Quantum computing has been setting the investment world on fire in recent months, and late last year, a handful of specialist stocks hit escape velocity.Between mid-November and the start of January, companies like Rigetti Computing (RGTI:NASDAQ) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS:NYSE), two of the most traded stocks among AJ Bell platform users, saw their share prices surge 1,400% and 600% respectively.Hea

Year to March 2024 mixedMedium-term strategy excitesShares jump 11% to year-highHigh-tech equipment maker Oxford Instruments (OXIG) posted a relatively unexceptional set of results for the year to March with a drop in operating margins and EPS (earnings per share) but outlined a plan to simplify the business and improve returns.Investors responded enthusiastically to the strategy reset, sending th

Whenever there is a discussion about ?quality? UK industrial stocks, the name Spectris (SXS) is often thrown into the ring although we suspect many investors, while being familiar with the company in a general sense, have little idea what it actually does.Looking on Stockopedia, the company has a 99th percentile quality ranking, which backs up its reputation, but it is classified as a large-cap te

There is no question the dominant theme in stock markets last year was AI (artificial intelligence), in particular generative AI.In an interview with Time magazine last June, Sam Altman ? the former chief executive of OpenAI, whose ChatGPT product has been at the forefront of the AI trend ? said he believes the technology will ?transform the way people work and the way people learn. It?s going to

Investors seeking to position portfolios for a rally in small and mid cap stocks should buy BlackRock Throgmorton Trust (THRG), a fund with a strong long-run performance record trading at a 7.2% discount to net asset value (NAV), wider than the 4.7% 12-month average.The sell-off in quality growth stocks caused by rising interest rates has been a headwind for the portfolio, but Shares sees manager

Over the last 15 years the electronics and electronic equipment space, home to some of the UK market's highest-quality engineering and capital goods firms, is the best performing sector in the FTSE 350 with an 11.7% compound annual return.The industrial engineering sector is not too far behind with its own annualised return of 9.7%. For comparison, the FTSE All-Share's annualised return over the s

Oxford Instruments' (OXIG) shares have typically traded above 20 times earnings over the last 10 years - a premium rating, but plenty of investors have regretted not buying them over the years.It has delivered a total return upwards of 100% over that period and the company is becoming an even more high-quality business capable of generating yet more impressive returns.Earnings forecasts have consi

- Full year 2023 operating profit to be above prior expectations- Strong trading expected to lead to broker upgrades- CEO Barkshire to be succeeded by Richard TysonTechnology products and services provider to industry and scientific research communities Oxford Instruments (OXIG) saw its shares gain over 5% to £25.80 on Thursday after it increased operating profit guidance above prior expectations

With engineering software company Aveva (AVV) poised to exit the stock market thanks to a takeover, it will mean losing the UK's largest 'tech' firm by market value, at £9.15 billion.Aveva has been majority owned by French industrial group Schneider Electric (SU:EPA) since 2017 and this shareholder now wants the whole business.That's a slightly different bid situation to most of the other tech ta

Potential bidders could soon emerge again for Oxford Instruments (OXIG) as confidence builds around the scientific equipment maker's financial performance.The company was recently the subject of a takeover bid by fellow FTSE 250 constituent Spectris (SXS), but the deal fell through, with Spectris backing off due to 'significant uncertainty in global economic conditions.' Oxford Instruments saw its

The economic instability in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine continued to spread after electronics giant Spectris (SXS) pulled the plug on its $2.4 billion acquisition of science equipment designer Oxford Instruments (OXIG).'Oxford Instruments is a quality company and the strategic and financial rationale for a combination of our businesses is highly compelling,' said Spectris chief executive A

Among the best kept investment secrets is the fact smaller companies typically outperform larger companies over the medium and long term thanks to characteristics ranging from innovation and faster organic growth to entrepreneurial management, agility in the face of change and the greater likelihood of a takeover bid.Within the UK's small cap funds and investment trusts sectors is an elite cohort

UK investors have witnessed a steady if unspectacular pandemic recovery for UK shares in the main. But some parts of the market have bounced further and faster, and the BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust (BRSC) is a great way to tap into the strength of the UK smaller company universe at a larger than usual discount to net asset value.In 2021 the FTSE Small Cap index has risen 22% while the FTSE 25

UK equity markets ended Tuesday's trading session in negative territory, in the wake of mixed corporate results and a pullback in American equity markets.The FTSE 100 index ended 0.35% weaker at 7275.1, and the FTSE 250 index finished 0.65% lower at 23,387.08.American equity markets retreated from their record highs, partly in response to data that showed produced prices increased 0.6% in October

UK equity markets struggled for directions ahead of the release of US producer price index data this afternoon with investors expecting the year-on-year rate for October to dip slightly to 8.6%.Investors will be watching closely for an indication that inflationary pressures are subsiding in line with central bank expectations.At lunchtime the FTS100 and FTSE 250 Indexes were trading 0.12% higher a

The promise of a quick return to form at fast-fashion chain Primark saw investors pile into owner Associated British Foods (ABF) in early trading on Tuesday, but FTSE 100 gains were capped by weakness in UK banks.Barclays (BARC), HSBC (HSBA), Lloyds (LLOY) and NatWest (NWG) were all off by varying degrees.Leading shares have indeed made an underwhelming start as the downbeat mood of the week conti

OXFORD INSTRUMENTS(OXIG) £26.95Gain to date: 98.2%Original entry point: Buy at £13.60, 7 November 2019Excellent companies often go about their business quietly and with little fanfare but, as one analyst said, 'it is one thing to grow sales and improve margins in strong markets, quite another to do it amid a global pandemic.'Oxford Instruments (OXIG) is a cutting-edge science tools designer and

London's FTSE 100 ended Tuesday with decent gains after closing 0.25% higher to 7,095.79 despite a slow start on Wall Street for US stocks.The UK's benchmark index was lifted by insurer Aviva (AV.), which gained after the arrival of activist investor Cevian, while the index also shook off an issue involving several major websites, which were down thanks to a problem at cloud computing firm Fastly.

London's FTSE 100 gained 0.3% to 7,097 by midday as shares in UK insurer Aviva (AV.) were lifted by the arrival of activist investor Cevian, while the index shook off an issue involving several major websites, which were down thanks to a problem at cloud computing firm Fastly.With little on the economic agenda apart from US job openings and trade figures, investors are keeping their powder dry unt

Major UK shares edged higher in early trading but gains modest as investors take a breather. The benchmark FTSE 100 inched less than four points higher, or 0.04%, to 7,079.25, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 was equally unenthusiastic, up a miniscule 0.08% at 22,925.64.With little on the economic agenda apart from US job openings and trade figures, investors are keeping their powder dry until the US in