In the third of our four-part series on small caps (you can read part two on UK small cap funds and trusts elsewhere in this issue), we get our data-crunching caps on and take a look at key metrics around value, income and growth in the smaller companies universe.To narrow things down we limited our search to London-listed companies with market valuations between £50 million and £500...

We begin proceedings with two takeover approaches, one successful, the other less so, for now at least.First, Swiss bourse operator SIX agreed to buy UK junior marketplace Aquis Exchange (AQX:AIM) for 727p in cash, representing a 120% premium to the previous closing price of 330p.SIX, which operates the Swiss and Spanish stock markets, called the deal 'a compelling strategic opportunity which...

- Full year 2023 operating profit to be above prior expectations- Strong trading expected to lead to broker upgrades- CEO Barkshire to be succeeded by Richard TysonTechnology products and services provider to industry and scientific research communities Oxford Instruments (OXIG) saw its shares gain over 5% to £25.80 on Thursday after it increased operating profit guidance above prior...

TT Electronics (TTG) 277.5pGain to date: 31.5%Original entry point: Buy at 211p, 25 March 2021Engineer TT Electronics (TTG) is racing ahead as it goes far beyond the traditional sensors and instrumentation markets that it used to bank on, with fast-growing, and more profitable, digital areas very much becoming part of the recovery and growth story.This includes supplying complex connectivity,...

TT ELECTRONICS (TTG) 244pGain to date: 15.6%Original entry point: Buy at 211p, 25 March 2021The pace of the reopening recovery in some parts of the global economy has seen plenty of companies raise financial guidance for 2021, TT Electronics (TTG) among them.Trading has further strengthened with organic sales ahead by 7% year-on-year in the first four months for 2021 while orders continue to...

UK investors were in upbeat mood on Friday, helped by a rebound in US markets overnight after two days of losses, an encouraging retail sales report and a slew of positive company updates.At 8.30am the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was up 60 points or 0.9% to 6,735 points, led by miners and consumer-facing 'recovery' stocks.Sterling was steady at $1.376 while Brent crude futures gained 1%...

Many investors are drawn to turnaround recovery stories, and that badge certainly fits electronic components designer TT Electronics (TTG).This is a company pushing through operational improvements while building a competitive niche in long-run growth industries, and we believe there is a powerful profit margin lever that could drive the share price even if revenue growth remains...

Equity fundraisings are taking a different shape with the reasons behind asking shareholders for cash shifting more towards long-term strategic thinking, with the select few still seeking to shore up their balance sheet now coming across as desperate.In March to May, the principle reason for companies issuing new shares was to raise money to strengthen their balance sheet. The cash helped to...

Increasing investor anxiety is leading to bigger share individual price moves on a daily and weekly basis and the last week was no exception with a number of large fallers.Engineering group Rolls-Royce (RR.) was forced to release a statement after increasing speculation that the company was planning to raise new funds, leaving the shares down 24% between 14 September and 21 September and...

Forty two companies on the UK stock market have seen their share prices rise by at least 20% over the past week (to 15 September), principally as investors race to own shares issuing positive news, albeit some of the aforementioned stocks moved on no news at all.One of the biggest gains came from specialist car brake maker Surface Transforms (SCE:AIM), whose shares rocketed 98% to an intraday...

The FTSE 100 fell 0.79% to 5,965 by lunchtime on Thursday, weighed down by supermarket chain Morrisons (MRW) and British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) as the cost of the coronavirus pandemic became clearer.Also weighing on sentiment was news that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plans to implement mass Covid-19 testing, which would see millions of people tested daily...

Shares in engineered electronics-maker TT Electronics (TTG) leapt as much as 50% after the firm announced the launch of a 'ground-breaking' Covid-19 screening device.Shortly after the market open shares were changing hands for 285p compared with last night's close of 190p. By mid-morning they had settled around the 250p level, marking a 33% gain on the day.TT has been working with UK start-up...

The FTSE 100 opened 0.4% lower on Thursday to 5,989 points while the mid-cap FTSE 250 index was up 0.7% to 17,717 points, helped by strong gains in Games Workshop (GAW) and Dixons Carphone (DC.).In Asian trading Japan's Nikkei 225 index closed up 0.9% while in China the SSE Composite was 0.6% lower.Gold prices were flat while Brent crude was 0.3% adrift at $40.6 a barrel.In its interim results...

UK stocks finished in negative territory on Tuesday, despite an advance for stocks on Wall Street, as a stronger pound weighed on overseas earners, offsetting some encouraging Chinese and UK manufacturing data.The blue chip benchmark closed down 101.52 points, or 1.7% lower, at 5,862.05, as trading resumed following Monday's bank holiday.Over-50s insurance and travel services provider Saga...

UK stocks edged lower on Tuesday after a stronger pound weighed on exporters, offsetting some positive manufacturing data from China, and as financial stocks weighed on the FTSE 100 with investors fretting over the impact of the pandemic and low interest rates on the sector.At 11.25, the blue chip benchmark was down 76.3 points, or 1.28%, at 5,887.27, as trading resumed following Monday's bank...

The FTSE 100 slumped in early morning trade as a stronger pound weighed on the index, offsetting better than expected manufacturing data from China.A number of major economies are reporting manufacturing PMIs today, with traders looking for any sign of improving sentiment, particularly in the UK where the sector has taken a hammering not only from lockdowns but also a major slump in the...

Electronic components manufacturer TT Electronics (TTG) saw its share price rally more than 11% on Wednesday despite warning that the spreading coronavirus outbreak could wipe £3m from its underlying operating profit in 2020.Shares in the £333m business jumped from 191p to 213p after posting impressive growth in revenues, profits and margins as its strategic shift up the value chain...

Car sales in China fell 92% in the first half of February because of the coronavirus, with potential knock-on impacts for several UK listed companies.According to industry trade body the China Passenger Car Association, nationwide car sales slumped 96% in the first week of February to a daily average of just 811 vehicles, with many dealerships closed while buyers stay away to prevent the...

Stocks are bouncing back after yesterday's Apple-inspired bout of weakness, with London's FTSE 100 gaining 50.6 points to trade at 6,743.3 on Friday on hopes that next week's talks between the US and China can help temper the tensions on trade.However, online musical instruments retailer Gear4music (G4M:AIM) crashes 44% lower to 287.5p on a warning full year earnings before interest, taxation,...

An acquisitions spree designed to drag TT Electronics (TTG) up the value chain is paying off with operating profit margins soaring beyond analyst expectations.In half year results to 30 June the electronic components business reported profit margins of 7.5%, 'well ahead of our 6.7% expectations,' say analysts at Berenberg. That has prompted the investment bank to upgrade forecasts by between...