growth of 15% for ongoing operations.Chief executive Adam Win

Much of the focus in the media and among investors has been on the poor performance of the FTSE 100 compared with global counterparts. A trend which only now seems to be unwinding.What is often lost is how poorly mid- and, particularly, small-caps have performed of late. This is significant given these are typically more domestic-facing businesses.Whichever party occupies 10 Downing Street after J

Stock prices in London were in the red at midday Tuesday, as BP and Shell declined, dragging down the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 down 45.69 points, 0.6%, at 8,217.06. The FTSE 250 was down 201.18 points, 1.0%, at 20,699.31, and the AIM All-Share was down 4.59 points, 0.6%, at 800.57.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 819.51, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.0% at 18,195.00, and the Cboe Small Companies was dow

Investor sentiment improved in London on Thursday afternoon, following words from the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell which helped soothe market concern over the US interest rate trajectory.While Powell?s remarked did not make the timing of interest rate cuts any clearer, he did affirm they will happen if the US economy continues to move as expected.The FTSE 100 index added 32.56 points, 0.4%,

Considering companies which invest in insolvency litigation cases are meant to be anti-cyclical, winning when the economy goes into a downturn, by rights Manolete Partners (MANO:AIM) should have cleaned up during the pandemic as the number of struggling businesses soared.However, much to the firm's chagrin, the opposite scenario unfolded - tens of thousands of struggling firms were saved from goin

Stock prices in London opened in the green on Monday, ahead of a US government funding deadline and key inflation data, as insurer Phoenix rose after upgrading its cash generation targets.The FTSE 100 index opened up 48.40 points, 0.7%, at 7,408.95. The FTSE 250 was up 27.17 points, 0.2%, at 17,880.26, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.1 of a point at 701.02.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% at 739.62, t

Stocks in London opened on the back foot on Monday, as investors kept a watchful eye on developments in the Middle East.The FTSE 100 index opened down 24.47 points, 0.3%, at 7,377.67. The FTSE 250 was down 37.88 points, 0.2%, at 16,994.85, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.22 points, 0.3%, at 680.71.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 736.34, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.4% at 14,719.69, and the Cboe Sm

Stock prices in London opened lower on Wednesday, as inflation in the UK remained stubbornly high, while heightened tensions in the Middle East also weighed on sentiment.The FTSE 100 index opened down 23.28 points, 0.3%, at 7,651.93. The FTSE 250 was down 130.79 points, 0.7%, at 17,558.67, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.63 points, 0.2%, at 688.95.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 764.11, the Cboe

With the departure of several big gold miners from the UK market over the past decade, Endeavour Mining (EDV) saw an opportunity when it was looking to add a stock listing to its existing one in Toronto.Endeavour shares began trading in London in June 2021 and it joined the FTSE 100 in 2022. With the subsequent delisting of the Russian gold miner Petropavlovsk and likely departure of Polymetal (PO

The Government has cut the amount you can make in capital gains before you face tax, and it's taking an axe to the tax-free allowance again next year too.However, some clever family planning can help those who are sitting on gains to protect their wealth from a tax hit, both now and in the future.Most people will have thought about using their spouse or partner to help cut their tax bill, to ensur

It was a sobering week for US investors as some of the recent gains on Wall Street were reversed off the back of weak economic data.The manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers index) reading showed factory activity levels contracting more than expected, while the services sector expanded less than forecast and job openings were lower than anticipated at 9.93 million against the 10.49 million estima

- US telco makes £1.2 billion bet on mobile network- 'Cowboy of cable' John Malone has been an active industry dealmaker- Repairing years of dismal returns unlikely to happen quicklyLoosening UK regulations in the telecoms industry were always designed to allow more industry consolidation, and Vodafone (VOD) sees itself as a major mover and shaker. Not so much as a target itself.Yet Denver-based

Capital gains tax is about to become a big headache for many more investors. Under current rules, individuals have a relatively generous £12,300 of investment gains which they can realise each tax year without being subject to tax.However, the Chancellor has announced that from April 2023, this allowance will fall to £6,000, and then from April 2024, it will be cut to just £3,000 a year. Any ga

Defence business Chemring's (CHG) cybersecurity unit Roke is an underappreciated part of the business, but it may not go under the radar for too much longer. The company's results for the year to 31 October revealed revenue from the division exceeded £100 million for the first time with order intake of £168 million, up 59% year-on-year.Based on previous transactions in the cybersecurity space, w

As 2022 draws to a close amid continuing market volatility Shares has canvassed leading fund managers to find out where they have been finding the best opportunities.Jamie Ross - Henderson Eurotrust (Hne)LOOKING OUT FOR BOMBED-OUT GROWTH STOCKSWe have spent the last 12 months trying to find opportunities within the growthier area of the market - our favoured part of the market and the part of the