With US stocks trading close to all-time highs, valuations looking stretched and one of the narrowest markets on record, this could be an opportune moment to consider adding some defensive qualities to your portfolio through capital preservation funds and trusts.These products aim to protect your capital during periods of heightened volatility and equity market drawdowns as well as growing capital

Fourth year of underperformanceConsumer brand exposure reducedTrain optimistic for better future returnsVeteran fund manager Nick Train, manager of the well-followed Finsbury Growth & Income Trust (FGT), insisted he is more enthused by the company's prospects than at 'any time this century', despite the company reporting a fourth consecutive year of underperformance versus the benchmark.Chairman S

Consumer goods goliath Unilever (ULVR) is pushing ahead with the IPO (initial public offering) of its ice cream unit and plans to slim down rather than spin off its food division, as CEO Hein Schumacher's turnaround strategy continues to gain traction.At the FTSE 100 giant's recent investor event (22 November), the Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker set out its strategic priorities under Sch

Q3 sales top forecastsFull year guidance reiteratedIce Cream separation on trackConsumer goods giant Unilever's (ULVR) shares rose 4% to £48.39 after the Dove-to-Domestos maker reported a fourth quarter of positive volume growth on the spin and reiterated its full year outlook.CEO Hein Schumacher has reinvigorated growth at the Marmite-to-Sunsilk maker, whose shares have materially outperformed t

The FTSE 100 made a bright start on Thursday, looking to break a four-day losing run, supported by well received earnings.The advance in London follows weak trading on Wall Street, where pre-US election and interest rate nerves hit stocks.The FTSE 100 index traded up 55.66 points, 0.7%, at 8,314.30. The FTSE 250 was up 25.76 points, or 0.1%, at 20,855.69, and the AIM All-Share added 1.40 points, 0

European stocks were mixed on Wednesday morning, with the FTSE 100 trading resiliently, after China announced it will hold a fiscal policy-focused conference this weekend amid a backdrop of investor nerves for the Asian economy.The FTSE 100 index was up 38.24 points, 0.5%, at 8,228.85.London's powerhouse listings AstraZeneca, Shell and Unilever were all in the green in early trade, aiding the FTSE

Schneider pays price for lacklustre performanceNestle forced to slow price increasesNo quick fix for FreixeShares in Nestle (NESN:SWX) cheapened 2.5% to CHF 87.3 on Friday as investors digested news of the abrupt departure of Mark Schneider, who is being replaced as CEO of the world's biggest packaged food company by Laurent Freixe following eight years in the hot seat.The Swiss multinational enjo

On 1 August the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee made a 5-4 decision to kickstart its rate-cutting cycle. A 25 basis point reduction in the base rate to 5% marking The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street's first cut since March 2020.This means cash savings rates are heading in one direction, down. And the lower-than-expected jump in UK inflation reported on 14 August only boosted market exp

There is a phrase in business ? 'shrink to greatness' ? meaning companies selling or demerging assets and focusing on what they do best.You might call it streamlining, others might say it is an admission that the previous strategy did not work and the company was too bloated.This trend is firmly in motion across the UK stock market with nine companies in the FTSE 100 either in the middle of shrink

Unilever (ULVR) £47.05Gain to date: 23%Shares flagged the attractions of consumer goods goliath Unilever (ULVR) at £38.19 in January 2024 on the grounds the Dove-to-Domestos maker's intrinsic strengths were underappreciated by the market.We also hoped new chief executive Hein Schumacher could reinvigorate growth and revitalise the FTSE 100 firm's share price.On 15 February, we urged readers to s

H1 organic growth of 4.1%Power Brands spearheading growthMargin guidance upgrade boosts stockAnother quarter of improving volumes, positive progress with its cost-cutting drive and a massive upgrade to full year margin guidance were key reasons why consumer goods goliath Unilever (ULVR) led the FTSE 100 higher today.The planned sale of its ice cream division, which could fetch as much of £15 bill

Business simplification plan unveiledHome care and nutrition brands up for saleFull year sales guidance cutShares in Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) rallied 4% to £45.86 after the consumer goods powerhouse unveiled plans to sell a raft of non-core homecare brands and said it was reviewing options for its troubled infant formula business.In a similar strategy to many of its rivals including Unilever (ULVR

After a positive first-quarter trading update which helped power the shares to a 16% gain year-to-date all eyes are on Unilever's (ULVR) first-half update on 25 July.In the three months to March, the group reported 4.4% underlying sales growth with a positive performance in all five divisions led by Beauty and Wellbeing where growth topped 7% during the quarter.Moreover, the firm's 'Power Brands',

The biggest brands often draw in investors who believe these giants of industry are surefire winners on the stock market. Nike (NKE:NYSE) has shown that brand achievements do not always equate to strong earnings and this is a lesson worth remembering if brand strength has ever influenced investment decisions.Nike has taken its eye off the ball in the sporting shoes market. Two sets of rivals have

This feature explores spin-offs or de-mergers, looking at the rationale for them and how they have performed, and asks if they can be a promising hunting ground for investors.One of the UK?s largest recent spin-offs was GSK?s (GSK) demerger of its consumer healthcare division in 2022.GSK reportedly rebuffed a £50 billion offer from personal goods giant Unilever (ULVR) to buy the division, named H

Stocks in London trod a disparate path, ahead of UK inflation data, which could dictate events on Thursday when the Bank of England makes its latest decision on interest rates.The FTSE 100 index rose 15.75 points, 0.2%, at 7,738.30. But the FTSE 250 ended down 53.72 points, 0.3%, at 19,432.81, and the AIM All-Share fell 1.07 points, 0.2%, at 735.56.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.2% to 774.76, the Cboe UK

Stock prices in London fell at midday on Tuesday, as investors nervously looked ahead to interest interest rate decisions from the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England.Amongst individual stocks, Unilever was boosted by cost saving plans. Oil prices also gave BP and Shell a boost.The FTSE 100 index was down 20.42 points, 0.3%, at 7,702.13. The FTSE 250 was down 76.27 points, 0.4%, at 19,410.26, a

Ice cream demerger plannedMajor productivity programme launchedFocus on ?unmissably superior? brandsShares in Unilever (ULVR) topped the FTSE 100 leader board on Tuesday, gaining 3.7% to £39.51 after the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) goliath announced plans to demerge its ice cream division under a drive to ?maximise? shareholder returns.Less than a year into his tenure, chief executive Hein

Stocks in London opened in the red on Tuesday morning, after the Bank of Japan decided to end its negative interest rate policy.Amongst individual stocks, Unilever jumped after it announced job cuts, as well as the split off of its ice cream division.The FTSE 100 index opened down 1.42 points at 7,721.13. The FTSE 250 was down 12.40 points, 0.1%, at 19,474.13, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.13 o

The end of the tax year is fast approaching and with it the opportunity to maximise your £20,000 ISA allowance for the year.In this article we have identified six names from a list of some of the most consistent funds and fund managers in the UK which could be a good fit for your tax wrapper. While we have aimed for a balance across different investment styles and asset classes this is not intend