UK takeovers moved up a gear in 2024 as predators targeted bigger companies. The average value of deals was £1.07 billion, nearly three times higher than the £390 million average in 2023. In total, there were £49 billion worth of recommended bids versus £17.2 billion last year.A bounty of unloved or underappreciated companies were swept off their feet, signalling the UK market as being 'on sal

At the start of 2024, I speculated that interest rate cuts could lead to takeovers involving bigger companies than the type of deals seen in 2023. While the rate-cut journey still remains in its infancy for the UK and other key geographies, the predicted wave of large-cap takeovers is firmly in motion. It's a reminder there is value on the UK market in droves.There have been bids or expressions of

Defence and banks stocks top tableM&A wave creates big winnersConsumer stocks on the skidsIt hasn't been a vintage year for the UK stock market, but there are signs investors are coming back attracted by the cheap valuations on offer compared with the US as well as decent earnings prospects for UK companies.The FTSE 350 index is up 5.5% year-to-date, with the FTSE 100 large-cap benchmark up 5.6% j

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

Caledonia Investments (CLDN)Price: £35.18Market cap: £1.92 billionAmid all the talk of the UK market being full of 'hidden gems', we think Caledonia Investments (CLDN) could be one of the best examples of 'hidden value' in the mid-cap FTSE 250 index.The global multi-asset investment company tends not to get much air-time, but Shares caught up with chief executive Mat Masters and finance director

Stock prices in London closed lower on Tuesday as hopes continued fading for three US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year, and as tensions between Iran and Israel added to investors? fears.The FTSE 100 index closed down 145.17 points, 1.8%, at 7,820.36. The FTSE 250 ended down 354.35 points, 1.8%, at 19,344.54, and the AIM All-Share closed down 12.00 points, down 1.6%, at 738.28.The Cboe

Equities in London were firmly in the red Tuesday afternoon, with market confidence knocked by geopolitical tensions and US interest rate concerns, as a hat-trick of cuts by the Federal Reserve this year looks an increasingly distant prospect.The interest rate picture in the UK was muddied by the latest batch of jobless data. The unemployment rate rose, though pay growth remained sticky, giving th

Stocks in London started the week on the front foot, picking up strength as Monday?s trading session wore on, to post healthy gains by the close.Gold hit a new high before fading, airlines and miners were in demand, while Entain prospered on bid speculation.The FTSE 100 index closed up 32.31 points, 0.4%, at 7,943.47. The FTSE 250 ended up 128.64 points, 0.7%, at 19,854.58, and the AIM All-Share c

One of the most popular investment trusts with AJ Bell?s ISA millionaires, City of London (CTY) is a favourite with investors seeking long-term income and capital growth and a gateway to large international companies.However, while the long-run performance record is strong, Curtis? cautious approach means the fund can underperform in some market conditions. On a 10-year share price total return ba

Equity prices in Europe ended the week largely on the back foot, despite a US jobs report which cemented expectations of a June interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve, and sent the dollar lower.In one of the week?s recurring themes, gold was on the up again, this time pushed higher by the US data. The precious metal is on track to extend its winning streak to eight days.The FTSE 100 index ended

Investors looked nervous ahead of a key UK unemployment reading this afternoon, as stocks in London began the afternoon mostly in the red on Friday.The FTSE 100 index was down 20.94 points, 0.3%, at 7,671.52. The FTSE 250 was down 68.68 points, 0.4%, at 19,515.30, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.71 points, 0.2%, at 739.61.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 768.51, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.5% at 16,

Merged firm valued at £10 billionMondi sees ?substantial? synergiesMondi board to dominate new firmThe UK M&A (mergers and acquisitions) juggernaut rolls on with confirmation today of more consolidation in the paper and packaging sector after DS Smith (SMDS) agreed to a revised bid from rival Mondi (MNDI).Shares in DS Smith gained 7% to 350p while Mondi shares eased 2% to £13.53. SUBSTANT

Stock prices in London were predominantly lower on Friday morning, as big news for several FTSE 100 and 250 constituents failed to adequately combat nervousness around the latest US jobs report.The FTSE 100 index opened down 18.03 points, 0.2%, at 7,674.43. The FTSE 250 was down 65.78 points, 0.3%, at 19,518.20, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.58 points, 0.2%, at 739.48.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3

Combined portfolio valued at £6.4 billionMerged group would be worth £3.9 billionPromotion to the FTSE 100 could followIn a sign consolidation in the UK real estate market is far from over, LondonMetric Property (LMP) and LXI REIT (LXI) have confirmed market rumours they are in talks over a possible all-share merger.Shares in potential acquirer LondonMetric traded sideways at 197p, giving it a m

If we think about what packaging companies do, probably the first thing that comes to mind for most of us is getting a brown cardboard box or envelope through the post from Amazon (AMZN:NASDAQ) with its tell-tale smiley logo.Yet e-commerce is just a small part of the overall business of firms like DS Smith (SMDS), Mondi (MNDI) and Smurfit Kappa (SKG), who together dominate the European market for

Mondi shares buck negative trend on bullish research noteSector down 30% to 40% since last cyclical peakConsensus estimates too cautious for 2024Shares in paper and packaging company Mondi (MNDI) were bucking the downdraft in UK shares on Thursday following a bullish report from Morgan Stanley, which has made the company its top pick in the sector.UK shares were down more than 1.2% pressured by ha

- On course for 57th successive dividend hike- Mining sector underweight detracts from H1 performance- Numis views trust as an 'attractive core holding'Popular investment trust City of London (CTY) produced a positive return for the first half to 31 December 2022 despite turbulent market conditions, though performance was slightly behind the 5.1% rise in the FTSE All-Share index.But the good news

- Shares fall despite earnings beat- Inflationary pressures abate amid fall in demand- Final dividend increased by 12%Despite growing full-year revenues by 27% to €12.8 billion and beating prior profit guidance shares in paper packaging solutions company Smurfit Kappa (SKG) fell 2% to £34.14 as investors digested a story of falling demand.A reversal of 'unsustainably high' demand levels seen

UK equities have had a healthy bounce in the past month with the FTSE 100 index advancing 7.6% and the FTSE 250 rallying 16% since 12 October.The reasons for the sudden about-turn are two-fold - the normalisation of UK government bond yields after they spiked following the political upheaval of the summer and disastrous mini-Budget in September, and generally better-than-expected corporate earning

Using data from Stockopedia Shares has identified those stocks which havethe most upgrades and downgrades over the past week.Among the stocks where analysts have been nudging forecasts higher, tobacco firm Imperial Brands (IMB) stands out.We looked at the Imperial Brands investment case in detail in this article. The company has demonstrated its pricing power, with its core product's addictive qua