The financial media’s job is to make us read (and absorb advertising). So it makes sense that their focus is on the exciting share price moves. However, this often means that we aren’t made aware of what is really driving equity indices, like the UK Index , higher or lower. The UK Index is up…

Once every six months, the Chancellor’s Budget and Statement have the potential to move shares in the UK remarkably. Having reversed the timing for each of these events, this will be the first Autumn Budget since 1996. There are many sectors of the UK economy that can be affected by the Budget. In recent years,…

In mid-July we asked whether subsidence could worsen. And it did, right though to end-August, from which the chart found support at 40p, albeit with gains and falls of up to 60% on news of contract wins, disposals, bid spec and financial updates. Today, however, the shares have plunged yet another 60% to fresh record…

Shares in engineer GKN have made a worrying breach of October’s 298p post profits warning lows, just over a month since we highlighted the risk of more bad news. A much bigger charge following a review of its Alabama facility (£80-130m vs £15m prev.) will fuel real concern about more skeletons in its North American…

TalkTalk shares are the UK Index standout loser this morning, down 10% after announcing a triple whammy of bad news. First up is an unsightly first-half net loss. Secondly, the lowering of FY guidance. And to top it off is a more than 50% cut to the interim dividend, with little or no explanation, resulting…

Macro observations It’s been a long weekend in Downing Street; having forced the resignation of a second cabinet member in as many weeks, Prime Minister Theresa May woke up on Sunday to reports that 40 members of her own party were ready to commit to a vote of no confidence, just eight MPs shy of…