If you want to improve your forecasting ability, you’d do well to start here: For 19 out of the past 23 years the UK 100 has delivered gains into year-end. These ‘traditional Santa Rallies’ have often seen the index itself top gains of 3% between early November and late December while some of its stocks…
30 Oct 2015 Investors in Pets at Home (PETS) are having an allergic reaction to today’s H1 trading statement, toppling the shares by 7% from all-time highs just 18-months post IPO. While H1 sales grew 1.8% organically, strength in several business lines was countered by ‘continuing seasonal challenges’ (a.k.a. persistent weakness) in Health & Hygiene…
29 Oct 2015 Smith & Nephew (SN) shareholders are legging it en masse this morning despite Q3 results showing underlying revenues +4% and management maintaining FY 2015 guidance. Investors are clearly unprepared to shoulder the combined news of a $275m robotics acquisition (which always carries risk), reported revenues -4% due on account of strong currency…
28 Oct 2015 Shares in Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) opened 4.5% lower this morning after an earnings update that, while financially positive in terms of profits, growth and recovery, was light in terms of consensus. What looks like weighing even more is the ugly mug of PPI provisions which is refusing to duck below the…
27 October The flurry of Lloyds Banking Group notes continues, and so it should. We need to break this share offer down and debate its merits, because many an inexperienced investor is being tempted by what might turn out to be a bad deal. Whose ears would prick up at the offer of shares at…
26 Oct 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) shares are top of the UK Index this morning, benefiting from a prime example of ‘buy the rumour…’ even if said rumour has already been swiftly denied. Weekend press speculation suggested ‘ADN’ had been sounding out buyers after turbulent period for markets linked to global growth expectations and…