There is no hiding from the ambitious housing and infrastructure targets set out by the government. But with public finance under pressure, how these projects will be funded and financed remains unclear. What is clear is that devolution – highlighted by the rise of elected mayors and combined authorities – has a key role in helping the government to meet its delivery ambitions across the country. Devolution, when implemented effectively, offers a powerful tool to attract investment. While it is not a silver bullet for unlocking private finance, it can assist on several levels. It builds strong regional leadership and…
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Image source: Getty Images If I were Roisin Currie – CEO of FTSE 250 fast-food star Greggs (LSE: GRG) – I might feel somewhat hacked off. Every quarter, her firm posts apparently strong, very strong, or excellent results, but still the share price falls. So what is causing this? The latest results Greggs’ 20 May trading update covering the first 20 weeks of 2025 showed total sales up 7.4% year on year to £784m. Like-for-like (LFL) sales growth rose 2.9%, with the firm reporting that better trading conditions supported an improved trend. LFL sales measure a retail business’s growth from…
Quantum Commodity Intelligence – Companies’ use of carbon credits to meet their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has increasingly been under the microscope in recent times, with high-profile legal challenges questioning the integrity of the offsets and the corporates’ climate claims. In addition, a big issue for companies looking to address their carbon footprint is how to deal with Scope 3 value-chain greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Scope 3 emissions fall outside a firm’s direct control and so have proven difficult to account for, let alone reduce. Focus on these issues has intensified with the debate over whether or not the main…
GBP/JPY trades in negative territory for the third consecutive day around 194.45 in Thursday’s early European session.BoE is expected to keep interest rates on hold on Thursday amid tariff uncertainty and the Israel-Iran conflict.Reduced bets for the BoJ rate hikes this year might weigh on the JPY. The GBP/JPY cross extends its downside to near 194.45 during the early European trading hours on Thursday. The Pound Sterling (GBP) softens against the Japanese Yen (JPY) due to the looming threat of a broader conflict in the Middle East and possible US involvement. Investors will keep an eye on the Bank of England (BoE)…
Image source: Rolls-Royce Holdings plc On 10 June, the Rolls-Royce Holdings (LSE:RR.) share price reached an all-time high of 912.6p. Since then, it’s fallen back a little but it’s impossible to deny that the group’s post-pandemic recovery has been remarkable. It’s hard to believe that when the aerospace giant announced its life-saving rights issue in October 2020 — which was priced at 32p a share — it had a market-cap of £1.5bn. Today (18 June), it’s worth over £75bn. Not finished yet But analysts reckon there’s more to come. Their 12-month share price target’s 920p — 2% more than today’s…
Image source: Getty Images After a tough couple of years, the UK stock market finally looks to be shifting into a more sustainable growth phase. The FTSE 100 recently hit record highs, and many global markets seem to be following suit. While short-term volatility persists, I believe there are three clear signs that a new bull market phase may be underway. Interest rate cuts are coming Markets are most likely pricing in rate cuts from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, with the US Federal Reserve not far behind. This matters because lower interest rates reduce the…
Image source: Getty Images When evaluating UK shares, I tend to look beyond sensational headlines and instead focus on fundamentals and valuation metrics. Examples include the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, which shows how much investors are paying for each pound of earnings, and the price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, which reflects how a company’s revenue compares to its market valuation. As an income investor, I also check dividends and historical performance to assess both value and stability. Lately, I’ve noticed several well-known companies that, despite their brand strength or operational history, currently trade on metrics that raise red flags for me. With that…
Image source: Getty Images Over the past six months, the FTSE 100 index is up 7.9%. That’s pretty good, given the sudden market crash in April. But looking at the Footsie’s top performers over six months, I count 19 shares up by more than 25%. Indeed, the top gainer has soared by 120.5% in half a year. At the other end of the scale lie the FTSE 100‘s biggest losers. I count five shares down 20% or more in six months. Here are two that are part of my family portfolio. 1. Diageo’s disaster The Footsie’s third-worst performer over six…
Image source: Getty Images I’m not afraid to admit that I sold my BAE Systems (LSE:BA.) stock before Russia invaded Ukraine. The stock was up 20% and the Russians (state employees) who I worked with at the time were convinced that there wouldn’t be a war. They were wrong. The BAE Systems share price surged. And it’s never looked back. It’s a bit of a shame for me. But conversely, I’m not too upset as I essentially would have been a net beneficiary of the three years of conflict and the associated increased defence spending. I’m not overly moralistic when…
Image source: Getty Images Turning an initial £8,800 in savings into a £20,000 annual second income is an ambitious but achievable goal. Like anything in life, it requires commitment, learning, and a level-headed approach. So, let’s find out how it can be done. There’s a formula for success There are several parts to the formula, and central to it is harnessing the power of compounding effectively over time. Compounding occurs when investment returns generate their own returns, creating a snowball effect that accelerates portfolio growth. This process is fundamental for building wealth, especially when combined with regular contributions and a…