The FTSE 100 closed 1.2% higher to 5,899 on Wednesday, regaining some of the heavy losses at the start of the week with investors seemingly relieved that the Government has chosen to implement the lightest lockdown restrictions possible.The export-sensitive index also gained some impetus from a weaker pound after the UK government unveiled long-lasting restrictions to tackle a second wave of...

The FTSE 100 surged 2% to 9,547 by early afternoon on Wednesday, regaining some of the heavy losses at the start of the week.The export-sensitive index gained some impetus from a weaker pound after the UK government unveiled long-lasting restrictions to tackle a second wave of coronavirus infections that threaten to derail a fragile recovery in economic activity.While helping investor...

The FTSE 100 traded 1% higher on Wednesday to 5,895 points, regaining some of the heavy losses at the start of the week. The export-sensitive index gained some impetus from a weaker pound after the UK government unveiled long-lasting restrictions to tackle a second wave of coronavirus infections that threaten to derail a fragile recovery in economic activity.The pound traded 0.3% weaker...

With equity markets worldwide on course for their best week since late November the FTSE 100 is ahead by 0.6% to 6,986.55 closing on the psychologically significant 7,000 mark.Struggling regional carrier Flybe (FLYB) agrees to be taken over for £2.2m by a joint venture comprising Stobart Group (STOB), Virgin Atlantic and funds managed by Cyrus Capital Partners.The joint venture, dubbed...

You may be surprised at the number of smaller companies which pay dividends. Many investors may assume that dividends are only the domain of mid and large caps, yet we demonstrate in this article that you can find plenty of opportunities further down the market cap spectrum.We've analysed the market using data from SharePad and found more than 330 companies valued at less than £500m which are...

Press reports that the Ministry of Justice is set to dial back on its reforms to personal injury claims are helping to lift the AIM-quoted owner of the National Accident Helpline, NAHL (NAH:AIM), 19.1% to 162p.The company, which specialises in marketing for the legal sector with a particular bias to personal injury cases, has seen big falls in its share price after the changes were first...

Personal injury marketing business NAHL (NAH) slumps 13.3% to 195p as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes a consultation document on changes to whiplash compensation.Nearly a year after they were first trailed in the 2015 Autumn Statement, the proposals seek to restrict victims' ability to claim compensation for minor whiplash injuries.Law firms operating in this area may also face tougher...

Almost a year since the Autumn Statement proposed changes to whiplash compensation NAHL (NAH:AIM) chief executive Russell Atkinson tells Shares he is no closer to knowing the eventual outcome.We think management have done a good job of positioning the personal injury marketing specialist ahead of any changes, reflecting in robust interim results (21 Sep). A 2017 price to earnings ratio of 8.8...

Legal marketing specialist NAHL (NAH) is up 2.5% to 266.5p as interims suggest the company's plans to absorb changes to its industry are proving effective.The company endured a big sell-off a little under 12 months ago on proposed changes to whiplash compensation and was also hit by the Brexit vote in June.Under proposals announced in the Autumn Statement (25 Nov 2015), minor whiplash claims...

Sir John Templeton, the late investment guru, once observed that the four most dangerous words in investing are: "This time it's different".Arguments it is different this time, that investors could look past ludicrous valuations, were in the ascendancy in 1999 when technology stocks were shooting for the moon. Yet such talk was undone once the dotcom bubble burst, sending internet stocks...

A reassuring pre-close update (20 Jan) from personal injury marketing specialist NAHL (NAH:AIM) is a good cue to look at its recovery potential after a sell-off on proposed changes to whiplash compensation.The shares have nearly halved in the past three months and now trade on just 7.1 times 2016 consensus earnings per share and offer a prospective dividend yield of 9.5%.Under proposals...

London shares are on the rise gain in early trade on Monday as investors take a measured view of lingering concerns about China's economic outlook, Middle East tensions and a global glut of crude oil. The benchmark FTSE 100 index nudges around 15 points higher to 5,925, although key stocks indices in Europe remain mixed.Recruiters Hays (HAS) and Michael Page (MPI) are among the bigger fallers...

To help with your planning Shares has canvassed the views of a number of independent financial advisers and other experts to identify the ideal funds to fit four popular themes.From seeking the best ways to play global markets, to building up a pot of money for your child or grandchild, we have it covered in this article.Global growthSeeking geographic diversification on a five to 10-year...

A headlong commercial rush into the liberalised British legal services market is not turning out to be a goldmine. Shares in the world's first listed consumer legal services firm, Slater & Gordon (SGH:ASX), dropped 30% after a UK Government proposal to change the claims process for minor whiplash injuries.Legal marketing firm NAHL (NAH:AIM), a sector bellwether because of its sensitivity to...

An admission from personal injury (PI) marketing specialist NAHL (NAH:AIM) that it is unsure if a government clampdown on exaggerated or fraudulent whiplash claims announced in the Autumn Statement on 25 November will impact its business is putting pressure on the share price - down 19.1% to 315p.In a statement released just after 11am on 26 November the company notes the changes seek to...

Cigarettes and alcohol are one of the bigger drags on UK shares as early Monday trading starts with a whimper. The benchmark FTSE 100 index slips around 25 points, or 0.4%, lower to 6,390 as mega caps British American Tobacco (BATS), Imperial Tobacco (IMT), Diageo (DGE) and SAB Miller (SAB) each fall between 0.5% and 1%.Infrastructure contractor Carillion (CLLN), the market's most shorted...

London shares are largely positive in early trade on Wednesday after yesterday's sell-off, with Europe's major stock markets rallying despite heavy falls on Wall Street and in Asia overnight. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index rises around 50 points, or 0.85%, to 5,985, but failing thus far to break back over the 6,000 mark, but mid and smaller companies make more modest gains, the FTSE 250 up just...

NAHL (NAH:AIM) 348.1pGain to date: 59.1%Original entry price: Buy at 218.75p, 2 October 2014Our play on the personal injury marketing specialist continues to shine. A bullish trading update (15 Jul) shows the recently acquired Fitzalan Partners business - which operates a similar model to NAHL in the conveyancing space - is trading better than expected. Investec increases its revenue and...

You might think it would be difficult to outperform the equity market at present. As we write, UK shares are rattling along nicely with the FTSE 100 back above 7,000. Yet our Plays of the Week portfolio continues to show the benefits of well-researched stock picking and is outpacing the wider market by some distance.In the past 12 months, our portfolio has produced an 9% average return (before...

NAHL (NAH:AIM) 272pGain to date: 24.3%Previous Shares view: 'Buy' at 263p, 26 Feb 2015Full-year results (24 Mar) from personal injury marketing specialist NAHL (NAHL:AIM) beat expectations, prompting analysts to upgrade their earnings forecasts once again, having already raised their numbers in January following a strong trading update. Profit before tax (£12.5 million) and the size of the...