Middle East sales down 20%Adjusted profits rise 17%Refinancing a positive catalyst for penny stockNow a specialist global franchise business, having shuttered its remaining UK stores before the Covid pandemic struck, cost-cutting helped Mothercare (MTC:AIM) deliver a 17% increase in adjusted pre-tax profit for the half to 23 September 2023.Unfortunately, shares in the mother and baby products...

- Debt reduced in the first half- Costs of Russian exit hit business- New boss namedSpecialist retail brand Mothercare (MTC:AIM) was in demand with investors as it took some baby steps towards recovery.Now a franchise business having shuttered its UK stores nearly three years ago, investors reacted positively to first-half results which revealed a reduced debt pile and some underlying signs of...

Just when it seemed as if Russia's standing in the international community couldn't sink any lower, evidence of war crimes in Ukraine has seen the US and its allies take an even tougher line.As well as imposing harsher sanctions on Russian banks and state-owned enterprises, the US has proposed a blanket ban on all new investment in the country. The UK has done the same.'The goal is to force...

The advent of globalisation has helped to drive considerable earnings growth for companies on the UK stock market thanks to them doing business with an ever-growing number of countries. Unfortunately, widespread geographical expansion means the list of UK stocks with exposure to Russia is bigger than you might think.Many professional and retail investors have raised a moral objective to having...

Shares in mother and baby products brand Mothercare (MTC:AIM) were marked up 9% to 19.95p after Numis Securities re-initiated coverage on the stock with a 'buy' rating and a 24p price target.The broker sees 'much to like' at Mothercare as its 'turnaround story is established and proven out' and expects the restructured company to swing from an £8.5 million loss to £6.1 million pre-tax profit...

On a largely uninspiring day for global equity markets, London's FTSE 100 ended modestly lower after trading broadly flat for much of the day.Sterling strength weighed on the overseas earnings dominated index, with the blue chip benchmark closing down 0.3% at 7,029.79, while the more domestically focused FTSE 250 finished 0.2% lower at 22,438.90.Reopening names were in demand, among them the...

London's FTSE 100 was struggling for direction by midday on Tuesday, down a modest 0.01% to 7,050.78 points after UK public borrowing figures came in lower than expected, although the FTSE 250 edged 0.08% higher to 22,502 points.Government borrowing hit £31.7 billion in April, official data shows, and while this was the second highest amount on record it was lower than the same month last...

UK stocks continued their winning streak on Tuesday, extending their gains after figures showed Government borrowing came in less than expected last month amid growing optimism over the recovery of public finances.Government borrowing hit £31.7 billion in April, official data shows, and while this was the second highest amount on record it was lower than the same month last year as parts of...

Among the stock market's most spectacular share price appreciation stories of recent years is Premier Foods (PFD). The cake, gravy and cooking sauces maker known for brands including Mr Kipling, Bisto, Ambrosia, Sharwood's and Loyd Grossman.Languishing at 19.4p in March, Premier Foods' shares are now priced at 95p, having enjoyed a stunning re-rating thanks to improving earnings momentum as...

M&A excitement in the gambling space and a strong showing on Wall Street helped the FTSE 100 to a positive finish on Friday, closing 0.3% higher at 5,842.67.Bookmaker William Hill (WMH) surged 42.5% to 310p as it revealed it had received two cash bids - raising the prospect of a competitive auction for the business. This led to strength in the wider gambling sector.Online fashion retailer...

The FTSE 100 gave up any gains by lunchtime on Friday to trade 0.8% lower at 5,776.34.Not helping sentiment was news that London has been placed on a UK Covid watchlist amid a surge in infections. European markets were also weak with the US futures markets implying there will be a poor start on Wall Street later.Closer to home there was renewed weakness for those businesses at the sharp end of...

The FTSE 100 got off to a modest start on Friday morning, gaining 0.35% to 5,843 on hopes that lawmakers in the US would agree on a crucial stimulus package for the world's biggest economy.US government bond yields also rose following reports that Democrats were preparing a new economic stimulus package totalling $2.4 trillion in a bid to kickstart talks with Republicans, though reports...

UK stocks ended sharply lower on Thursday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's policy meeting at the end of July struck a cautious note on the pace of the US recovery and US weekly jobless claims came in above expectations, reinforcing the market's negative mood.At the close the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was down 98 points or 1.5% to 6,013, led lower by financial stocks such as...

UK stocks fell sharply on Thursday after minutes from the US Federal Reserve's last policy meeting at the end of July struck a cautious tone on the pace of the US recovery and concerns mounted of a resurgence of the Covid virus in several European countries.At midday the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was down 68 points or 1.1% to 6,044, led lower by financial stocks such as wealth managers...

A warning overnight from the US Federal Reserve on the economic outlook and growing coronavirus infections around the globe caused investors to take fright with the FTSE 100 down 1.6% to 6,015.62.Copper miner Antofagasta (ANTO) has tumbled 2.5% to £11.20 after it announced that its first-half revenue was down 15.3% as a result of copper prices 12.5% lower and sales volumes.Group copper...

London's FTSE 100 traded 0.22% lower at 6278.68 early on Monday as a rising number of COVID-19 cases, including in the US and China, stoked fears of a second wave of global infections.Sportswear giant JD Sports Fashion (JD.) cheapened 3.7p to 643.3p after confirming it has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators to its struggling Go Outdoors division with the courts, although it...

UK stocks opened on the back foot, following the biggest slide in China stocks in eight months on continued fears over the spread of the new flu-like coronavirus. Millions of Chinese are expected to this weekend travel for the Lunar New Year.The FTSE 100 was 0.3% lower at 7,535 points while the FTSE 250 was also off 0.3% to 21,669 points. Oil and resource stocks were weak while banks and...

Shares in Mothercare (MTC) rallied 17% to 15.75p on Friday after the baby goods retailer inked a deal to supply products exclusively to Boots UK stores, thereby keeping its goods on British shelves.Mothercare called in administrators to its ailing UK business last month and will close all of its UK brick and mortar outlets, so this new tie-up effectively salvages the brand's UK...

Clothing is one of life's essential goods. We all regularly buy clothes and therefore one might assume it is a good place to invest. In reality, it is a highly competitive industry and historically there has been a wide gap between the best and worst performing shares in the sector.This Christmas season, including the frenzied and fiercely contested Black Friday and Cyber Monday events in late...

Shares in baby goods retailer Mothercare (MTC) crashed to a 20-month low of 8.38p on 4 November after its UK operations were put into administration.Unlike most administration situations, Mothercare's shares continue to trade as it still has a profitable overseas operation and the administration does not affect the entire business. Traditionally an administration situation would normally see...