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

Stock prices in London were mostly lower at midday Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 mildly in the green as annual consumer price inflation remained flat in June, while services inflation was viewed as too high for comfort.Meanwhile, in political news, Labour presented a 'packed' legislative agenda in the annual King's Speech, focused on improving living standards by driving economic growth, the first

European markets remained downbeat on Tuesday around midday, as the prospect of a second Trump term and signs of economic weakness from China weighed on sentiment.The FTSE 100 index was down 22.59 points, 0.3%, at 8,160.37.In European equities, the CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.7%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was down 0.4%.In the FTSE 100, Rio Tinto fell 3.3%.The miner said iron ore production in t

Shares up 13% to 386pRevenue up 12.6% to £1.5 billionAdjusted EBITDA of £71.2 millionShares in Ocado (OCDO) were up as much as 18% this morning before falling back as the online grocer raised its full year 2024 EBITDA (earnings before interest taxation depreciation amortisation) and cash flow guidance.Underlying cash flow is expected to improve by £150 million (previously £100 million). The co

European share prices started lower on Tuesday, after a positive close in New York led into a mixed performance for Asian stock markets.On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.5% on Monday, the S&P 500 up 0.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.4%.Positive bank earnings gave the market a boost, and US investors also took confidence from a further indication from the US Federal Res

European stock prices were in the red on Tuesday afternoon, as the political deadlock in France continued following the election.Amongst individual stocks, BP took a hit on the FTSE 100 index after warning of a hit to refining margins.The FTSE 100 index was down 6.21 points, 0.1%, at 8,187.28. The FTSE 250 was down 15.55 points, 0.1%, at 20,782.77, and the AIM All-Share was down just 0.070 of a po

Stocks in London closed mostly higher on Thursday as investors awaited the outcome of the UK general election.Pollsters currently have Labour waking up to a majority, marking the first time that the party has been in power since 2010.The FTSE 100 index closed up 70.14 points, or 0.9%, at 8,241.26. The FTSE 250 ended up 80.92 points, or 0.4%, at 20,610.34, while the AIM All-Share closed fractionall

Now the ballots have been cast at the general election, the UK could become the 'reassuringly boring' market, both politically and fiscally, when compared to the more extreme politics on the other side of the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean.So suggests Jean Roche, manager of the Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP), who notes capital allocators know more or less what to expect, which could explain th

Grocery sales in lineArgos sales disappointNo change to forecastsThe UK's second-largest supermarket chain Sainsbury's (SBRY) delivered a first-quarter trading statement which was pretty much in line with expectations in terms of grocery sales and maintained its full-year profit and cash-flow forecasts.However, a slowdown in total like-for-like sales growth and the resulting lack of an upgrade saw

Some end of quarter nerves meant the FTSE 100 returned solid gains by the closing bell on Friday, despite a cooler US inflation reading spurring on stocks in New York.The FTSE 100 index ended 15.56 points lower, 0.2%, at 8,164.12. The FTSE 250 fell 45.77 points, 0.2%, at 20,286.03, while the AIM All-Share fell just 0.09 to 764.38.For the week, the FTSE 100 lost 0.9%, the FTSE 250 fell 0.8% and the

US Centre for Disease Control restricts vaccine useDecision could limit vaccine salesGSK has a leading market share in RSV vaccinesShares in GSK (GSK) were marked down 5% to £15.16 after the US CDC (Centre for Disease Control) advised a narrower use of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccines, cutting the potential market for GSK's leading Arexvy vaccine.The drop eradicates most the year's gain

Stocks in London headed lower going into Thursday afternoon, with investors adopting a 'cautious' approach ahead of Friday's US inflation data.The FTSE 100 index traded 23.26 points lower, 0.3%, at 8,202.07. The FTSE 250 fell just 7.08 points at 20,291.02, while the AIM All-Share fell 3.08 points, 0.4%, at 762.84.The Cboe UK 100 fell 0.3% to 815.91, the Cboe UK 250 lost 0.1% at 17,654.85, and the

1. India: Prime minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the largest number of seats in the Indian election, albeit with a smaller number compared to the 2019 vote. Investors are looking to July's budget for signals on the new government's priorities. Recent data indicate an improving fiscal position, with scope for a reduction in the fiscal year 2025 budget deficit from the Febru

JPMorgan Global Core Real Assets(JARA) 74pMarket Cap: £154.4 millionIt has been a rough couple of years for shareholders in long-duration assets as rising interest rates have sent them to deep NAV (net asset value) discounts.With central banks signaling the end of the rate-hiking cycle and inflation heading back down, former headwinds are now set to turn into tailwinds.!function(){"use strict";wi

It can seem daunting to know where to start when making a first investment which may deter some people from starting at all. This would be a mistake because the sooner a start is made, the longer an investment is allowed to mature and provide capital gains and dividends.Waiting just a few years can reduce the potential saving pot over the long term. For example, assuming an investment of £100 a m

European equities opened higher on Wednesday, after US tech shares, including chipmaker and artificial intelligence titan Nvidia, returned to form overnight.In London, investors had a host of corporate updates to sink into, including bullish earnings from pandemic winners AO World and ProCook. A merger agreement between Witan Investment Trust and Alliance Trust also grabbed some of the spotlight.T

Stocks in Europe took a hit on Tuesday around midday, as election nerves in the UK and France heat up.Amongst individual stocks, Rolls-Royce and Melrose took a hit following a forecast warning for Airbus.The FTSE 100 index traded 15.07 points lower, 0.2%, at 8,266.48. It has risen some 3.9% so far in the second-quarter of the year.The FTSE 250 was down 130.67 points, 0.6%, at 20,431.90, though the

French firm lowers forecastsBlames supply-chain issuesUK companies closely linkedUK aerospace and defence suppliers were knocked lower by a warning from Toulouse-based Airbus (AIR:EPA), which cut both its production forecast and its earnings outlook for this year due to continuing geopolitical and supply chain tensions.UK engineering companies such as Rolls-Royce (RR.) and Melrose (MRO), together

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

Equities in London traded mixed at the start of the week, with some US tech sector nerves hurting sentiment, with eyes turning to elections in the UK and France as polling day edges ever closer.The FTSE 100 index traded 7.66 points higher, 0.1%, at 8,245.38. The FTSE 250 was down 50.12 points, 0.3%, at 20,392.23, though the AIM All-Share fell 0.41 of a point, 0.1%, at 772.16.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0