London's blue chip index performed worse than its European peers at the start of a week filled with interest rate decisions and key economic data. 'It is a big week for central bank meetings with the Fed (Wed), Bank of Canada (Wed), Norges (Thu), Bank of England (Thu) and the Bank of Japan (Fri), listed there in descending order of market-implied rate cut probability.' analysts at Lloyds Bank...

Firm in talks with another UK agency No discussion of price in statement S4 shares still down 30% this year The UK takeover train continues to trundle on with confirmation today from digital advertising agency S4 Capital (SFOR) it has received an approach from rival UK agency MSQ Partners. S4 shares initially jumped 3.75p or 17% to 24.95p but fell back to 22.4p for a gain of 1.2p or just under...

Global macro conditions 'challenging' Shares down 19% year-to-date New wins from GM, Amazon, T-Mobile Shares in S4 Capital (SFOR) gained over 3% to 26p in morning trading despite the digital advertising agency reducing its forecast for full-year like-for like net revenue growth from flat to a low single-digit decline. The agency headed up former WPP (WPP) boss Sir Martin Sorrell attributed the...

Final dividend of 1p per shareAI driving new businessShares up 13% this yearShares in S4 Capital (SFOR) gained over 12% to 37p in morning trading as the digital media group promised its first ever dividend, although it cautioned uncertain macroeconomic conditions and client caution remained.The company headed up by former WPP (WPP) boss Sir Martin Sorrell reported full-year 2024 results in...

In the third of our four-part series on small caps (you can read part two on UK small cap funds and trusts elsewhere in this issue), we get our data-crunching caps on and take a look at key metrics around value, income and growth in the smaller companies universe.To narrow things down we limited our search to London-listed companies with market valuations between £50 million and £500...

London's FTSE 100 prospered in early trading on Thursday after the US central bank cut rates by a hefty 50 basis points.The FTSE 100 index added 56.60 points, 0.7%, at 8,310.28. The FTSE 250 added 168.08 points, 0.8%, at 21,003.39, and the AIM All-Share rose 2.30 points, 0.3%, at 744.86.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.7% to 832.14, the Cboe UK 250 added 0.8% to 18,528.62, and the Cboe Small Companies...

Shares down 77% over past yearNet revenue down 2.1% to £873.2 millionFirst share buyback completed in MarchShares in S4 Capital (SFOR) were down nearly 12% to 39p in morning trading despite full year results from the digital media group meeting downgraded expectations.Headed up by former WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell, S4 Capital reported a 2.1% fall in net revenue to £873.2 million for the...

When Martin Sorrell completed his acrimonious exit in 2018 from the business he had built up over decades he had a point to prove.His S4 Capital (SFOR) vehicle was supposed to leave his former charge in the shade by adopting a similar buy-and-build model to that employed at WPP (WPP).The latter started life as wire shopping-basket manufacturer Wire and Plastic Products before Sorrell and...

Guidance in line with expectationsShares down 80% over the past yearNet debt is expected to be towards the lower end of the guided rangeShares in Martin Sorrell?s S4 Capital (SFOR) were up over 6% to 42p in morning trading after the advertising group said that trading in the fourth quarter of 2023 ?was in line with expectations? outlined in the last trading update in November.The latest share...

Third quarter net revenue down 15.4%No share buybacks or dividends until 2024Continued client caution in the tech sectorShares in Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital (SFOR) fell over 18% to 54p in morning trading as the advertising group issued its third profit warning and cut its full year guidance.The first profit warning was in July this year the second in September following 'slower than expected...

The FTSE 100 in London got off to an uncertain start on Thursday, with investors digesting a mixed slate of corporate updates and more hawkish words from US policymakers.There was also less-than-stellar data out of China for investors to be mindful of.The FTSE 100 index opened up 4.73 points, 0.1%, at 7,406.45. The FTSE 250 rose 10.04 points, 0.1%, at 17,856.30 and the AIM All-Share was down...

Given the hundreds of stock market announcements issued every day by UK-listed companies, it's very easy to narrow your focus either to just the shares you own or the big household names in order to keep track of what's going on. However, smaller companies can often be the 'canaries in the coal mine' of trouble ahead because changes in the economy tend to impact them much quicker than they do...

The recent share price performance of certain advertising companies has not impressed investors. WPP (WPP) has seen its share price fall by 8% year-to-date and S4 Capital (SFOR) has seen its shares dramatically fall 62% in the same period.Both companies have cited tech clients in the US cutting their advertising spend and the current macroeconomic climate as reasons for weak performance. This...

S4's shares are down 62% year-to-dateFull year expectations revised lower againLike-for-like revenue growth from top 20 clients of 8.9%Shares in S4 Capital (SFOR) fell by nearly 25% to 72p as the advertising group once again warned on profit 'following slower than expected trading over the summer months' and 'current client activity levels.'The second profit warning since July came as the firm...

Second-quarter growth in mid-single digits excluding USSolid new business performanceOperating profit falls 43.2%Shares in WPP (WPP) fell over 7% to 788p after the advertising giant cut its annual revenue forecast due to a lack of cash from US tech clients who are struggling with future budget spend.WPP's pre-tax profits fell 51% to £204 million for the six months ending 30 June 2023 compared...

Investor sentiment reflected upcoming expectations of US, EU and Japanese central bank decisions this week, as London stock prices started the week downbeat start at the open on Monday.The FTSE 100 index opened down 20.56 points, or 0.3%, at 7,643.17. The FTSE 250 was up 16.55 points, or 0.1%, at 19,217.00, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.72 points, or 0.2%, at 764.83.The Cboe UK 100 was down...

S4 Capital chief operating officer offloads nearly £3 million sharesExperian directors go on a spending spreeWood Group director buys after share price fallThe chief operating officer (COO) of London-based digital advertising agency S4 Capital (SFOR) has offloaded nearly £3 million worth of shares in the company. Christopher Martin sold 2,087,984 shares at 134p for a total value of £2.8...

We could potentially see changes to the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices as a knock-on effect to proposals by the UK financial regulator to change the UK stock market listing rules.The Financial Conduct Authority wants to make it easier for companies to join the UK stock market by revamping the listing requirements. One of the proposals is for the London market's standard and premium segments to...

- Net revenue growth improves in third quarter- Company confirms full year profit forecast- Analyst raises price target after updateDigital advertising agency S4 Capital (SFOR) showed a slight acceleration in top-line growth in the third quarter and a 'significant' improvement in operating profits putting it on track to meet its full-year target.The shares climbed as much as 8.5% to 228p at...

- Shares surge nearly 10% as full-year guidance confirmed- Margin weakness in both content and data/digital divisions still a concern- Year-to-date shares are still down 47%Shares in Martin Sorrell's advertising agency S4 Capital (SFOR) jumped nearly 10% after investors were pleased that half-year results didn't contain any further bad news, given the company issued a nasty profit warning just...