THIS IS AN ADVERTISING PROMOTIONPetards (PEG:AIM) is a well-established AIM-listed software developer of advanced security and surveillance systems, providing technology based solutions to the Rail, Traffic & Defence sectors.SECTOR SYNOPSIS - POSITIONING FOR GROWTHPetards Rail designs hardware and software systems which are located on-board trains under the 'eyeTrain' brand. These are...

'Form is temporary, class is permanent' runs the old adage often used to describe sportsmen and sportswomen, though the maxim can also be applied in the investment industry, where you'll find a cohort of collectives that consistently do the business for their holders.Funds that routinely outperform over economic and stock market cycles must be pursuing a winning process that should pique the...

Despite healthy double-digit gains in 2021, driven by successful vaccination rollouts and recovering economies, major stock markets around the world appear to have stalled since early May.London's FTSE 100, the Standard and Poors 500, Japan's Nikkei 225 the Nasdaq 100 indices have failed so far to push on from recent highs.The exception is emerging markets with Brazil's Bovespa index up 6%,...

Since the Covid bottom in March 2020, London's FTSE 100 has rebounded by 36% to 7,061.78 points, but the FTSE 250 has rallied an even more impressive 67.8% to 22,813.47 and this index of 'second liners' is testing new highs.Mid cap companies are attractive to investors for a variety of reasons; more established than smaller firms, they are regarded as less risky, yet they also tend to be...

The FTSE 100 fell further into the red after an earlier rise as the exporter-heavy index was hit by a gain in the pound following news that the UK has compromised over its initial deadline for a Brexit trade deal to be done.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pushed back the deadline for a trade deal with the EU from 15 October, with talks now set to continue until the end of the month.The UK's...

UK shares swung to the red by lunchtime on Wednesday with the benchmark FTSE 100 index hit by rising Brexit uncertainty, the growing threat of another national lockdown and a rise in the pound.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reportedly pushed back the deadline for a Brexit deal to be completed, with the original deadline for a trade deal with the EU of 15 October scrapped as talks are now set...

UK started Wednesday's trading session on the front foot as a weaker pound lifted shares of exporters, although growing political wrangling over new Covid-19-related restrictions and uncertainty over a Brexit trade deal capped gains.The benchmark FTSE 100 rose 0.4% to 5,995.04, led by shares of Just Eat Takeaway (JET) and Bunzl (BNZL). Aero-engineer Rolls Royce (RR.) and the usual mix of...

The price-to-earnings (PE) ratio is a great starting point for beginner investors looking to get to grips with the valuation of companies listed on the stock market.However, it has big limitations. It won't, for example, give you any idea on the trajectory of a firm's earnings.THE PEG RATIOA measure which takes the PE a step further and looks to incorporate earnings growth is the...

Many people are prepared to pay a high price for growth in the current market. Indeed, Shares has been keen to extol the virtues of quality businesses capable of growing despite a troubled backdrop.However, we sense growing interest in the market for value opportunities and our research shows it is currently possible to find decent companies trading at attractive prices.Warren Buffett famously...

Having opened lower, London's FTSE 100 edged 15.1 points higher to 7,329.1 on Thursday as tension mounted ahead of the Bank of England's latest interest rate decision and after last night's rate cut by the US Federal Reserve left investors confused. While the cut was widely expected, the market doesn't know what to make of split views in the Fed as policymakers in the committee failed to agree...

Warren Buffett once said that as an investor, it is wise to be 'fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful'.Fear is not in short supply right now.There are rising concerns over the state of the US economy, and whether after a number of relative boom years, slowing growth might lead to a recession.Interest rates are rising, inflation is emerging and there is the not...

Most active investors want to stamp their own personality on their investing strategy, tailoring their tactics to suit the individual. This might be growth or income, a bit of both, higher risk or belt and braces, overseas stocks or companies in your own backyard.But there are several common and simple investment styles and tactics that can help you bridge the gap from stock market wheeler...

Online delivery platform Just Eat (JE.) has been a superstar since joining the stock market in 2014. The value of its business has grown so much that it will join the FTSE 100 index on 18 December, putting the stock alongside some of the world's biggest and best known companies.This feat is quite remarkable when you consider its business merely facilitates the ordering of takeaway food via...

The Government is poised to announce a change in the rate used by courts to work out compensation payments for victims of car accidents. This could have a significant impact on motor insurers and their share prices.Our preferred name in this space, Hastings (HSTG), looks relatively unaffected by the anticipated changes and could even benefit in some respects.WHAT IS THE OGDEN RATE?The Ogden...

In the wake of Monday's stock market surge investors are looking largely puffed-out in early trade on Tueday with little sign of strong movement one way or the other. The FTSE 100 index nudges around 7 points lower, or about 0.06%, to 6,807, although there is a marginally firmer downward wind blowing across midcaps, the FTSE 250 off 0.11%.'The reason behind this sudden slowdown is likely the...

On 5 September the £24.3 billion acquisition of UK microchip designs champion ARM by Japan's Softbank (9984:T) was officially sealed and, in doing so, a high quality company has been removed from the UK stock market.Investors who were lucky enough to own the shares are set to get their slice of the takeover proceeds over the coming days. ARM's timetable implies the cash will be making its way...

The financial markets offer a route to achieving inflation-busting returns. Are you taking advantage of this opportunity or letting cash sit idle in the bank with minimal returns? Now is the time to sit up and put your money to work.The latest Barclays Equity Gilt Study - a widely followed benchmark of the returns from different assets - shows that over the past 50 years, once the impact of...

Investors who want to benefit from the Summer Festival vibe should take a look at Focusrite (TUNE:AIM), a profitable and cash generative company which is leading the music creation industry.The £110 million cap, which floated on AIM in December, provides recording equipment for artists like Madonna, Emelie Sande and Will.i.am. Its Novation division lets artists make electronic music using...

The location, size, age and attractiveness of a property are all relevant factors when buying a home in much the same way as the sector, track record and earnings quality help us to decide whether to invest in a share. In both cases it is absolutely critical not to ignore the price tag.Even the very best property or company could be a bad investment if you pay too much for it - sites such as...

One of the most effective ways to spot potential winners is to use a stock screener. These can quickly scan a vast number of shares to identify those that meet your preferred technical or fundamental criteria.If you have never used a screener before you might want to start by having a look at one of the free ones available on financial websites such as Digital Look, the Motley Fool, or...