Stocks finished mostly lower on Friday in London, while oil prices surged upwards, after Israel launched dozens of air strikes against Iran's nuclear programme and Iran promised a 'bitter and painful' response. Elsewhere, easing concerns about the US economy caused the Michigan consumer sentiment index reading to improve significantly. The FTSE 100 index closed down 34.29 points, 0.4%, at...

Agreed takeover at 82p per share Equivalent to 50% premium Shares trade above offer price Industrial chain and torque transmission-maker Renold (RNO) has agreed an all-cash acquisition from MPE (Morganthaler Private Equity) equivalent to 82p per share, valuing the company at approximately £186.7 million. The offer price represents a premium of 50% to the closing price on 19 May, the day...

Renold (RNO:AIM) Price: 73.9p Profit to date: 35.2% We highlighted industrial chains and specialist torque transmission maker Renold (RNO:AIM) as a great investment opportunity in August 2024. The company has a clear strategy to deliver shareholder value by consolidating a fragmented global market and driving margin expansion via scale benefits and efficiencies. We argued growth, quality and...

In what could be one of the biggest listings of the year, Cobalt Holdings ? a company set up to buy and hold cobalt, as its name suggests ? said it intended to float in London next month through a $230 million issue of new equity partly underwritten by mining giant Glencore (GLEN). The company, which will seek admission to the commercial companies segment of the official list, claims it will...

Renold (RNO:AIM) 54.71pMarket Cap: £123.9 millionMaking industrial chains and specialist torque transmission products doesn't sound very exciting but 150-year-old Renold (RNO:AIM) happens to be rather good at it and today is the second largest player globally.The global market is very fragmented and despite being a big fish Renold's market share is under 10% in terms of revenue, providing a...

For the second part of our annual survey, we asked fund managers if they had changed their view on any stocks this year, for better or for worse, and what lay behind their decisions.As with the winners and losers survey last week, the answers were often frank and once again we would like to thank everyone who took part.Thomas Moore - Aberdeen Equity Income Trust (AEI)THE STOCK THAT I CHANGED...

There were several trends in the UK stock market this year which, if you managed to identify them, served you well.Most obviously, although it may not have seemed it at the index level, large-cap stocks generally performed better than small- and mid-caps, although for the lucky few the small-cap space has been rife with takeover activity.In terms of sectors, aerospace and defence topped the...

As 2022 draws to a close amid continuing market volatility Shares has canvassed leading fund managers to find out where they have been finding the best opportunities.Jamie Ross - Henderson Eurotrust (Hne)LOOKING OUT FOR BOMBED-OUT GROWTH STOCKSWe have spent the last 12 months trying to find opportunities within the growthier area of the market - our favoured part of the market and the part of...

UK stocks traded higher on Wednesday after free-to-air broadcaster ITV (ITV) and retailer Marks & Spencer (MKS) both reported upbeat earnings results.At midday the FTSE 100 traded 29 points or 0.4% higher at 7,303 points early on, while the FTSE 250 firmed 0.35% to 23,448.93.China continued to offer evidence of mounting inflationary pressures as factory gate prices saw their biggest increase...

UK stocks opened higher on Wednesday after free-to-air broadcaster ITV (ITV) and retailer Marks & Spencer (MKS) both reported upbeat earnings results ahead of the release of crucial US inflation data later in the day.The FTSE 100 traded 0.36% higher at 7,299.87 points early on, while the FTSE 250 firmed 0.35% to 23,448.93.China continued to offer evidence of mounting inflationary pressures as...

After a strong start opening on the back of gains in Asian markets and bid stories, the FTSE 100 index trod water for most of the day to close 21 points or 0.3% higher at 7,109 points. Gains in consumer and mining stocks were offset by losses for healthcare and utility names.One stock which managed to extend its morning gains was supermarket group Sainsbury (SBRY), which finished up 15% to...

After a strong start to the week on the back of gains in Asian market, the FTSE 100 index ebbed back on Monday lunchtime to sit 20 points or 0.3% higher at 7,109 points. Gains in consumer and mining stocks were offset by losses for healthcare and utility names.One stock consolidating on its morning gains was supermarket group Sainsbury (SBRY), which gained 15% to 340p having opened up around...

Major UK stock made a strong start to the new trading week, taking its cue from Asia's main markets. At 8:50 UK time, the benchmark FTSE 100 was trading higher by 0.3% at 7,108.45. The midcap FTSE 250 was 0.2% higher at 23,798.23.Top riser early on was Sainsbury (SBRY), jumping more than 10% to 325p after weekend reports it is in the cross-hairs of private equity. This as the battle continues...

The FTSE 100 struggled for direction on Tuesday as inflation levels continued to accelerate in the US, with the blue chip benchmark ending the session pretty much flat at 7,124.72 points.By 4.30pm UK time the S&P 500 index in the US was up 0.1% at 4,390.52.The CPI print of 0.9% for June was very much stronger than expectations of a 0.5% advance, leaving the Federal Reserve's repeated...

London's FTSE 100 was broadly flat by midday at 7.128.43 points as initial momentum in the UK banking sector, after the Bank of England lifted dividend restrictions on the sector's heavyweights, began to wane and worries over rising coronavirus infections kept gains in check.By lunchtime, NatWest (NATW) was off 0.4% at 206p, with Barclays (BARC) flat at 172.7p, although HSBC (HSBA) and Lloyds...

UK banks gave leading stocks a push higher in early trade on Tuesday afternoon the Bank of England lifted dividend restrictions on the sector's heavyweights but worries over rising coronavirus infections kept gains in check.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 was around 0.3% at 7,174.34, with NatWest (NATW) topping the leaderboard with gains just shy of 2% to 210.4p. HSBC (HSBA), Lloyds (LLOY) and...

Leading UK stocks put in an afternoon spurt after struggling for momentum through much of Wednesday with the benchmark FTSE 100 closing close to 7,000 as Wall Street opened on the front foot.The FTSE 100 ended Wednesday up 0.7% at 6,959.58, the highest it has closed since before the pandemic struck early last year.The more domestically-focused FTSE 250 closed 0.4% to the good at...

London's FTSE 100 was in positive territory early on Wednesday, with optimism around the potential Covid-19 vaccine breakthrough continuing to buoy global markets.The blue chip benchmark improved 0.31% to 6,316.62, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.02% to 19,032.BAE SEES BIDEN BOOSTAerospace and defence contractor BAE Systems (BA.) added 1.4% to trade at 470p after it maintained its full year guidance...

London's FTSE 100 finished in positive territory on Friday, even as Brexit talks revealed few signs of a breakthrough and new lockdowns to combat climbing coronavirus cases weighed on sentiment.Prime Minister Boris Johnson caused jitters by stating that talks with the EU are 'over' and it is time for Britain to 'get ready' for no-deal, though markets were boosted by Pfizer's plans to apply for...

London's FTSE 100 rebounded strongly on Friday as a bit of optimism over Brexit returned, with the EU stating it is willing to continue negotiations, although new lockdowns to combat climbing coronavirus cases kept a lid on gains.At 11.40 am, the blue chip benchmark was up 1.28% at 5,907.01.SERCO SOARS ON UPGRADED GUIDANCEThe biggest riser was services group Serco (SRP), soaring 17.2% to 139p,...