Optima Health (OPT:AIM) 164.5pMarket Cap: £146.1 millionAs the UK's leading occupational health provider, Optima Health (OPT:AIM) is uniquely positioned to consolidate a fragmented market via bolt-on acquisitions as well as delivering organic growth faster than the underlying market.Analysts at RBC Capital Markets believe Optima Health's buy-and-build strategy can deliver a 23% compound annual gr

We start the review on a positive note with the news of two small-cap IPOs (initial public offers), one in the healthcare space and one in the red-hot AI (artificial intelligence) space.Having sold its governance, risk and compliance software business to private equity earlier this year and returned £225 million to shareholders via a buyback and special dividend, business services group Marlowe (

Bumper return of capitalShares climb 7% on newsTrading 'in line' this yearIt has been something of a wild ride for investors in fire safety specialist Marlowe (MRL:AIM) over the past six months or so, but today they can celebrate after the firm announced it would return a significant part of the proceeds from the sale of some of its software and service assets.The shares, which collapsed more than

Divestment wipes out debt in fullMarlowe to return over £150 million to shareholdersCEO Alex Dacre to departShares in Marlowe (MRL:AIM) rocketed 35% higher to 569p on news the business-critical services and software firm has agreed to sell certain GRC (governance, risk and compliance) software and services assets to private equity firm Inflexion for an enterprise value of £430 million.The announ

Senior management at business software and services group Marlowe (MRL:AIM) must be wondering what they need to do or say to revive the company's ailing share price.Despite delivering a 60% increase in first-half revenues and an 80% surge in EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) last month, the shares fell nearly 16% to 616p on the day of the results and they are no

- Company is growing ahead of markets- Recurring revenues and earnings ahead of target- More earnings-enhancing acquisitions to comeCompliance services and software firm Marlowe (MRL:AIM) posted a sharp increase in revenues and earnings for the year to March.The main contribution came from acquisitions, although organic sales growth was also respectable and the company says over 85% of revenues ar

In light of the implications of the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine, the global growth outlook has dimmed, which means now more than ever, portfolios should be as diversified by asset class as possible to in order to maximise returns relative to risk.Higher risk assets they may be, yet 'micro caps', the London stock market's smallest quoted companies should form at least a portion of a well-diversifi

Safety, testing and compliance company Marlowe (MRL:AIM) has an attractive business offering an unusual combination of defensiveness and profitable growth. The 'buy-and-build' strategy has been executed superbly, yielding impressive results.The shares have dropped around 20% from the recent highs in mid-January despite the company acquiring Optima Health for £135 million.The transformational deal

UK shares closed higher on Wednesday, spurred on by US economic data which showed personal spending rose more than expected and weekly US jobless claims were the lowest since 1969, signaling continued strength in the economy.The latest minutes from the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meeting, are due after the market close.At the close the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was up 0.3% at 7,

UK shares gave back early gains as markets braced for a torrent of US economic data due to be released later today and ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow when US markets will stay closed.As well as the weekly jobless numbers, investors will receive updates on the core latest inflation data, durable goods orders, and personal consumption trends, providing further evidence of economic streng

UK shares continued to climb on Wednesday with the FTSE 100 rising 0.5% back above the 7,300 level thanks to buying of oil majors and mining stocks.Meanwhile, investors were awaiting the release of minutes from the US Federal Reserve's latest Open Market Committee meeting, due after the market close, for clues as to the pace of interest rate hikes after recent strong inflation and jobs data.Sterli

Shares in support services company Restore (RST:AIM), were trading lower this morning despite the company issuing a positive trading update for the eight months to 31st August.This is particularly surprising given that the group's strong performance may reignite bid interest in the group.Today's trading update has highlighted that trading in July and August has continued the positive momentum achi

Having struggled for direction all morning, the FTSE 100 index surged from its lunchtime lows to tack on 32 points or 0.45% to 7,164 by the close, led by cyclical stocks including media companies ITV (ITV) and WPP (WPP).Gambling company Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) was the top FTSE performer, rallying 8% to £139.78 after it reported a better-than-expected trebling of first-half profit amid a boun

The FTSE 100 was struggling for direction by midday, down a smidge at 7,128.53, amid the usual summer lull in trading volumes and with few big catalysts to shift sentiment in either direction.Accommodation giant Intercontinental Hotels (IHG) fell 1.7% to £46.54, having swung to a modest first-half profit, citing an improvement in demand, most evident in China.Intercontinental Hotels, however, sti

The attempted takeover of Restore (RST:AIM) by Marlowe (MRL:AIM) represents an interesting development as the two businesses go back a long way. Strategically there is merit in combining the two entities.Marlowe has effectively emulated the success of Restore as a buy and build support service group. Both companies were backed by Lord Ashcroft and Marlowe's chief executive Alex Dacre ran the M&A t

A surprise increase in US jobless claims raised some doubts about the recovery as the FTSE 100 surrendered its earlier modest gains to trade 0.4% lower at 6,968.30.In the US the S&P 500 was broadly unchanged by 4.30pm UK time.FTSE 250 construction firm Morgan Sindall (MGNS) was one of the day's big winners, surging 13.1% to £23.92 as it unveiled its fourth round of earnings upgrades in the last 1

The FTSE 100 had crept above the 7,000 mark by midday as investors awaited the latest update on monetary policy from the European Central Bank and jobless claims from the US later.FTSE 250 construction firm Morgan Sindall (MGNS) was one of the day's big winners, surging 12% to £23.68 as it unveiled its fourth round of earnings upgrades in the last 12 months.Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilev

UK stocks inched higher after two days of strong gains in US markets. At 8.30am the FTSE 100 index was up 7 points to 7,005 points led by house builders and leisure stocks while consumer goods and utility companies were on the back foot.Oil prices retreated slightly after a strong bounce overnight with Brent crude futures dipping 0.2% to $72 per barrel while the gold price retreated to $1,800 per

UK stocks gave back earlier gains to close lower on Wednesday as investors digested rising inflationary pressures ahead of the Bank of England's interest rate decision tomorrow.Flash June US manufacturing data this afternoon showed companies are struggling to get hold of raw materials and staff, resulting in higher prices for businesses and consumers.At the close the FTSE 100 index of leading shar

UK stocks held onto early gains on Wednesday lunchtime despite data showing inflationary pressures remained acute. According to data provider IHS Markit, company prices have increased at the fastest rate since 1999. Although preliminary data for June manufacturing and services activity slipped from 61.7 last month to 62.9 the surveys still pointed to a strong recovery.At 12pm the FTSE 100 index of