Bunzl raises profit target againCapita and Serco orders growDriver the day?s star turnOn a good day for markets in general, UK business services firms were feeling the love after posting positive trading updates.Half a dozen firms, from FTSE 100 distributor Bunzl (BNZL) to FTSE 250 outsourcer Serco (SRP) and staffing firm SThree (STEM) all the way down to tiddlers Capita (CPI), Driver (DRV)...

Valuations for the small-cap asset class have returned to levels last seen during the Global Financial Crisis, and history shows that when valuations have plunged to similarly low levels in the past, stellar returns have ensued for small caps over the subsequent five years.A savvy way to gain differentiated exposure to this structurally-inefficient part of the market is through value-focused...

NAV gain of 21.4% compared with 16% loss in FTSE Small Cap indexValue investing mindset with concentrated portfolio approachUK small caps trading at deep discountSmall cap investing hasn't been easy of late with the FTSE Small Cap (ex investment trusts) index down 15.7% over the year to 31 March 2023.But small cap investment specialist Rockwood Strategic (RKW) delivered an increase in total...

- Shares plunge by more than a third after disappointing first-half results- Dividend cancelled- Analysts cut their earnings' forecastsShares in education technology group RM plc (RM.) slumped by 34% to 65.1p following the announcement of disappointing first half 2022 results that have prompted analysts' to downgrade their earnings' forecasts.Profit was impacted by freight costs, inflation and...

UK stocks pushed unconvincingly into positive territory at lunch time on Thursday while European bourses remained in the red.With Brexit negotiations front and centre, France warned that it could use its veto vote to block a deal if it doesn't like the terms, heaping more pressure on the talks as they approach their climax.At 12:00 the FTSE 100 was a smidge higher at 6,471 points. NEWS...

There is a growing trend for companies to report better than expected earnings and this is something that investors should follow. Earnings growth is one of the strongest catalysts for share price growth, so it pays to watch the companies doing well operationally and financially.Beating estimates in the current environment could be down to several reasons including management being too...

The UK votes today as millions of Brits hit polling stations up and down the country to select their next government. Latest polls predict a Conservative win, but the margin of victory is very much unknown. Read on for Shares in-depth coverage (initially published on 1 June) of how today's election result could affect UK plc, its companies, financial markets and the pound.Election countdown:...

London's high-flying FTSE 100 opens on a positive note, up 28.4 points to 7,548.4 helped by sterling weakness against the dollar and euro.In reverse however is bus and coach operator FirstGroup (FGP), marked down 6.1% to 140.7p. Although full year results show an improvement in pre-tax profit and cash generation, FirstGroup's outlook statement is cautious, management flagging 'opportunities...

The UK is now a week away from voting in the general election. At the time of writing, the Conservative Party held the lead in the polls although the gap against Labour has narrowed.The current market rally, as represented by the domestically-focused FTSE 250 index, implies a Tory victory. There wouldn't be any radical changes to how the country is run and Theresa May could concentrate on...

Education technology group RM (RM.) has caught our attention after reporting better than expect profit and finally making an acquisition that could change the dynamics of the business.The accompanying table from stockbroker FinnCap shows how the company has made big strides with profit generation in 2016.I've annotated how sales are falling faster than expected in two of its three...

Oil major BP (BP.) says it will only be able to balance its books at an oil price of around $60 per barrel by the end of the year as it misses fourth quarter profit expectations. The group reports a decline in earnings for the second consecutive year to the lowest in at least 10 years, and warns that capital expenditure in the current 12 months is now likely to be higher than previous guidance...

It's the New Year, the perfect time to put some more money to work in the markets and give your investment portfolio a boost with some healthy new ingredients.In particular, now is a good opportunity to use up any remaining bit of your ISA allowance to maximise tax benefits.Not sure where to invest? Fear not, as we've got nine superb stock ideas in this article (and a bonus stock to watch)....

US businesses under pressureCommercial bankruptcy filings in the US jumped 29% in the first half of 2016 prompting more worries of an economic slowdown in the country. In June, commercial filings increased 35% year-on-year, the eighth consecutive month the series has increased, according to a report by the American Bankruptcy Institute. (WC)Australia clamps down on gamblingA ban on greyhound...

Distributor Connect (CNCT) will look to do more deals on the back of its acquisition of parcels specialist Tuffnells in late 2014.Speaking after half-year results today, chief executive Mark Cashmore says mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are an important part of its strategy and more deals are possible over the next two to three years.Revenue at Tuffnells grew 12% year-on-year helping Connect as...

There's definitely potential in educational apps business RM (RM.), the struggle is extracting it in a meaningful way. You possibly already understand the whole issue with previous government's failed 'Building Schools for the Future' (BSF) programme in the early 2000's, if not, there's a handy box explaining it in brief below.We've said before that CEO David Brooks' strategy of flogging its...

It's a slight u-turn for pensioners after last year's generous Budget revealed greater flexibility for accessing retirement cash. Chancellor George Osborne has now cut the lifetime allowance for pensions which seems to go against all the positive measures unveiled over the past year.But there was good news that up to 5 million existing pensioners can swap their annuity for cash.The lifetime...

Digital learning is a big market that's getting bigger. With almost all children and adults owning computers and mobile devices, tapping into new technology makes perfect sense, although the scale of the commitment to IT spending remains a contentious issue. But the playing field is not even, which creates winners and clear losers.If you have children or grandchildren you may already be...

London markets make early gains in opening trading on Monday as Irish building materials group CRH (CRH) and a host of oil stocks provide upward momentum. Investors are clearly relieved to find Brent crude trading above the key $50/bbl mark, while retail and financial stocks also make gains. London's FTSE 100 is trading 28 points, or 0.4%, higher at 6,777 early on.A big surge in crude prices...

Fresh blood is often needed to bring new ideas and affect a business turnaround, yet seeking leadership from within can also pay-off, as is starting to happen at education technology and applications (apps) supplier to schools RM (RM.). David Brooks may have only been in the top job since March 2013 but he's been at the Abingdon-based £120.2 million cap man and boy, joining its graduate...

Investors don't need to be trained accountants to be able to give a company's balance sheet a reasonably thorough financial health check. A quick-fire checklist should include:• Level of net debt (total debt less retained cash)• Control over working capital (receivables versus payables)• Level of impairments (goodwill and intangible asset write-downs)This is not an exhaustive...