Strange as it may sound, the pandemic turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the auction industry as it forced firms to join the 21st century and offer an online service.Whereas previously many small auction houses were limited to the number of buyers they could accommodate due to lack of physical space, today they can not only tap into their local market but a whole army of online punters at

UK takeovers moved up a gear in 2024 as predators targeted bigger companies. The average value of deals was £1.07 billion, nearly three times higher than the £390 million average in 2023. In total, there were £49 billion worth of recommended bids versus £17.2 billion last year.A bounty of unloved or underappreciated companies were swept off their feet, signalling the UK market as being 'on sal

Specialist business services firm FRP Advisory (FRP:AIM) is one of those businesses which many investors may have heard of but few are sure exactly what it does.Put simply, FRP helps companies through each stage of their development, giving advice on raising capital, managing debt, acquisitions, corporate finance and forensic accounting. It is probably best-known for 'crisis management' where it h

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

UK & Ireland like-for-likes up 5%Gains in UK and NordicsPost-Budget price rises 'inevitable'Shares in electrical retailer Currys (CURY) topped the FTSE 250 leader board on 12 December, surging 11.5% higher to 88p after the firm reported a rise in first-half profits and a return to sales growth for the core UK & Ireland business despite a tough consumer backdrop.Buoyed by rising demand for AI lapto

The UK stock market has performed robustly over the past year, with several companies standing out significantly. In this article, we will examine the top-performing large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks of 2024, dissected across four different market valuation categories.£5 BILLION+ MARKET CAPAfter a stellar 2023, aeronautical engineer Rolls-Royce (RR.) has once again rallied hard during 2024

Predicting what will happen to the global economy and markets over the next 12 months is hard enough at the best of times, but with Trump's election victory on 5 November that job has become even more difficult.As Deutsche Bank's head of global economics and thematics Jim Reid put it, the outlook is no longer 'business as usual' which opens up a much wider range of potential outcomes for the globa

London's FTSE 100 traded in the green around midday on Monday amid fresh optimism for a growth boost for the world's second-largest economy.The FTSE 100 index traded up 33.66 points, 0.4%, at 8,342.27. The FTSE 250 was down 35.97 points, 0.2%, at 21,023.03, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.82 points, 0.3%, at 740.04.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.4% higher at 837.61, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.1% at 18,523.0

Price raised 10% to 275p/shareObvious synergies between companiesCould lead to 'more rational pricing'Shareholders in insurer Direct Line (DLG) enjoyed a small lift in the value of their holdings heading into the weekend after the firm received a raised takeover offer from larger rival Aviva (AV.).Direct Line shares climbed 16p or 7% to 252p, some 25p or 10% shy of the 275p price implied by the ca

The FTSE 100 index closed up on Thursday, with AstraZeneca shares rising on US FDA approval of its Imfinzi treatment.Also on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised a 'relentless focus on delivering for working people' ahead of a major speech setting out targets to measure progress on his government's plans.AJ Bell's Danni Hewson noted: 'The prime minister today said that households will

In last week's magazine, Shares focused on the methods by which leading fund managers identify genuine long-term growth opportunities, covering everything from the need for a growth mindset to bottom-up stock picking and the need to factor in top-down considerations.Now we turn the spotlight on the regional markets, themes and stocks which have some of the market's most admired investors salivatin

Silicon Valley giant Intel (INTC:NASDAQ) is facing more upheaval after announcing the unexpected retirement of chief executive officer, Pat Gelsinger. Effective immediately, the decision marks a significant shakeup for the chip maker as it grapples with ongoing challenges and competitive pressures in the semiconductor industry.Gelsinger returned to Intel in February 2021, having previously been it

Automotive fluid storage and delivery specialist TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) became another statistic last week in the seemingly unstoppable wave of UK M&A (mergers and acquisitions).Having spurned two lower bids from Apollo-backed ABC Technologies, the auto parts-maker finally agreed a 200p per cash offer which valued the company at just over £1 billion.The offer represents a 21% premium to ABC's in

MS Galleon wants change at the topCTD deal 'detrimental' to shareholdersTopps outperforming weak marketMS Galleon, the major shareholder in Topps Tiles (TPT), has called for the tile retailer to overhaul its senior management and strategy following what it describes as a series of 'costly blunders'.Shares in Topps Tiles cheapened 2.25% to 39.1p on the news, with investors concerned a boardroom bat

London's FTSE 100 was largely flat, though the FTSE 250 made a more sizeable move heading into Friday afternoon, as M&A activity continued.The FTSE 100 index added just 3.66 points to sit at 8,284.88. The FTSE 250 registered a more convincing 31.63 point gain, 0.2%, at 20,794.41, and the AIM All-Share added 1.49 points, 0.2%, at 732.40.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.1% at 832.14, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.3

200p per share offer accepted21.2% uplift on ABC's initial bidTI Fluid valued at £1.04 billionAnother one bites the dust. Automotive fluid storage and delivery specialist TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) looks set to become the latest company to exit the UK stock market.Having spurned earlier bids from ABC Technologies, the car parts supplier has succumbed to the private equity backed group's overtures an

250p offer equals a 60% premiumBoard calls it 'highly opportunistic'Analyst suggests 270p valuationMotor and home insurer Direct Line Insurance (DLG) received its third bid of 2024 with larger UK rival Aviva (AV.) pitching a 250p cash-and-shares after the closing bell last night.Direct Line shares jumped 59p or 37% to 218p, more than reversing their losses year-to-date and leaving them at a six-mo

We begin proceedings with two takeover approaches, one successful, the other less so, for now at least.First, Swiss bourse operator SIX agreed to buy UK junior marketplace Aquis Exchange (AQX:AIM) for 727p in cash, representing a 120% premium to the previous closing price of 330p.SIX, which operates the Swiss and Spanish stock markets, called the deal 'a compelling strategic opportunity which will

Fidelity Special Values (FSV) 311.5pMarket cap: £1.01 billionWider than the five and 10-year average of 4%, a near-9% share price discount to NAV (net asset value) at Fidelity Special Values (FSV) presents an attractive entry point into a fund with an impressive long-run record and a contrarian, value-focused investment philosophy that's proven to work.The trust, which recently celebrated its 30

First-time buyers hoping to use a Lifetime ISA to buy their first home could be squeezed out of buying a terraced house in more than 50 regions of the UK, new analysis from AJ Bell shows.The government pays a 25% bonus, up to £1,000 a year, into each Lifetime ISA account, which can then be used to buy a first home. But the property cannot cost more than £450,000, with the limit remaining unchang