In our penultimate issue in the current weekly format the Shares team identifies some of the actively-managed funds and trusts they like the best from the thousands on offer to UK investors. We have not used any specific selection criteria to come up with our list, these are just our writers' best ideas based on our assessment of the relevant vehicle's track record, management and investment...

UK inflation is creeping back up again. As measured by the consumer price index, or CPI, the rise in the cost of living was 3.6% in June 2025, up from 3.4% in May, and rising at its fastest rate since January 2024. Prices are almost 28% higher than they were five years ago, according to ONS (Office of National Statistics) data. Over the past five years, CPI growth has averaged about 4% per...

JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust (JCH) 760p Market cap: £419.9 million Investors seeking to inflation-proof portfolios and tap into the re-rating potential of the undervalued UK equity market, with further Bank of England rate cuts among the catalysts, should consider putting to money to work with JPMorgan Claverhouse (JCH). This UK Equity Income sector mainstay boasts a 52-year track...

Potential tariffs impact in 2025Existing customer numbers increased slightlyShares down 26% over the past yearShares in 4imprint (FOUR) fell over 10% to £42.90 despite the promotional products company reporting a strong set of full year results.The company saw revenue climb 3% to £1.36 billion and pre-tax profit rise 10% to £154.4 million for the 52 weeks ending 28 December.It also said it...

Stock prices in blue chip indices in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red on Tuesday morning, as traders digest an increasing likelihood that incoming US president Donald Trump will enact punitive tariffs and a very hawkish stance on China.'The latest moves from Trump's camp, especially with China hawks joining his inner circle, are sending chills through the markets and casting a...

4imprint (FOUR) £50.80Market cap: £1.43 billionWe think the sell-off in shares of 4imprint (FOUR) since the direct marketer of promotional products released its first-half trading update in August presents a good opportunity to buy into a high-growth, cash-generative business at an attractive price.The firm is one of the leading players in the $25 billion-a-year North American promotional...

Stock prices in London were in the green on Wednesday morning amid news that UK house prices climbed in the month of July, with shares of housebuilders enjoying a boost.The FTSE 100 index opened up 74.16 points, 0.9%, at 8,100.85. The FTSE 250 was up 148.10 points, 0.7%, at 20,515.80, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.24 points, 0.4%, at 762.91.The Cboe UK 100 was up 1.1% at 808.82, the Cboe UK...

The UK stock market has enjoyed quite the ride this year, with the FTSE 100 keeping pace with the S&P 500 in the US and hitting new record highs. It is certainly helping to raise the profile of what has been an unloved part of the investment universe ? however, investors often overlook one of the UK?s key attributes.You might think having a rich pool of takeover targets on cheap valuations is...

JPMorgan UK Small Cap Growth & Income(JUGI) 293.5pMarket cap: £403.4 millionA major trend in the investment trust sector is mergers between sub-scale trusts with similar remits to create funds large enough and sufficiently liquid to attract wealth managers and retail investors.One example which Shares believes offers a compelling proposition is JPMorgan UK Small Cap Growth & Income (JUGI),...

Year-to-date shares up 30% to £58Total revenue up 16% to £1.32 billionNew customers increased to 311,000Shares in 4imprint (FOUR) were little changed this morning as the promotional products maker reported a 36% rise in pre-tax profit to £140.7 million for the 52 weeks ending 30 December 2023.4imprint?s lacklustre share price movement was in sharp contrast to year-to-date gains of nearly...

Trust returns to long-run outperformance trendBenchmark-beating 17.6% returnUK mid-caps cheaper than large-capsJean Roche-run investment trust Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP) returned to form in style over the year ended 30 September 2023, delivering a net asset value total return of 17.6% versus the disappointing 30% decline in the previous year.This beat the 13.6% total return from the...

Major indices make biggest gains since JanuaryDriven by hopes that inflation and interest rates have peakedMid-cap FTSE 250 beats blue chip indexNovember was a great month for risk assets with major stock indices racking up their biggest gains since January. The German Dax was the leading European index, gaining close to 10% while the UK blue chip FTSE 100 was a laggard notching up a 2%...

A big question facing growth-oriented investors is whether the popular investment style can regain its mojo and get back to winning ways in a world of high interest rates.Despite a strong recent rally which has seen the technology heavy Nasdaq Composite rise 14% over the last six months, growth stocks have struggled relative to value over the last three years.The arrival of Pfizer?s (PFE:NYSE)...

Domino's Pizza shares up 18% after raised guidance4Imprint shares gain after material upgrade to full yearDX shares continue to climb after legal settlementWhile the major indices have pulled back this week, following weak economic data and the US debt downgrade, the following three shares are bucking the trend and trading close to 12-month highs.Franchised pizza chain Domino's Pizza (DOM)...

After a decent showing in 2022, the UK stock market has failed to fire in 2023. The good news for investors is shares in other parts of the world have done much better and it has never been easier to have a globally diversified portfolio.There is an excellent range of products and instruments which allow you to participate in the returns from markets across the globe and, in this article, we...

- Record FY 2022 - sales up 45% and profit up 236%- Bumper dividends including special payout - Big investment in people to drive profitable growth Promotional products company 4imprint (FOUR) said fiscal 2022 pre-tax profit jumped 236% to $102.9 million on a 45% increase in revenues to $1.14 billion, a new record and in line with recent upgraded guidance.The shares gained 1% to £45.10 on...

Investors instinctively know sectors such as utilities, consumer staples and healthcare are defensive and have historically provided shelter during stock market turbulence. Yet the analysis usually focuses on sector performance alone.This article takes a different approach and seeks to identify stocks within the S&P 500 and FTSE 350 indices which have had the least number of down years over...

- Raised guidance for 2022 profit above $100 million- Shares hit all-time high, up 72% over last year- Company enters 2023 with confidenceShares in promotional products company 4imprint (FOUR) racked up another all-time high on Friday, rising 4% to £46.40 after the firm raised full-year profit guidance yet again and taking gains over the last year to 72%.The raise comes hot on the heels of a...

It's been a tricky 2022 for global stock markets and that's made life hard for ordinary and professional investors alike. In this feature several leading fund managers explain what worked out for them over the course of the year and what went wrong.James Harries - Securities Trust of Scotland (STS)What worked?At Troy (Securities Trust of Scotland's investment manager) we seek companies that...

- Earnings seen at top end of market forecasts- Full-year revenues upgraded to $1.1 billion- Operational leverage helps drive momentumShares in promotional gift seller 4imprint (FOUR) surged as much as 9% on Friday after the company said it expected pre-tax profits to be at the upper end of market forecasts and 'at least' $90 million.The company also raised guidance for full year revenues...