Engineering specialist Smiths Group (LON:SMIN) has this morning confirmed speculation that it is in early talks with ICU Medical regarding a possible merger with the FTSE 100 group’s healthcare division. Management reiterated that there is no certainty that a deal will take place, but that they are reviewing all options in order to maximise value…
Miner Vedanta Resources (LON:VED) has been ordered by the Government of Tamil Nadu to seal and permanently close its Tuticorin copper smelter. The government has also withdrawn the allocation of 342 acres of land for the extension of the facility. The company has struggled over the last month after local protests against the expansion turned…
They are non-identical twins on the other side of the world. Despite their shared language and historical DNA they are very different. They are both amongst the most prosperous nations on Earth in GDP-per-capita terms. They both command immense resources (though of different kinds) and benefit from some of the best educated populations. The quality…
Electronics retailer Dixons Carphone (LON:DC.) has said that it will close more than 90 stores today, following a profit warning for the 2018/19 financial year. The company said that margins were likely to be squeezed due to low inflation limiting the growth of network commission payments and increased costs due to rising wages. Profits before…
Instruments and controls manufacturer Spectris (LON:SXS) said that like-for-like sales were up by 6% for the four months ended 30th April, but the negative impact of foreign currency movements meant that revenues only rose by 2% in reported terms. The improvement in sales was driven by strong performances in China, and the pharmaceutical and automotive industries.…
Water and waste management specialist Pennon (LON:PNN) saw its shares rise by 5.29% to 768p as pre-tax profits climbed 3.5% to £258.8 million for the year ended 31st March. Revenues edged up by 2.9% to £1.39 billion on the back of increased tariffs and higher demand at South West Water. Get the latest from Master…
Accrol (LON:ACRL) was floated perhaps two years ago. After a few months, when the price had got to around 150p astonishing losses fell to be disclosed – so much so that this toilet paper roller looked to be out for the count. But ACRL has its fans and it was all a question of its affairs…
This week the FTSE-100 hit record territory, cruising towards 8,000. But some sectors in the UK market are faring better than others… Early summer sunshine – at last In the January edition of Master Investor Magazine, I predicted that the Dow Jones Index would continue rising over the course of this year and that it…
There was positive news for the retail sector, as sales rose by a better than expected 1.6% relative to March. However, the most recent three months’ sales were only up by 0.1% on the prior period, as underlying trends remained sluggish. Get the latest from Master Investor directly in your inbox – Sign-up HERE for…
At no point in my life has tempus seemed to fugit more than now. This year is nearly half over. I am at my house in the Isle of Man, a glass-fringed old café, and the place is boiling. Is this climate change or just an early summer? Who knows, but all this extraordinary weather will undoubtedly…
