American novelist Ernest Hemmingway coined the phrase 'gradually then suddenly' in his 1926 Novel The Sun also Rises, and that seems an appropriate description of investor's reaction to rising bond yields.UK 10-year bond yields sit just shy of 5% compared with close to 4% in the middle of October, to reach their highest level since October 2007, on the eve of the financial crisis. This is higher t

Brent crude hits $80 per barrelIAG shares down 3% to 304pEasyJet shares down 2% to 495pAirline stocks took a turn for the worse in morning trading on Monday (13 Jan) as Brent crude hit $80 per barrel ? a four month high ? driven by wider US sanctions on Russian oil and the expected effects on exports to top buyers China and India.Brent crude rose $1.68 or 2.1% per barrel to $81.44 after hitting th

With just over a month to go until the US presidential elections, Shares takes stock of where the two candidates stand in the polls and what the implications of a Democrat or Republican victory would mean for investors.There is no question the televised debate earlier this month was negative for Donald Trump, to the extent he refused to schedule a re-match.Yet, despite his poor performance, voting

A series of recent announcements from Western brands and businesses have revealed how tough they are finding life in China.While some of this is linked to the uneven performance of the world's largest economy, shifting consumer habits and trends are also at play.On 6 August, Holiday Inn owner InterContinental Hotels (IHG) reported business in China had declined 7% in the second quarter after an 2.

Investors looking to pin the blame for the sudden panic in markets might wonder whether US chip firm Intel's (INTC:NASDAQ) decision to lay off staff and cut spending, triggering a 26% fall in the share price on 2 August, was the trigger for the broad sell-off.While Intel may have played a part, the root cause of the market's current malaise is the unwinding of the 'carry trade' involving the Japan

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE James Thom, Investment Manager, abrdn New India Investment Trust plcAn unexpected election result saw Modi's BJP lose its majority.The result has created volatility but is unlikely to derail the economic growth trajectory in India.India still has a significant pathway of growth.Indian stock markets have regained some equilibrium after the shock of the General Electi

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

This column has no axe to grind with Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ) and ? like everyone else ? it continues to be both surprised and impressed by the growth that the semiconductor specialist is generating, thanks to the competitive position it is crafting itself in providing silicon chips that power the data centres that, in turn, drive the large language models that are so important to the development of A

One of the factors undoubtedly helping lift the UK stock market to new highs this year is an upturn in M&A (merger and acquisition) activity.According to Dealogic, the value of UK takeovers so far in 2024 is more than $78 billion, the highest level since 2018, as overseas buyers in particular home in on the undervaluation of the market.'The UK has become structurally very attractive for M&A. There

Copper is already one of the most important materials underpinning human civilisation, and the energy transition is only likely to see demand for the industrial metal build in the years to come.Limits and pressures on supply and this growing demand profile are already seeing copper prices mount a charge and recent M&A activity ? with BHP's (BHP) unsuccessful (for now) attempt to take over Anglo Am

One of the most compelling reasons for investing through a Junior ISA is to help provide your offspring with the necessary funds to leave university without the burden of onerous debts.If you invested the whole allowance of £9,000 every year from birth until your child reached 18 they would inherit a pot worth £229,000 based on an annual return of 4.5% and with charges of 0.75% factored in. Best

Sales and profit ahead of expectationsFull year outlook raisedWegovy demand outstripping supplyDanish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (NOVO-B:CPH), known for its leading weight-loss drug Wegovy, delivered better than expected first quarter sales and earnings and raised its full year profit outlook.After initially opening higher the shares fell back 2% on worries over lower pricing of Wegovy in t

The shrinking UK stock market is a worry for fund managers and has wider implications for the UK as a listing venue as well as the UK?s economic growth, say analysts at Peel Hunt.This article explores the so-called de-equitisation of the UK stock market, or plainly put the substitution of debt for equity via share buybacks and cash acquisitions.More than 45 companies exited the UK market in 2023 d

The world of fantasy is clearly having a moment. The rise of ?romantasy? authors like Sarah J Maas, who has been a big part of UK publishing outfit Bloomsbury?s (BMY) recent success, have taken the genre out of its previous male-dominated realm to a whole new audience.Bloomsbury?s surging sales and the ongoing phenomenon that is Games Workshop (GAW) are two examples on the UK market which show the

We are weeks away from the end of the tax year and inevitably there is plenty of focus on ISAs ? whether that relates opening an account or using up existing allowances.In all the hoo-hah it?s easy to lose sight of just what a compelling vehicle this is for investors. Whatever you are investing for, whether it?s the cost of the kids? education, to supplement your income in retirement or to fund ho

More and more UK companies are buying back their own shares. Data collected by Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, shows share buybacks at FTSE 100 companies are running at an aggregate value of £18.3 billion so far in 2024.Despite being only two months into the year, the value of buybacks already equates to 35% of the whole value of buybacks in 2023.This isn?t just a UK phenomenon either

Shares in publishing outfit Bloomsbury Publishing (BMY) hit a record level on 14 February after the firm raised its guidance for the year ending 29 February 2024.Over the past year, Bloomsbury shares have gained 22% and over five years 137% to sit at 536p. The publisher has clearly benefited from the revival of reading which started during the pandemic and the ability to tap into popular genres li

Buybacks are heavily in fashion with UK companies right now. The latest names to declare sizeable share buybacks include Barclays (BARC) and InterContinental Hotels (IHG), which between them plan to repurchase more than £1.5 billion worth of stock this year. Notably, Shell (SHEL), which cut its dividend for the first time since the Second World War in 2020, has shifted towards large buybacks in r

The last two years have seen unprecedented levels of outflows from funds invested in UK equities.Across the course of 2022 and 2023, around £25 billion was withdrawn from these funds by retail investors. This isn?t a new phenomenon. UK funds have seen outflows every year since 2016, to the tune of £46 billion in total. This feels like a significant and longstanding shift in consumer behaviour, s

Fantasy and sci-fi demand lift salesRevenue of £291.4 million expectedShares gain 7% to new life-highShares in Bloomsbury Publishing (BMY) were up over 7% to a new all-time high of 527p in morning trading as the book publisher said it expected revenue and pre-tax profit to be ?significantly ahead' of upgraded market expectations for the year ending 29 February 2024.The book publishers? board expe