A central bank interest rate cutting cycle is well underway, the Federal Reserve having slashed US rates by 50 basis points and further cuts expected from the Bank of England following August's 25 basis point reduction. Falling rates mean lower rates on cash and bonds, so this seems like a sensible time for investors searching for long-term income and capital growth to review their portfolios.Help

Growth stocks are having a good year. While the UK stock market has bobbed along sideways in 2023, the Nasdaq Composite has rallied 36%.By Shares' calculations, about 70% of the top 50 performers on the S&P 500 can be comfortably called growth companies, led by Nvidia's (NVDA:NASDAQ) near-240% share price jump.This potential for outsized gains is why investors buy high-growth stocks, or funds expo

The FTSE 100 finished Monday's trading session 0.44% to the good at 7,255.46 points, with continuity-craving markets welcoming the White House's confirmation it will stick with Jay Powell as chairman of the US Federal Reserve.Also lending some support was speculation about private equity interest in several UK firms following the $12 billion bid for Telecom Italia; BT Group (BT.A) was bid up 2.5%

London's FTSE 100 was up modestly by midday on Monday, the blue chip benchmark gaining 0.1% to 7,231.69, but down on its highs for the day amid speculation about private equity interest in several UK firms following the $12 billion bid for Telecom Italia.BT Group (BT.A) was bid up 2.5% to 164.6p, while Vodafone (VOD) was up 1.6% to 115.4p.UK equity markets had started Monday's trading session on a

Children are growing up in an uncertain world, as current geopolitical tumult and extreme weather events demonstrate, which means their parents have plenty to fret about.However, one step parents can take to help them sleep better at night is to ensure their kids' financial futures are as secure as they can be by paying into a long-term savings product. Kids grow up fast, yet so too could their mo

Enforced lockdowns across the globe have turbocharged the number of people playing video games.In this article we will look at the main domestic and global players in this market and identify two ways to gain exposure to this emerging space.DEMAND SHOWING UP IN PLATFORMSThe demand for gaming is showing up in online marketplaces like Steam which has seen a 40% increase in players to 25m since March

Self-described precision marketing software developer Pelatro (PTRO:AIM) is set to continue its steep growth curve, if analysts have got their sums right.Stockbroker FinnCap anticipates that Pelatro will chalk-up a more than three-fold jump in its main earnings points for 2017.Its 2017 financial year forecasts are: $3.1m revenue (2016: $1.2m), $1.7m pre-tax profit (2016: $0.4m) and 7.5c earnings p

There are some incredibly niche exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available to investors. For example there is an ETF that tracks drone manufacturers. The US-listed PureFunds Drone Economy Strategy ETF tracks the Reality Shares Drone Index which comprises 47 companies 'actively involved in drone-related technologies'.But what would happen if everyone suddenly decided drones are the future and piled en

Investment company Marwyn Value Investors (MVI) will be targeting a reversal in fortunes in 2017 after its 2016 performance was undermined by a falling share price at investee business Zegona Communications (ZEG:AIM).The collective has built its track record on creating stock market vehicles which go on to consolidate specific sectors and eventually get taken over themselves.Between its inception

Buying investment products such as shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and investment trusts is a quick and simple process in the vast majority of cases, but if a more 'complex' product grabs your eye there are some hurdles you have to go through.Rules laid down by the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), require investment platforms to assess their customers' experience and knowledg

Film and TV rights business Entertainment One (ETO) is up 6.7% to 232p, building on a strong rise yesterday afternoon, as it rejects a 236p per share offer from an unnamed suitor, widely reported as being ITV (ITV).Speculation has been bubbling for a while over an ITV move for the Peppa Pig franchise holder and reached boiling point after lunch on Tuesday with EOne shares marked higher. For ITV th

Moving into profit can be a powerful share price catalyst. In 2015, investors were well-rewarded for owning some of these types of stocks as they 'moved into the black'.Fast-growing high-end tonic water producer Fevertree (FEVR:AIM) gained 246% in 2015 after registering a profit in its first year as a public company. And commercial gas pipeline engineer Fulcrum (FCRM:AIM), which swung back into pr

For a company embedded in the biggest broadcasting revolution for decades, many investors are scratching their heads as to why shares in Entertainment One (ETO) have more than halved in the past six months.We have met the company - often called eOne - to better understand why a series of events panicked the market. It is our opinion that the shares remain attractive as a play on ferocious global d

We believe the market has misunderstood the health of Entertainment One (ETO) since it undertook a £200 million rights issue and reported disappointing cash flow performance in its half-year results. Now looks an ideal time to buy the shares as the outlook for the company is very attractive in 2016.Entertainment One is a great way to play growing demand for TV and film content. On-demand streamin

Film and TV content producer Entertainment One (ETO) is up 8% to 285.3p this morning as a major share overhang in the stock is finally cleared. Marwyn Value Investors (MVI), an investment trust, is selling off its remaining 17.9% stake in the business to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for 269p a share.It brings to an end an impressive investment for the trust managed by James Corsellis and M

You'd be foolish to ignore Marwyn Value Investors (MVI) at 240p. Its biggest holding, Entertainment One (ETO), looks a prime takeover target and would likely end up in a bidding war once a first offer is made. The rest of the investment trust's portfolio is undergoing a significant overhaul, paving the way for the next generation of buy-and-build companies.The fund group has enjoyed considerable s

Gas pipeline engineer Fulcrum Utility Services (FCRM:AIM) is on a roll. Now profitable after a tough restructuring over the past few years, it has received another boost in the form of a £3.95 million contract to build 13km of gas pipeline in Scotland.Shares in the small cap are up 5.4% this morning at 19p, valuing the business at £30 million.The deal, the second-largest in Fulcrum's history, is

Eagle Eye (EYE:AIM) 165pAIM is littered with strugglers chasing the mobile commerce dream but Eagle Eye is off to a decent start. SMS marketing and vouchers space has potential, but this is also high-risk territory.Earthport (EPO:AIM) 45.25pNew management is key to ending years of failure and cash calls. Making rapid progress to promised global platform for medium-sized cross-border payments goal.

It's that time of year again when we add up the numbers for the past 12 months and reveal our new stock selections for the year ahead. In a nutshell, our 2014 stocks achieved 5.9% average return (excluding dividends) versus a 3.9% decline in the FTSE All-Share over the same period.Such is tradition, late December sees financial and business magazines, newspapers and websites make bold calls on the