London opened positively on a half-day pre-Christmas trading session Friday, despite a negative lead from the US and Asia.A stronger-than-expected estimate of US economic growth on Thursday has increased worries that interest rates will be high for longer.The FTSE 100 index opened up 13.26 points, 0.2% at 7,482.54 on Friday. The FTSE 250 was up 9.20 points at 18,771.27, and the AIM All-Share was u

It is one thing for analysts to forecast which stocks and sectors will do well in a rising-rate or inflationary environment, but when it actually comes to pass it's always fascinating to see what works in practice.Judging by the list of stocks making 12-month highs over the past week, those who favoured real assets were on the money.Standing tall are 3i Infrastructure (3IN), AEW UK REIT (AEWU), GC

UK shares retreated from positive territory on Monday afternoon, pulled down by weak US markets while oil prices spiked higher.At the London close the US S&P 500 index of leading shares was down 1.4% while the technology focused Nasdaq 100 index was 2.3% lower.Meanwhile Brent crude prices shot up 2.6% to $81.20 per barrel, marking new three-year highs.At the close the FTSE 100 index of leading sto

UK shares traded slightly higher at midday on Monday as gains in oil and mining shares were offset by weakness in financials. At 12pm, the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was up 0.2% to 7,040 points. Brent crude prices were trading 0.4% higher at $79.50 per barrel, close to last week's three-year high.COMPANY NEWSThe auction for supermarket group Morrisons (MRW) ended with CD&R pipping Fortress t

UK stocks started the week cautiously, in spite of a raft of earnings upgrades, after another weak session in Asia where stocks in China and Japan were down 2% and 1% respectively as the Evergrande saga rumbled on.In energy markets, the focus was on the meeting of OPEC+ oil producers for any decision on whether to increase crude production, after a sharp rally in oil and gas prices this year. Bren

There has been a wave of takeover approaches for listed companies, both from rivals and from private equity buy-out firms in 2021.Something we have noticed is that, where private equity is concerned, rather than looking for companies which are on their knees and in desperate need of turning round, buyers seem to prefer companies which have already begun the turnaround process and therefore require

Director dealing has been heating up at specialist engineer MS International (MSI:AIM) after the government's 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review revealed a commitment to one of its key markets.MSI's Defence division provides naval weapons, tactical and navigation equipment. Moves to support the current number of Royal Navy surface warships, uphold the current naval ship building programme

Under-the-radar engineer MS International (MSI:AIM) is one of this morning's big movers, gaining 20.5% to 171p as it reports improving conditions in its Defence and Petrol Station divisions.The stock, which has no analyst coverage, has been in retreat since 2011 when it traded higher than 300p. MSI could now be ready to turn the corner from an operational perspective on the back of a major contrac

One closed-ended investment company trading at a 10.2% discount to net asset value with scope to narrow significantly is the Martin Currie Pacific Trust (MCP). Following a summer switch (11 Jul) from a relative return, pan-Asia-Pacific strategy to an unconstrained mandate focused on long-term returns commensurate with GDP growth in Asia ex Japan, this is now a more concentrated portfolio with a sh

Under the auspices of new Government rules introduced at the beginning of this month (1 Oct) a firm's remuneration policy will now require the approval of more than 50% of shareholders at annual general meetings (AGM) in order for it to be enforced. Companies will also have to publish a simple figure each year showing exactly what its executives are paid. These requirements extend to exit payments

The global telecommunications equipment industry is a bit of an odd one. The really big telecom kit suppliers are all overseas, flung around the four corners of the globe. There is Samsung (005930:KS) in South Korea and China's Huawei while continental Europe has Alcatel-Lucent (ALUA:PA) in France, Ericsson (ERICb:ST) in Sweden and Nokia (NOK1V:HE) in Finland. Meanwhile the US is home to global in