Macro observations On Friday, Donald Trump received the keys to his new home on Pennsylvania Avenue in a typically Trump demeanour. Now officially sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, foreign exchange markets have reacted unfavourably to the Republican’s opening gambit, as his inauguration speech proved significantly more protectionist than many expected….
After Pearson last week, it’s the turn of shareholders in Essentra (ESNT) to be on the wrong side of yet another profits warning – it’s fourth since last June. Having warned barely two months ago, management (new CEO as of 1 Jan) is already guiding to even lower full-year operating profits due to a “further…
2016 will be remembered as a year of tremendous highs and lows for investors, with economic and political surprises resulting in some amazing opportunities. None more so than for followers of the heavily traded mining sector. Having been stuck in the deep pits of a commodity price downturn at the turn of the new year with fears…
Two normally defensive UK Index blue-chips disappointed this week, their negative trading updates highlighting worrying business trends. The first’s shares sold off hard (-7%), while the other’s tanked (-28%) after its third profits warning since September. The question now is whether the worst is over for both? From near multi-year if not all-time lows are…
Investors in speciality chemicals company Synthomer (SYNT) are rather pleased with themselves this morning, and rightfully so after shares jumped over 15% to make fresh all-time highs above 400p. Having reiterated FY guidance as recently as 9 November’s Q3 trading update (solid trading in Europe offsetting sluggishness in Asia linked to new capacity; Sterling providing…
Royal Mail (RMG) is today’s UK 100 underperformer as traders send the shares 6% lower to breach 430p rising support that dates back to October 2014 all-time lows. Headline Q3/9M financials may well be in-line with consensus expectations, the Christmas period strong and FY guidance reiterated, but the results do little to appease concerns about…