One of the most important things in investing is risk management. Howard Marks, co-founder of high-yield bond firm Oaktree Capital Management, believes managing risk is the ultimate test of an investor's skill.In this feature we explore the nature of risk, which may surprise you, and reveal how professional money managers like Marks manage it.It may be comforting to believe your fund manager is ac

Ulta Beauty (ULTA:NASDAQ) $391.70Market cap: $18.5 billionA 20% year-to-date share price drop at Ulta Beauty (ULTA:NASDAQ), America's biggest specialist beauty retailer, presents an attractive buying opportunity for growth and value seekers alike. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK:B:NYSE) evidently sees value in the name, having recently snapped up a stake in the Illinois-headquartered make

6.2 million passengers for Wizz Air, up 1%8% rise in passengers for RyanairRyanair reports load factor of 96% in AugustEuropean budget carrier Wizz Air (WIZZ) reported a record 6.2 million passenger numbers for August despite operated seat capacity being down 0.4% year-on-year due to the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine-related groundings.Wizz Air has seen a large number of aircraft grounded thanks to t

It was a week of ups and downs for the US market as investors awaited Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell's address to the Jackson Hole Symposium on 23 August.<img src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O7wOm/full.png" alt="" data-mce-fragment="1" data-mce-src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/O7wOm/full.png"><span id="mce_marker" data-mce-type="bookmark" data

15% organic growth in Q2Full year guidance raised againUS slowdown spooks investorsDanish jewellery giant Pandora (PNDORA:CPH) raised its full-year 2024 revenue guidance yet again after delivering a 15% rise in organic sales to DKK 6.77 billion for the second quarter.The group's 'Phoenix' growth strategy, which entails 'elevating brand desirability' and a step-up in marketing and investments in ne

It seems fair to say Broadcom (AVGO:NASDAQ) is one of the unsung heroes of the modern technological revolution. A couple of years back, the Silicon Valley semiconductor and infrastructure software business had a market valuation of about $220 billion based on a share price of around $44.As the AI (artificial intelligence) investment story emerged, talk in investment circles was all about OpenAI, l

Sales at McDonald's (MCD:NYSE) fell for the first time in three years in the second quarter as the fast-food giant fell victim to consumers cutting back on eating out.For the three months to the end of 30 June, McDonald's reported a 1% fall in global comparable sales as diners choked at the high cost of its burgers, fries and soft drinks.In the US, same-store sales fell by 0.7% as value meals fail

Full year forecast cut againPoor weather affected tradingShipping costs have surgedIt is perhaps not surprising that footwear retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) lowered its full-year profit forecast amid increasing shipping disruption in the Suez Canal, which has led to 'significantly' higher container prices over the last six months.Investors were already braced for such news after the company referen

Equities in London made a slow start on Thursday, but peers in Europe traded more confidently, with market focus on upcoming US data and political developments either side of the English Channel, and across the Atlantic.In London, a US blow for GSK hurt its shares. Miners also struggled in early dealings. Elsewhere, there was a guidance boost for outsourcer Serco, Watches of Switzerland reported i

'Quality investing' is the style pursued by the world's most famous investor Warren Buffett and Terry Smith, arguably the best-known British fund manager who runs the five-star Morningstar-rated Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7) and consistently favours quality firms. Quality investing has generated strong long-run returns for its practitioners, including Buffett, but how do the leading fund managers off

1Q operating profit ?68 millionFuel unit costs down 4.9%IAG shares up 18% this yearShares in International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) were up 1.5p or 0.8% at 184p in morning trading as the British Airways owner said strong travel demand helped lift its results in the three months to 31 March 2024. EARNINGS TOP FORECASTSTotal revenue for the three months to 31 March was ?6.43 billion compar

Encouraging start for small caps trustHulse sees value opportunity in UK small capsWindward?s potential excitesShares in Onward Opportunities (ONWD:AIM) rose 1.5% to 111.5p after the smaller companies-focused trust reported an 11.3% NAV (net asset value) total return to 106.5p for the nine months from its March 2023 IPO (initial public offering) to the end of December.That performance compares to

?Strong? Q4 performanceRetail volumes up 9%Share buyback continuesUsed car retailer Motorpoint (MOTR) has reported an improvement in trading in the new calendar year amid an uptick in consumer demand for nearly-new vehicles.Margins gradually improved through the fourth quarter to March 2024 too, as the Derby-headquartered company increased stock turn and worked through the inventories affected by

Mercadolibre (MELI:NASDAQ) $1,528.95Market cap: $77.5 billionReaders that have come across MercadoLibre (MELI:NASDAQ) before will likely be familiar with the badge some pin on it ? the ?Amazon (AMZN:NASDAQ) of Latin America?. And just like its US peer, the Uruguay-based business has spent the past couple of decades emerging as one of the region?s ecommerce leaders.It may have started out as a mark

Stocks in London were lower on Wednesday midday, as investor sentiment suffered with a persistently resilient US economy dampening expectations that US interest rates cuts will come sooner rather than later.The FTSE 100 index was down 30.55 points, 0.4%, at 7,904.54. The FTSE 250 was down 35.35 points, 0.2%, at 19,678.54, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.62 of a point, 0.1%, at 741.78.The Cboe UK

London?s FTSE 100 underperformed European peers on Wednesday morning, with wider sentiment taking a hit as investors re-think the Federal Reserve interest rate outlook in the face of robust US data.The FTSE 100 index opened down 37.00 points, 0.5%, at 7,898.09. The FTSE 250 was down 72.68 points, 0.4%, at 19,641.21, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.83 of a point, 0.1%, at 741.57.The Cboe UK 100 wa

1. Semiconductors in focus: The semiconductor sector, as represented by the Philadelphia semiconductor index, posted a 10% gain in February. This reflected renewed optimism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) chips and their associated applications. Asian chipmakers, which are responsible for manufacturing most of these chips, posted similarly strong gains in the month. This blistering pace o

International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) 162pMarket cap: £7.98 billionUnloved by investors during the pandemic British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) has experienced a revival of fortunes due to strong consumer demand and holidaymakers paying higher ticket prices. Despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis ? people are still prioritising holidays.In a recent full year tra

With the S&P 500 index racking up gains in 17 of the last 20 weeks, a feat it hasn?t managed to achieve since 1964, it?s fair to say investors are making hay in US stocks again this year.The benchmark has now posted no fewer than 17 new all-time highs since the start of January, the latest just last week despite a stronger-than-expected inflation report for February which previously would have see

Stock markets have been making new all-time highs in the US, Europe and Japan and investors are asking whether they are witnessing a new global bull market for stocks which began in November 2023.Momentum is a powerful factor in stock markets. Prices tend to trend in the same direction which mean buying winners and selling losers can be a profitable strategy.It is not only about price but also ear