The US market lost its recent momentum in a big way this past week as shares collapsed on the 18 December with the S&P 500 enduring its worst day since 2001.The trigger for the sell-off was a hawkish tone from the US Federal Reserve even as it announced its latest interest rate cut.With officials signaling growing concern over the threat posed by inflation, the market moved quickly to reset bets o

Fans of Gene Roddenberry's long running Star Trek television and film franchise will know that any would-be captain of a Starfleet vessel had to complete the so-called Kobayashi Maru test, a simulation from which there was no way out, to see how they responded to extreme pressure. The first captain of the USS Enterprise, James T. Kirk, earned his place at Starfleet Academy by reprogramming the com

Funds inevitably have their up and downs in performance. When a fund has gone through a particularly poor spell, does this represent a buying opportunity for investors in the expectation it will bounce back to form?Likewise for existing investors, should they stick or twist? Fortunately, there are lots of studies from the institutional fund management world which provide answers to that question a

As Sabuhi Gard covers in a piece of news analysis this week, China-related stocks and funds are flying thanks to Beijing's announcement of a big stimulus package.However, there is one industry with ties to the world's second largest economy which is very much not joining in the party ? the car manufacturers.On 30 September, Stellantis (STLAM:BIT) ? one of the biggest European car producers compris

Stocks in London closed mostly higher on Monday, as analysts say expectations of a 50 basis point rate cut from the US Federal Reserve have grown since last week.The FTSE 100 index rose 5.35 points, or 0.1%, at 8,278.44. The FTSE 250 ended up 34.22 points, 0.2%, at 20,929.59, but the AIM All-Share eased 1.50 points, or 0.2%, at 743.73.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.1% to 827.78, the Cboe UK 250 fell sligh

London's FTSE 100 index fell on Tuesday, amid share price falls for some of its largest constituents, including AstraZeneca, BP and Shell.The FTSE 100 index fell 64.86 points, or 0.8%, at 8,205.98. The FTSE 250 ended flat at 20,656.14, and the AIM All-Share eased 2.87 points, or 0.4%, at 743.86.5.The Cboe UK 100 slid 0.6% to 821.91, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.1% at 18,185.65, and the Cboe Small Compan

Blue chips traded lower at midday on Tuesday, pegged back by falls in several index heavyweights, in a mixed day for stocks in London.The FTSE 100 index traded down 43.48 points, 0.5%, at 8,227.36. The FTSE 250 was up 32.47 points, 0.2%, at 20,683.35, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.69 of a point, 0.1%, at 746.04.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 823.76, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.4% at 18,228.80, and

London's FTSE 100 fell in early trading on Tuesday, underperforming European peers, pegged back by a sharp fall in AstraZeneca shares.The FTSE 100 index traded down 27.30 points, 0.3%, at 8,243.54. The FTSE 250 was up 57.16 points, 0.3%, at 20,708.04, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.87 of a point, 0.1%, at 747.60.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 824.77, the Cboe UK 250 rose 0.4% at 18,235.85, and

Investor excitement surrounding weight-loss drugs has arguably been as great if not greater than that seen for everything AI (artificial intelligence) in the last two years.Market leaders Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B:CPH) and Eli Lilly (LLY:NYSE), makers of Wegovy and Zepbound respectively, have seen their share prices soar as investors seemingly extrapolate their initial success years into the future.Ben

For all of its current challenges, China's economy is still the second largest in the world, trailing that of only America. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, Chinese GDP had from $1.2 trillion in 2000 to almost $18 trillion in 2023 (and thus as big as Germany, Japan, India, the UK and Brazil combined). That is a compound annual growth rate of 12.4%.Yet for all of this phenome

Stock prices in London opened largely in the green on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 registering a solid gain before an expected Bank of England rate hold in the early afternoon.There was a slew of M&A updates in early UK corporate news, adding some excitement before Threadneedle Street takes centre-stage.The FTSE 100 index traded 22.16 points higher, 0.3%, at 8,227.27. The FTSE 250 was up 65.85 poin

Stocks in London made a cautious start to the week, with falls in mining stocks pegging back the FTSE 100 after mixed economic data from China.The FTSE 100 index traded down 7.60 points, 0.1%, at 8,139.26. The FTSE 250 edged up just 1.22 points to 20,121.58, and the AIM All-Share lost 0.54 of a point, 0.1%, at 775.50.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 810.01, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.1% at 17,517.86

'Quality investing' is the style pursued by the world's most famous investor Warren Buffett and Terry Smith, arguably the best-known British fund manager who runs the five-star Morningstar-rated Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7) and consistently favours quality firms. Quality investing has generated strong long-run returns for its practitioners, including Buffett, but how do the leading fund managers off

This year, Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ) shares have fallen nearly 9%. If that doesn?t sound like a big deal, consider that for the world?s second most valuable company it means the loss of something like $230 billion. That?s the equivalent of an entire PepsiCo (PEP:NASDAQ), or Shell (SHEL) ? the UK?s current largest company ? plus a British American Tobacco (BATS) thrown in.On a one-year view, the stock ha

The new tax year often brings a raft of changes that impact people?s pay, investments and savings ? and this year is no different. Here we list the big changes affecting people?s finances from next month.1. Capital Gains Tax breaks cut again?From April the tax-free allowance for capital gains tax (CGT) will be cut in half, from the current £6,000 down to just £3,000. It means the tax-free amount

Stock prices in London rose around midday Monday, including the FTSE 250, despite shares of Marshalls shedding due to a profit dive.The FTSE 100 index was up 21.69 points, 0.3%, at 7,749.11. The FTSE 250 was up 33.85 points, 0.2%, at 19,546.76, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 737.02.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 775.52, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.4% at 16,968.64, and the Cboe S

The end of the tax year is coming down the track fast and that means there are only weeks remaining to make full use of your £20,000 annual ISA allowance.Even if you are some way off this maximum limit or haven?t invested through an ISA at all in 2023/24, the rapidly approaching deadline is a good spur to look at the possibility of making money from the financial markets.Two weeks ago we ran an a

The end of the tax year is fast approaching and with it the opportunity to maximise your £20,000 ISA allowance for the year.In this article we have identified six names from a list of some of the most consistent funds and fund managers in the UK which could be a good fit for your tax wrapper. While we have aimed for a balance across different investment styles and asset classes this is not intend

London?s FTSE 100 went into the afternoon flat, with trade lacking conviction ahead of Wednesday?s main event, the Federal Reserve decision.US monetary policymakers are expected to wrap-up their two-day meeting with a hold to interest rates later.Before the decision is announced, there is a US jobs report from ADP at 1315 GMT, a precursor to Friday?s nonfarms. Elsewhere, the economic calendar has

Full year guidance downgradedDemand slows in retail businessReturning accessories to growth a ?key priority?Britons are famously devoted to their pets but a profit warning from Pets at Home (PETS) demonstrates there are limits to the sums they will spend on their furry friends.Shares in the UK pet care leader softened 2% to 287.5p after it said third quarter sales ?didn?t quite hit? anticipated le