Just over five years ago the stock market began to react in earnest to news of the Covid pandemic.The sell-off was short and sharp, with a modest recovery from the lows in the spring followed by sharper gains in November 2020 after AstraZeneca (AZN) made a vaccine breakthrough.However, a large number of UK stocks are still trading below the levels they were at by the close of trading on 21...

Announces £350 million share buybackFull year dividend per share up 6% to 24pAccelerated artificial intelligence roll outShares in Pearson (PSON) gained over 4% to £13.93 in early morning trading as the education media group gave a positive full year 2025 outlook in line with market expectations.Investors were also cheered by news of a £350 share buyback, highlighting the company's strong...

Publisher Pearson (PSON) has gone through many incarnations during its 180-year history from starting out as a civil engineering business to the owner of The Financial Times to its current focus on education.The company is going through change once again with the appointment of new CEO Omar Abbosh in January this year and the early signs are good with the company recently announcing a positive...

Shares up 17% over the past year5% rise in third quarter underlying group sales£500 million share buyback completedShares in Pearson (PSON) were up more than 3% to £11.13 as the education media group said it was on track to meet full year expectations in a third-quarter trading update.Underlying group sales growth, adjusted operating profit, interest and tax outlook for 2024 remain in line...

London's equity markets started the week on a strong footing on Monday, though the pound weakened ahead of a trio of central bank decisions.The Bank of England will announce its latest interest rate decision on Thursday, after rate calls from the Bank of Japan and the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday.The FTSE 100 index traded up 60.77 points, or 0.7%, at 8,346.48 on Monday afternoon. The FTSE...

On track to deliver full year 2024New artificial tools announcedUnderlying adjusted operating profit up 4% to £250 millionShares in Pearson (PSON) were down over 3% to £10.10 in morning trading despite the education media group remaining on track to deliver full year 2024 and reiterating guidance for 2025.Beyond 2025, Pearson said it was positioned to deliver a compound annualised growth...

London?s FTSE 100 ended higher on Friday, but suffered another losing week, as focus turns to some key updates on fiscal policy in the UK and monetary policy in the eurozone.On Wednesday, the UK government delivers its latest budget, expected to be the final one before a general election. On Thursday, the European Central Bank announces its latest interest rate decision.The FTSE 100 index rose...

London stocks were in the green at midday on Friday, although new data showed a continuing downturn last month for the UK?s manufacturing sector.The FTSE 100 index was up 48.70 points, 0.6%, at 7,678.72. The FTSE 250 was up 158.18 points, 0.8%, at 19,213.05, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.06 of a point at 736.56.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.5% at 769.62, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.6% at 16573.29,...

Shares up 6% over past yearUnderlying sales rise 5% to £3.7 billionFree cash flow of £387 millionShares in Pearson (PSON) improved 4% to 998.2p after the education media group reported a positive set of results for the year to December 2023.The FTSE 100 company reported a rise in adjusted operating profit from £456 million to £573 million.EPS (earnings per share) rose 12.4% to 58.2p and...

English Language Learning sales up 30%Company delivers £120 million in cost savings£300 million share buyback continuesShares in Pearson (PSON) were little changed at 964p in morning trading as the education publishing group reported underlying group sales growth of 5% for the full year excluding discontinued businesses which are under strategic review. GUIDANCE MAINTAINEDThe company...

Shares in education media group Pearson (PSON) have been in a rising trend since August, up 19% to 968p as investors reappraise the company's prospects.Helping to sustain the upward share price movement was a well-received trading update on 30 October where the company upgraded its full-year operating profit guidance by £20 million to a new range of £570 million to £575 million and started...

Stocks in London started the week on the front foot ahead a week dominated by central bank meetings, before ending with a US jobs report.Among individual shares, Pearson and Airtel Africa impressed, though HSBC ensured it would be a tepid end to the earnings seasons for the FTSE 100-listed banking sector.The FTSE 100 index closed up 36.11 points, 0.5%, at 7,327.39. The FTSE 250 ended up 151.36...

Stock prices in London were up at midday on Monday ahead of this week's central bank decisions in Japan, the US and the UK, and amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.The FTSE 100 index was up 62.88 points, 0.9%, at 7,354.16. The FTSE 250 was up 165.83 points, 1.0%, at 17,032.25, and the AIM All-Share was up 4.97 points, 0.7%, at 679.43.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.8% at 733.40, the Cboe UK...

Group revenue up 5%Upgrades guidance by circa £20 millionNew CEO Omar Abbosh starts 8 January 2024Shares in Pearson (PSON) were marginally higher in morning trading to 931p as the education publishing group reported 5% growth in group revenue (excluding the OPM business) for the nine months ending 30 October 2023.Strong performances came from its Pearson Vue and Pearson Test of English...

Arguably the world changed forever in November 2022 after OpenAI said it had created an interactive, conversational AI (artificial intelligence) which drives its ChatGPT app.According to a Bloomberg report the US first quarter earnings season witnessed a 77% increase in company references to AI and related terms, showing company managements couldn't stop talking about it.Share prices of...

Shares up nearly 4% to 900pEnglish Language sales increased 44%Assessment & Qualifications sales up 7%Shares in Pearson (PSON) were up nearly 4% to 900p in early trading as the education publishing group reported a 44% increase in underlying adjusted operating profit to £250 million for the six months to 30 June 2023.Adjusted earnings per share grew 25.6p compared to 22.5p in the first half...

There are an increasing number of large firms which are thinking about changing their main share listing from the UK to the US or elsewhere, raising fears London is losing its importance.This article explains why companies are giving serious thought to this issue and who might be next to press the button.Irish building materials giant CRH (CRH) is the latest firm to decide to move its main...

The introduction of a new disruptive technology always creates winners and losers. The market's current hot-button theme of artificial intelligence is no exception.The founder and chief investment officer of asset manager GQG Partners, Rajiv Jain, was on record in the Financial Times at the start of June as saying there will be more losers than winners from the development of AI.In this...

There is no hotter area to invest in today than artificial intelligence, or AI as it is commonly known. Ever since OpenAI's ChatGPT took the world by storm, investors have been racing to find winners from this explosive trend.Corporate leaders, meanwhile, have been scrambling to prove to investors that they are harnessing the technology to drive revenue growth, improve operational efficiency,...

Given some of the most successful fund managers go to the trouble of calculating the average age of companies in their portfolios it is fair to conclude it is an important characteristic of how they invest.In this article we look at why longevity in companies matters and identify some of the oldest firms across the UK, Europe, and US. Later in the article we look at some of the oldest...