Given the depressed valuation of the UK stock market ? and the even more depressed valuation of UK commercial property ? it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a fund to seize on the opportunities on offer.Enter Special Opportunities REIT, a new internally-managed real estate investment trust aimed at capitalising on the abundance of value in the UK commercial property sector 'at

What links Tesco (TSCO), Sainsbury (SBRY), Asda, Waitrose, John Lewis, Diageo (DGE), Pret A Manger, Greggs (GRG), Coca-Cola (KO:NYSE), Carlsberg (CARL:CPH) and Budweiser-owner Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD:NYSE)?It might surprise you that it's a £135 million AIM-listed UK technology company based in Guildford. Meet Eagle Eye Solutions (EYE:AIM), an ambitious business which is trying to transform how

The UK blue-chip index ended Thursday on a high note after data suggested that Omicron infections are less likely to require hospital care.Initial findings from four separate Omicron studies were released on 22 December, two from the UK, one from South Africa, and another from Denmark. All offered an optimistic assessment of the latest Covid strain, agreeing that the severity of illness appears to

The UK blue-chip index hit a six-week high on the last full trading day before Christmas as findings from a number of Omicron studies lifted the market mood.Initial findings from four separate Omicron studies were released on 22 December, two from the UK, one from South Africa, and another from Denmark. All offered an optimistic assessment of the latest Covid strain, agreeing that the severity of

London's FTSE 100 edged 0.21% higher to 7,356.94 points on the last full trading day before Christmas, as investors welcomed news that the Omicron variant may not be as severe as previous strains.Citing data from an Oxford University laboratory study, drugs giant AstraZeneca (AZN) said a three dose course of its Covid-19 vaccine is effective against the highly transmissible new strain.This gave a

Shares in retail and leisure property company NewRiver REIT (NRR) jumped 14% to 84.75p on above-average volume after the firm posted a sharp increase in earnings and raised its dividend.Thanks to an improving market background in the retail sector and a large dose of self-help, the shopping mall and retail park owner reported a 67% rise in underlying funds from operations to £15.5 million for the

Among the stock market's most spectacular share price appreciation stories of recent years is Premier Foods (PFD). The cake, gravy and cooking sauces maker known for brands including Mr Kipling, Bisto, Ambrosia, Sharwood's and Loyd Grossman.Languishing at 19.4p in March, Premier Foods' shares are now priced at 95p, having enjoyed a stunning re-rating thanks to improving earnings momentum as well a

UK stocks continued to fall throughout trading on Friday morning, having been led down by the airlines after the Government's sudden decision to quarantine arrivals from France, the Netherlands and Malta.The new quarantine rules for British travellers helped take the shine off what had been a strong week of stock market gains that were mostly powered by bets of more economic stimulus.Also disappoi

UK markets retreated in early trading on Friday as a surprise dip in Chinese retail sales dashed hopes for a swift post-pandemic recovery. New quarantine rules for British travellers also helped take the shine off a strong week of stock market gains that were powered by bets of more economic stimulus.The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 0.73% at 6,140.24, with investors also treading water ahead of a w

Travel operator TUI (TUI) is to lose its place in the FTSE 100 after its recent share price slump made it too small to qualify for the blue chip index.Index provider FTSE Russell reshuffles the FTSE 100 basket every quarter, ejecting any stock whose ranking drops below 110, and promoting into the index any that ranks 90 or higher.TUI shares have fallen by 42% year-to-date as investors worry that t

Investors in LF Woodford Equity Income Fund (BLRZQ62) will have to wait until at least December before they can access their money.Buying and selling in the fund has been suspended since 3 June and will stay that way until later this year while fund manager Neil Woodford restructures the portfolio to focus mainly on large and mid-cap stocks in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices.Analysis of company

After a disappointing day on Friday, the FTSE 100 is building on the record high set last week, up 0.6% to 7,823.96. The weekend saw some progress on trade talks between the US and China.Ryanair (RYA) posts a 10% increase in annual profit after it carries more passengers and fills a greater proportion of seats on each flight.The budget carrier, however, says it expects profit to fall in the 2019 f

The FTSE 100 opens down by nine points to 7,404.34 after US and Asian markets posted gains overnight. US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has indicated that any interest rate raises would be gradual which seems to have calmed markets worried about unexpected hikes.Struggling construction services company Carillion (CLLN) gets some reprieve as its shares recover 10.3% to 61.15p. The firm has had

One of the areas worst affected by the EU referendum was the UK property sector whose performance is dependent on the health of the economy. Many of the real-estate investment trusts (REITs) suffered sharp falls in their share prices, but confidence has improved due to the resilience of the economic data.Neil Woodford thinks that people are too downbeat about the UK economy and has included the Ne

A lot of people moan about how difficult it is to get a decent income from the market, but is it really that hard?The FTSE 100 index currently yields 3.86%, so you can buy a low-cost tracker fund and get that level of income with relative ease. Getting a higher level of income is also fairly easy if you do some research.This article discusses the stocks, ETFs and funds with the potential - but not

The search for income has been at the top of many investors' agenda in 2015. We all love to sit back and scoop up the cash from dividends. Sadly, the risks associated with dividends are becoming elevated amid corporate cash flow pressures.Anyone who depends on dividend income to pay the bills or maintain a decent lifestyle should take a close look at equity income funds. For a small fee you can ac

Investors are trying to sort the wheat from the chaff in early trade on Friday after a barrage of relatively hawkish Fedspeak yesterday weighed on markets. That comes on the back of a weak showing on Wall Street overnight, where both the Dow and S&P 500 ended the session around 1.4% down. In London, the FTSE 100 benchmark index drifts lower with little in the way of strong positive corporate news

Income is the main attraction for people investing in a real estate investment trust (REIT). These property-focused funds avoid paying corporation or capital gains tax on their rental income or cash generated from asset sales if they return 90% of their profits to shareholders as dividends.Not only do REITs hand more of their earnings to shareholders than most other listed companies, but the money

Whether it is to be celebrated or viewed as an ominous sign, the UK economy is once again relying on consumer spending to sustain growth as other sectors misfire. Exports are weak, investment is low but the British consumer, buoyed by rising wages and the benefits of the commodity market rout, is proving a resilient source of demand.Researchers have recently shown a marked pick-up in consumer conf

Bank of England governor Mark Carney's hint earlier that interest rates could start rising by the 'turn of the year' is unlikely to dampen the attraction of equities as a core source of income for a considerable amount of time.Any rise in the base rate from the 0.5% at which it has been held for more than six years is expected to be modest with some believing it could take three years to reach 2%.