Blue-chips in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red midday Tuesday, as investors fretted over the outlook for China's economy after some less-than-stellar data.'Chinese exports grew at a slower pace in November versus October, and imports shrank. That doesn't install much confidence about Beijing's efforts to get the country back on top. The prospect of higher tariffs on Chinese goods...

Recent trading exceeds forecastsProfit seen well above targetAnalyst cites turnaround successCyber security and software firm NCC Group (NCC) surprised the market with a positive half year trading update and an increase to its financial outlook.The shares climbed 15p or 10% to a new year-high of 167p, closing the yawning gap in the price after the firm downgraded forecasts 18 months ago due to...

There were several trends in the UK stock market this year which, if you managed to identify them, served you well.Most obviously, although it may not have seemed it at the index level, large-cap stocks generally performed better than small- and mid-caps, although for the lucky few the small-cap space has been rife with takeover activity.In terms of sectors, aerospace and defence topped the...

Trust returns to long-run outperformance trendBenchmark-beating 17.6% returnUK mid-caps cheaper than large-capsJean Roche-run investment trust Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP) returned to form in style over the year ended 30 September 2023, delivering a net asset value total return of 17.6% versus the disappointing 30% decline in the previous year.This beat the 13.6% total return from the...

FTSE 250 cybersecurity consultancy NCC (NCC) lost 40% of its market value after slashing annual guidance for the year to 31 May 2023 last week (31 Mar). The company had anticipated 'adjusted operating profit' of around £47 million, it's now looking at between £28 million and £32 million. No wonder the share price was hammered, plunging roughly 60p to 94p.NCC claims that 'market volatility...

- Stock falls after 'significant risk' to earnings warning- Escrow revenues have been shrinking for four years- Borrowing costs jump 350% on higher interest ratesCyber security consultancy NCC (NCC) is facing stiffening headwinds that could knock earnings and send the share price down. This is the claim from analysts at investment bank Berenberg, who have cut forecasts and lowered the target...

The sell-off in technology stocks since the September 2021 peak as the markets rotate out of growth and into value picks has given DIY investors plenty to chew over.Many UK tech companies have seen valuations hammered, with share prices falling by up to 40% with no meaningful change to earnings, said Canaccord Genuity analysts in a note to clients on Tuesday (1 February 2022).This, Canaccord...

UK stocks represent a 'once in a generation' opportunity for investors, say fund managers. After years dogged by political and economic uncertainty, and soggy stock market performance, this is a welcome change of mood music.'UK equities are on a 30 year low versus peers, and we see this as a once in a generation opportunity to get involved in some fantastic businesses,' said Rory Bateman,...

London's FTSE 100 opened lower on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve brought forward the timeline to begin tightening interest rates, with two hikes now forecast in 2023.AJ Bell financial analyst Danni Hewson commented: 'For now investors seem to largely be taking these developments in their stride - perhaps reassured by Fed chair Jay Powell's comments that the guidance for two interest...

There is no shortage of books on how to be a better investor - a fair selection of them have been reviewed by Shares - but there are precious few guides on how to spot corporate misdoing and save yourself from losing money when a company collapses.Former AAA-rated New Star and Artemis fund manager Tim Steer has written the book we've all been waiting for: The Signs Were There: the clues for...

Cyber security consultancy NCC (NCC) has said its results for the year to 31 May will be 'comfortably ahead' of market expectations, sparking a significant rally in the share price.Shares in the Manchester-based business surged nearly 13% in early trading on Tuesday to 197.4p, their highest since early March.FIRST CUTS WERE THE DEEPESTConsensus expectations had been pitched at adjusted...

Cyber security specialist NCC (NCC) continues its recovery from a February warning of softer UK demand and staffing issues with today's trading update as the shares advance 6.9% to 171p.NCC has two key divisions, one provides software escrow services, which basically means it keeps safe vital code for enterprise software and applications.The two sides of the business complement each other....

London shares open on a subdued note in early trade on Thursday as investors await the latest EU-wide interest rate decision from the European Central Bank at midday.While little is anticipated to have changed in terms of guidance market watchers are hopeful that the language used will be of an increasingly optimistic hue, with economic risk moving a little more to the downside.But this...

Broadband and calls supplier TalkTalk (TALK) is firmly backed by investors in early trade on Tuesday, the stock rallying around 6% to 116.7p, after the company lays out a promising trading update.The embattled company has been gripped by an intense price war with big rivals like BT (BT.A), Sky (SKY) and Virgin and has faced other issues, but news today that it has added 80,000 customers,...

London's FTSE 100 ticks 77 points higher to 7,681 on Wednesday, investors evidently regaining confidence with miners, tobacco sellers and drug companies in demand early on.High-end housebuilder Berkeley (BKG) cheapens 3.5% to £39.93 after warning that profit growth will slow to 'more normal levels' from 2018/19, when profits are expected to be around 30% lower.Results for the year ended 30...

Cambridge-based GRC International (GRC:AIM) has raised £5m to support growth plans as part of its listing on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market today (5 March).Its shares jumped more than 23% to 86.5p in early trading as investors rushed to get exposure to the cyber security training and consultancy business.Investors are no doubt also attracted to the stock because its chairman and 19.6%...

The cyber security space is one of the most in-demand UK technology investment themes. Market appetite has been encouraged by a combination of high profile hacking attacks (TalkTalk (TALK), the NHS, Sony, eBay, Uber; it's a long list) plus tightening regulations on organisations.For example, European general data protection rules (GDPR) are set to come into force from May 2018.In tandem with...

Manchester-based NCC (NCC) is showing genuine signs ofstability and recovery after a difficult period in late 2016 and early 2017.Investor sentiment is starting to improve towards the company and its prospects, and we believe there could be at least 20% upside to the share price over the next year.NCC is a cyber-security consultant and provider of software escrow services, which basically...

London's blue-chip benchmark opens 35 points lower at 7,369.2 with investors waiting on a string of UK inflation data out mid-morning from the Bank of England, the country's consumer-price index in particular focus.In corporate news, construction services group Carillion (CLLN), whose shares collapsed following a profit warning last week, rebounds 8.2% to 72.35p after bagging two new...

Tuesday 18 JulyFull year figures from NCC (NCC) on 18 July could be ugly. Expect a slump in pre-tax profit (to about £26.6m) and a sizeable hike in net debt thanks to lost contracts, write-downs and two profit warnings. There should be an update on the internal strategic review, designed to get the cyber security consultancy back on track.