Revenue guidance slashed by halfConsensus profit downgrade of 7% to 10%Margin recovery to continueShares in premium mixer company Fevertree Drinks (FEVR:AIM) tumbled 9% to a new eight year low after the firm cut its full year revenue forecast amid disappointing trading reflecting a subdued UK consumer and poor weather.The latest slump in the shares takes year-to-date losses to 21% compared with a

LADBible publisher LBG Media (LBG:AIM) seems to be in full recovery mode ahead of its half-year results on 18 September.Back in July, the youth-focused publisher posted a strong interim trading update with direct revenue increasing by 92% to £22 million and signaled continued growth in the US.Global audience numbers increase to 493 million up from 410 million in the first half of 2023.Peel Hunt a

Hot on the heels of updates from Walmart (WMT:NYSE) and Home Depot (HD:NYSE), hard-pressed Target Corporation (TGT:NYSE) is the next major retailer to give a read on the health of a US consumer struggling with the rapid rise in inflation and interest rates of the past few years. The discounter's second-quarter earnings are slated for 21 August, when Target will need to assure investors it is on tr

Although shares in leading infrastructure group Balfour Beatty (BBY) haven't been immune to the recent pull-back in markets, they were recently sitting at their best level in more than a decade so investors will be keen to hear how the business has been performing when it reports half-year earnings on 14 August.In its last trading update in May, the firm said trading was in line with its full-year

On track to deliver full year 2024New artificial tools announcedUnderlying adjusted operating profit up 4% to £250 millionShares in Pearson (PSON) were down over 3% to £10.10 in morning trading despite the education media group remaining on track to deliver full year 2024 and reiterating guidance for 2025.Beyond 2025, Pearson said it was positioned to deliver a compound annualised growth rate in

First half EBITDA up 24%£300 million buyback initiated2024 earnings seen 'top end'Drax (DRX) shares powered up 12.5% to a 52-week high of 636p after the renewable energy generator delivered strong first-half results, issued a positive full-year outlook and said it would shortly begin a £300 million share buyback.Investors were wowed by Drax's smoking-hot results for the half to 30 June, which sh

London's stocks were shaky going into Wednesday afternoon, despite data showing a pick up in UK private sector growth.Amongst individual stocks, easyJet was flying after it said it is on track to deliver another 'record-breaking summer'.The FTSE 100 index traded 13.83 points lower, or 0.2%, at 8,154.04. The FTSE 250 was down 58.02 points, 0.3%, at 21,033.47, while the AIM All-Share was down 1.34 p

Jansen reportedly plotting takeoverConsolidation opportunity in fragmented US marketTurnaround potential at TerminixPest control and hygiene giant Rentokil Initial (RTO) topped the FTSE 100 leader board on Monday, with shares in the 'royal rat-catcher' scurrying 10% higher to 492.6p following weekend reports it is a bid target for private equity.According to The Times, former BT (BT.A) CEO Philip

Stocks in London ended higher on Thursday, with promising updates sending retailers Frasers and Dunelm higher, while in mainland Europe, the European Central Bank took centre-stage as it opted to leave rates unmoved.The conviction remains that the ECB will cut at its September meeting, however. In the UK, signs of a softer labour market aided Bank of England rate cut expectations.The FTSE 100 inde

Stock prices in London were in the green at midday, as investors awaited the next interest rate call from the European Central Bank, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted leaders from across Europe at a summit.The FTSE 100 index was up 59.33 points, or 0.7%, at 8,246.78. The FTSE 250 was up 151.37 points, or 0.7%, at 21,244.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.77 points, or 0.4%, at 789.57.The

Disposal boosts Chrysalis' liquiditySBO to receive back original investmentAnalyst says deal is 'good news' for UK techBritish semiconductor company Graphcore may have been sold to Japan's Softbank (9984:TYO) at a fraction of its peak value, but the deal has allowed investment trusts Chrysalis Investments (CHRY) and Schroder British Opportunities (SBO) to realise some cash and report uplifts in NA

Two of the biggest investment trusts are combining in the sector's largest-ever merger, with Witan (WTAN) to be rolled into Alliance Trust (ATST) in a mega-deal expected to complete later this year.The combination of these two FTSE 250 constituents will create 'Alliance Witan', an investment trust goliath with net assets north of £5 billion and big enough for FTSE 100 inclusion.Shares in Witan ro

Stock prices in London were higher at Wednesday midday ahead of the UK general election on Thursday, with the opposition Labour party expect to win a comfortable majority.Also keeping stocks in the green was positive inflation news from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, ahead of an Independence Day holiday, starting locally at 1400 EDT today.Speaking on Tuesday, Powell said the US central ba

Largest ever investment trust combinationNew vehicle big enough for FTSE 100 inclusionLower ongoing charges to followTwo of the biggest investment trusts are combining in the sector's largest-ever merger, with Witan (WTAN) to be rolled into Alliance Trust (ATST) in a mega-deal expected to complete later this year.The combination of these FTSE 250 constituents will create 'Alliance Witan', an inves

Rentokil shares have laggedNelson Peltz a top-10 investorFirm can't grow its earningsPest control and hygiene firm Rentokil (RTO) has been one of the worst-performing stocks in the FTSE 100 this year, so it is no great surprise talk is circulating of an activist investor taking an interest in the business.Shares in the group jumped as much as 68p or 15% to 482p shortly after the open and were stil

Reservations per outlet upAverage selling price higherFully sold for current yearFTSE 250 housebuilder Bellway (BWY) cited improved affordability as providing support for a rise in confidence among property buyers and a subsequent increase in reservation rates between February and June compared to the first half of its financial year.The shares, which have gained 23% in the last year but are still

Ukrainian iron ore mining group Ferrexpo (FXPO) has seen its shares slump 40% in the last three months amid ongoing nervousness over the conflict with Russia as well as spats with the government and legal issues.This has overshadowed operational progress with the company reporting on 23 April its best quarterly production figures since the invasion of Ukraine. In the first three months of 2024, th

London Equities were down on Friday morning, after Thursday's mid-day rally across the pond ground to a halt, with Land Securities leading the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index opened down 13.93 points, 0.2%, at 8,424.72. The FTSE 250 was down 36.70 points, 0.2%, at 20,786.14, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.43 of a point, 0.1%, at 792.07.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 841.06,

Copper is already one of the most important materials underpinning human civilisation, and the energy transition is only likely to see demand for the industrial metal build in the years to come.Limits and pressures on supply and this growing demand profile are already seeing copper prices mount a charge and recent M&A activity ? with BHP's (BHP) unsuccessful (for now) attempt to take over Anglo Am

Stocks in London were largely flat at midday on Tuesday, on the back of boosts at Burberry and Vodafone, as hopes for a summer interest rate cut were bolstered by supportive comments from the Bank of England?s top economist.The FTSE 100 index was up 5.85 points, 0.1%, at 8,420.89. The FTSE 250 was up 14.46 points, 0.1%, at 20,574.80, and the AIM All-Share was little changed at 786.60.The Cboe UK 1