Funds can often be in vogue with investors thanks to a big-name manager or a past reputation, but just how well-earned is the popularity of the UK's most popular funds and investment trusts?In this article we've taken a look at the performance of a select group of funds which regularly feature among the most bought and most widely-held in the market to judge whether they are truly delivering the g

London's FTSE 100 index dropped on Monday, as poor Chinese economic data weighed on mining stocks, and shares in luxury fashion house Burberry tumbled.The FTSE 100 index ended down 69.95 points, 0.9%, at 8,182.96. The FTSE 250 closed down 13.37 points, 0.1%, at 21,189.52, and the AIM All-Share edged down 0.69 of a point, 0.1%, at 785.48.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.9% at 816.46, the Cboe UK 250 fe

Stock prices in Europe were in the red midday Monday, after markets reacted relatively calmly to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.The FTSE 100 index in London was dragged down by Burberry, after it announced a profit warning.The FTSE 100 index was down 15.32 points, 0.2%, at 8,237.59. The FTSE 250 was down 11.00 points, 0.1%, at 21,191.89, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.72 of a point,

New delivery hub will go live in 2027Relief rally after bad news on CanadaOcado shares down 53% year-to-dateShares in Ocado (OCDO) were up nearly 6% to 346p as the online grocery retailer said it planned to build a third CFC (customer fulfilment centre) in Kuki-Miyashiro prefecture in Japan.The new CFC will go live in 2027 and will be developed with hypermarket group AEON (8267:TYO). SIGN O

Two of the biggest investment trusts are combining in the sector's largest-ever merger, with Witan (WTAN) to be rolled into Alliance Trust (ATST) in a mega-deal expected to complete later this year.The combination of these two FTSE 250 constituents will create 'Alliance Witan', an investment trust goliath with net assets north of £5 billion and big enough for FTSE 100 inclusion.Shares in Witan ro

Prices rise to 12-month highAffordability still an issue Labour promising 1.5 million new homesShares in residential developers started the week on the front foot after the latest survey by building society Nationwide showed average house prices continuing to rise.Investors were also looking to Thursday's general election and the prospect of a Labour win with the party promising in its manifesto t

Largest ever investment trust combinationNew vehicle big enough for FTSE 100 inclusionLower ongoing charges to followTwo of the biggest investment trusts are combining in the sector's largest-ever merger, with Witan (WTAN) to be rolled into Alliance Trust (ATST) in a mega-deal expected to complete later this year.The combination of these FTSE 250 constituents will create 'Alliance Witan', an inves

Tie-up to 'mutually enhance' operationsTHG offloads luxury brands to FrasersFirst external Frasers Plus partnershipShares in Mike Ashley-controlled retail conglomerate Frasers (FRAS) firmed 3.2% to 898p on news it had forged a 'multi-year' partnership with e-commerce innovator THG (THG).The payments and logistics tie-up should 'mutually enhance' the retail operations of both companies and will inc

Full-year like-for-likes up 11%Pre-tax profit rises 61%Dividend hiked 21%Premium pubs and hotels group Fuller, Smith & Turner (FSTA) reported another strong year of growth with like-for-like sales up 11%, significantly ahead of the market, as well as strong profit conversion with pre-tax profit up 61% to £20.5 million.Results for the year to 30 March 2024 were broadly in line with consensus marke

Surrey-based maker of Peppa Pig, Teletubbies and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys, Character Group (CCT :AIM), knocked earnings forecasts into a cocked hat with its first-half results as pre-tax profit multiplied from £0.2 million to £2.2 million.The firm said the jump in profitability in the six months to February was down to reduced selling and distribution costs and a £0.2 million positive

Full year revenue and profit beatShares have gained 124% this yearBoard comfortable with 2025 expectationsVideo games developer and publisher Frontier Developments (FDEV:AIM) revealed better-than-expected full-year results and gave a confident outlook, sending the shares 10% higher to 306p, taking gains for the year to 124%.The shares remain 90% below the highs reached in 2021 following a string o

Pets at Home shares drop 5%CVS Group shares gain 3%Vet services market £5 billionShares in pet care supplier Pets at Home (PETS) were down 5% to 265p in morning trading as the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) confirmed it would launch a full investigation into the veterinary services sector.In contrast, shares in veterinary practice operator CVS (CVSG:AIM) were up nearly 3% in morning trad

Investors in London showed caution heading into the afternoon on Tuesday, while the pound was supported by the International Monetary Fund upping its economic forecast for the UK.The FTSE 100 index traded down 33.15 points, 0.4%, at 8,391.05. The FTSE 250 was down 83.38 points, 0.4%, at 20,789.95. The AIM All-Share fell 1.84 points, 0.2%, at 808.10.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 837.74, the Cboe

New target to achieve $80 billion revenue by 2030Core operating margin in mid-thirties percentageUpward earnings revisions expectedAstraZeneca (AZN) has revealed a new target to grow revenue by 75% from the $45.8 billion generated in 2023 to $80 billion by 2030, driven by 'significant' growth in its existing portfolio of medicines and by launching 20 new medicines by the end of the decade.The comp

European equities started Tuesday in a muted fashion, following unconvincing trade from Asia.The FTSE 100 index opened down 29.22 points, 0.4%, at 8,394.98. The FTSE 250 was down 86.45 points, 0.4%, at 20,786.88. The AIM All-Share fell 2.67 points, 0.3%, at 807.27.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 837.69, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.3%, trading at 18,205.44, and the Cboe Small Companies was largely

Stock prices in London surged on Thursday afternoon, shaking off a muted morning, as a dovish tilt to the Bank of England?s latest rate hold supported equities.Threadneedle Street maintained bank rate at a 16-year high of 5.25% for the sixth meeting in-a-row. However, two members of its Monetary Policy Committee backed a 25 basis point cut. Seven, Governor Andrew Bailey included, supported the hol

In the last few weeks, the drumbeat of companies complaining about the lowly valuation of their shares and floating the idea of moving to the US market has grown steadily louder.First there was miner Glencore (GLEN), then oil major Shell (SHEL) started making noises and most recently online retailer Ocado (OCDO) has come under shareholder pressure to move its listing.What is significant is these a

Investors in London bought at the open on Thursday, looking ahead to US GDP data this afternoon, while Anglo American shares jumped after it confirmed that it was ?reviewing? a takeover bid from its larger Australian rival BHP Group.The FTSE 100 index opened up 33.81 points, 0.4%, at 8,074.19. The FTSE 250 was down 98.85 points, 0.5%, at 19,620.52, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.60 of a point, 0

Cancer drug gets positive readoutPotential for personalised medicinesModerna has over 45 drugs in developmentUS biotechnology firm Moderna (MRNA:NASDAQ) was the top performer in the S&P 500 on Tuesday (9 April) jumping as much as 10% after its personalised cancer vaccine showed positive results in an early stage trial.The shares closed 6% higher at $11.60, a new three month high, but are down 30%

Bumper special dividend on wayHigh gross margins and recurring revenuesHuge growth potential in USCar seller-turned-software-as-a-service firm Pinewood Technologies (PINE) has confirmed its plan to reward shareholders with a bumper capital return following the recent sale of its lower margin UK motor and leasing business to North American dealerships group Lithia (LAD:NYSE).As pledged last year, P