Banks and oil majors kept the FTSE 100 in the green at the London close on Monday, while other stocks slipped, joining peers across the pond.The FTSE 100 index closed up 22.99 points, 0.3%, to 8,303.62. The FTSE 250 ended down 46.87 points, 0.2%, at 20,853.21, and the AIM All-Share closed up just 0.25 of a point at 738.61.The Cboe UK 100 edged up 0.2% to 830.70, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.4% at

If you had £10,000 to invest in a single fund, which would you choose ? one of the most popular with retail investors for more than a decade, or a relative new kid on the block with a similar asset allocation approach?In a manner of speaking, it is what billionaire City grandee Michael Spencer challenged formidable money man and Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7) founder Terry Smith at the end of 2023, t

Pets at Home (PETS) investors will be hoping the UK pet-care leader's first half results statement (28 November) doesn't set the cat among the pigeons. Any signs that the cost-of-living pressures impacting pet owners' disposable income are slowing its sales momentum or curtailing customer acquisition growth could be harshly punished.Share price weakness at the pet food-to-toys purveyor reflects op

SRT Marine Systems (SRT:AIM) 58.6pGain to date: 95.3%Bath-based SRT Marine Systems (SRT:AIM) is the established global leader in the rapidly-growing global market for maritime surveillance systems.Think of maritime awareness in terms of air traffic control and you get some idea of the potential size of the market.When we originally flagged the firm at 30p in October 2022 we said it had gone under

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 the

SRT Marine Systems (SRT:AIM) 48pGain to date: 60%When we flagged maritime identification and tracking technologies kit supplier SRT Marine Systems (SRT:AIM) at 30p a month-and-a-half ago (13 October) we were confident a business which had gone under the radar for years was ready to win the market's attention.We probably didn't expect to see a 60% increase in the share price in a matter of weeks bu

It has been a long time coming but maritime identification and tracking technologies kit supplier SRT Marine Services (SRT:AIM) is finally reaping the benefits of years of investment in its products and systems.In a recent trading update, the firm revealed revenue for the six months to 30 September had jumped 300% to £18.8 million and pre-tax profit for the period would be more than £1.5 million

UK markets closed the Monday session firmly on the front foot as investors welcomed a swathe of positive trading updates and raised guidance, lifting spirits and share prices.The benchmark FTSE 100 romped 2.4% higher to 5,937.40 thanks to gains in healthcare and retail stocks. The sell-off in the US at the end of last week, which wiped 4.3% off the S&P 500 index and 6.4% off the Nasdaq 100, stayed

UK shares continued their strong recovery run at lunchtime on Monday as a raft of positive trading updates and raised guidance lifted investor spirits and share prices.The benchmark FTSE 100 romped 1.8% higher to 5,905.32 points thanks to gains in healthcare and retail stocks. The sell-off in the US at the end of last week, which wiped 4.3% off the S&P 500 index and 6.4% off the Nasdaq 100, stayed

The FTSE 100 opened weaker on Friday for a fourth straight day of decline, dropping 0.4% to 6,026 as record spikes of virus infections in Hong Kong and Tokyo fuelled fears of a second wave hitting Asia. In the US death rates hit record levels in the states of Florida, Arizona, Texas and California.Trading across Asia was weak with the Nikkei 225 giving up 1% and China's Shanghai Composite down 1.8

On the anniversary of the Brexit vote the FTSE 100 is down by over 30 points to 7408.85 as bluechip companies feel the pain of sterling's gains against both the euro and the dollar. Some of the large pharma and mining stocks are particularly exposed to a stronger pound as they derive a large proportion of their revenue from overseas.Mining giant Rio Tinto (RIO) has completed its programme of reduc

Following a company like Software Radio Technology (SRT:AIM) (SRT) is a bit like reading an Agatha Christie whodunnit - they'll be twists and turns, sub-plots and red herrings. Investors are seemingly chuffed with today's full year trading update, spurring the share price to rally close on 5% to 33.5p, but the mystery remains - what did happen to those profits?The maritime navigation technology su

London shares are mixed in early trade on Wednesday with blue chips guiding higher but midcaps failing to make progress and smaller companies largely flat. Traders continue to cast wary glances towards the pricing of crude and safe-haven assets but many remain jittery about the global economy. Europe was up while Wall Street and Asia fell overnight.The benchmark FTSE 100 index nudges 12 points, or

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 on Fr

UK markets again drift lower in opening deals as investors mull a weak end to Wall Street trading and a similarly fade out on Asian markets overnight, although gains by oil giant BP (BP.) limited today's declines. The FTSE 100 index is trading 0.3% off at 6,482 in early action as China's economy showed renewed weakness and crude oil remained below $50 a barrel. Britain's mid caps struggle also, th

Today's re-released half year results from maritime identification and tracking technologies kit supplier Software Radio Technology (SRT:AIM) (SRT) read pretty well and come in line with a trading update last month (3 Oct). Confirming revenues for the six months to September up 70%, to £5.4 million, looks great on paper, as does its pre-tax profit of £517,122, versus a £437,634 loss a year ago.

Upgrades to drive WaltersRecruitment agent Robert Walters (RWA) says the UK jobs market recovery has only just begun, adding that employment gains historically lag economic growth. Analysts are now starting to upgrade earnings forecasts, helped by a good performance in Asia, which should help justify the high valuation. (DC)XP worry for ComputacenterWorries that the corporate Windows XP upgrade cy

3D conversion technology minnow DDD Group (DDD:AIM) rockets 43% to 5.75p despite no new news. The company last week won new licences for its TriDef technology for use in mobile devices but today's rally will have investors wondering if some bigger news will emerge.Smart Metering Systems (SMS:AIM) makes it first acquisition with the £14 million cash and shares purchase of Cardiff-based Utility Par

Confirmation that US telco AT&T (T:NYSE) will not bid for mobile network giant Vodafone (VOD) sends shockwaves around the market and slices 4.8% off the UK group's shares to 221p. The US company is now prevented from making an offer for six months, although the bar would be lifted if a third party swoops.FTSE 100 oil and gas firm BG (BG) falls 14.9% to £10.68 as it downgrades expectations for 201

Three different parties have got British machine gun manufacturer Manroy (MAN:AIM) in their sights, sending the small cap's shares up 48% to 82.9p. It confirmed preliminary takeover talks with Belgium's Herstal, Italy's Beretta and Nevada-based US Ordnance. The announcement triggers a formal takeover offer period, meaning the potential bidders have until the end of Christmas Eve to announce an int