The new UK Government has made it perfectly clear that the Budget on 30 October is going to involve some tough decisions that will affect people's finances. While much of the media speculation has focused on how capital gains tax might evolve, inheritance tax (IHT) is also a potential target for big changes such as abolishing tax relief on owning certain AIM-quoted shares.The Institute for Fiscal

Bunzl director snaps up £50,026 sharesGlobalData CEO sells £22.5 million sharesRestore CEO buys 100,000 sharesJacky Simmonds, non-executive director of specialist international distributer Bunzl (BNZL) has bought 1,445 shares at £34.62 for a total value of £50,026 on 29 August.Simmonds move comes after Bunzl's shares hit an all-time high as the firm delivered another full year profit guidance

Rockwood Strategic (RKW) 267.5pGain to date: 42.7%We highlighted the investment merits of Rockwood Strategic (RKW) at 187.5p in November 2023, arguing the value-focused trust was a way to gain differentiated exposure to a small cap asset class with exciting re-rating scope. We explained how manager Richard Staveley's tried-and-tested strategy identifies undervalued stocks where the company will b

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 inves

Second profit warning in two months sends shares down 30%Shares hit eight year lowCEO stands down with immediate effectA second profit warning in two months and the exit of the CEO is not a good luck and for records management and life-cycle services company Restore (RST) it has sent the shares to an eight-month low after falling 30% to 161.5p.The shares have lost 61% of their value over the last

One of the great myths which chief executives use to promote big mergers and takeovers is the notion that sticking two companies together will create 'revenue synergies' by allowing each firm to sell to the other's customers.History tells us these synergies rarely materialise and in fact mega mergers typically destroy value for shareholders.Yet there are plenty of UK firms who have successfully ex

Data and digital management firm Restore (RST:AIM) delivered a record financial result for the year to December with pre-tax profits jumping almost five-fold.Organic growth plus a series of small acquisitions helped supercharge earnings across the group, with the shares gaining 5% to 447p in response.FULL RECOVERYRestore posted revenues of £234.3 million for the year to December, a 28% increase o

UK stocks closed on a positive note with the FTSE 100 index ending 1.3% higher at 7,470 points and the FTSE 250 Index firming 1% to 21,873 points at the bell.Brent crude futures hit $90 per barrel for the time since 2014, fueling concerns over inflationary pressures and the need to further raise UK interest rates. Goldman Sachs recently increased its oil price forecast to $100 per barrel.However,

The major UK equity markets continued to build on earlier gains at lunchtime trading on Wednesday.Travel stocks were in demand following the government's confirmation that Covid testing will be dropped for double jabbed travellers arriving in England.At lunchtime the blue chip FTSE 100 equity index was 1.76% higher at 7501.16 and the mid-cap FTSE 250 firmed 1.5% to 21,976.03.All eyes will be focus

Shares in data management and technology recycling firm Restore (RST:AIM) jumped 5% to 478p following a positive trading update for the year to December.Thanks to strong momentum continuing through the fourth quarter, the firm said its full year performance would be ahead of its previous forecast.ACQUISITION-LED GROWTHA large part of Restore's recent growth is due to its acquisition strategy as it

Leading UK shares have shrugged-off concerns currently upsetting Wall Street as expectations grow that the Federal Reserve will act more swiftly than previously predicted to try and tame rampant inflation. At the same time, tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to grow, adding another volatile factor into the mix.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 is close on 1.5% ahead at 7,479.13, not far fro

FTSE traded in a narrow band of just 20 points on Wednesday suggesting indecision among investors as they face what could be a tricky autumn with infection levels and hospitalisations remaining stubbornly high while economic recovery wanes.By the close of business, the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was 4 points lower at 7,030.COMPANY NEWSHouse builder Redrow (RDW) posted a strong set of results

UK stocks remained directionless at 1pm as investors weighed increasing risks to the global recovery and rising inflation.Sterling gained as the latest UK inflation surprised to the upside. According to the Office for National Statistics, consumer prices jumped 3.2% in the year to August compared with a 2.1% rise the previous month.At 1pm the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was flat at 7,029.COMP

Shares in support services company Restore (RST:AIM), were trading lower this morning despite the company issuing a positive trading update for the eight months to 31st August.This is particularly surprising given that the group's strong performance may reignite bid interest in the group.Today's trading update has highlighted that trading in July and August has continued the positive momentum achi

UK stocks made little headway on Wednesday despite a spate of earnings reports which on the whole painted a picture of improving corporate health. By 9.30am the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was unchanged at 7,033 points.In Asia, Chinese stocks closed lower after August retail sales data disappointed, sending the CSI index down for a fifth day in succession. In Japan on the other hand, the Nikk

Having struggled for direction all morning, the FTSE 100 index surged from its lunchtime lows to tack on 32 points or 0.45% to 7,164 by the close, led by cyclical stocks including media companies ITV (ITV) and WPP (WPP).Gambling company Flutter Entertainment (FLTR) was the top FTSE performer, rallying 8% to £139.78 after it reported a better-than-expected trebling of first-half profit amid a boun

The attempted takeover of Restore (RST:AIM) by Marlowe (MRL:AIM) represents an interesting development as the two businesses go back a long way. Strategically there is merit in combining the two entities.Marlowe has effectively emulated the success of Restore as a buy and build support service group. Both companies were backed by Lord Ashcroft and Marlowe's chief executive Alex Dacre ran the M&A t

A surprise increase in US jobless claims raised some doubts about the recovery as the FTSE 100 surrendered its earlier modest gains to trade 0.4% lower at 6,968.30.In the US the S&P 500 was broadly unchanged by 4.30pm UK time.FTSE 250 construction firm Morgan Sindall (MGNS) was one of the day's big winners, surging 13.1% to £23.92 as it unveiled its fourth round of earnings upgrades in the last 1

The FTSE 100 had crept above the 7,000 mark by midday as investors awaited the latest update on monetary policy from the European Central Bank and jobless claims from the US later.FTSE 250 construction firm Morgan Sindall (MGNS) was one of the day's big winners, surging 12% to £23.68 as it unveiled its fourth round of earnings upgrades in the last 12 months.Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilev

UK stocks inched higher after two days of strong gains in US markets. At 8.30am the FTSE 100 index was up 7 points to 7,005 points led by house builders and leisure stocks while consumer goods and utility companies were on the back foot.Oil prices retreated slightly after a strong bounce overnight with Brent crude futures dipping 0.2% to $72 per barrel while the gold price retreated to $1,800 per