AIM: IPOs on London’s junior market stayed at rock bottom January 10, 2025 The number of IPOs on AIM has continued at its record low numbers in 2024, sailing below the level of the financial crisis. IPOs on London’s junior stock market totalled just 11 last year, the same number as in 2023 and below the 13 recorded during the 2008 financial crisis. While the amount of money [...]
Another private takeover: Alliance Pharma offered £350m January 10, 2025 The London Stock Exchange is facing yet another private takeover, with Alliance Pharma offered £349.7m in an all-cash deal. The AIM-listed firm, which sells over-the-counter drugs in over 100 countries, has seen its board recommend the takeover unanimously by asset manager DBAY Advisors and Edmond de Rothschild’s ERES IV fund. The group’s stock price jumped [...]
RBG: Ousted founder filed winding up petition against troubled listed law firm January 9, 2025 The freshly ousted founder of listed legal business RBG Holding has filed a winding up petition to the High Court against the group
UK stock funds suffer worst year on record as investors pull nearly £10bn January 8, 2025 UK-focused stock funds suffered their worst year on record last year as investors yanked nearly £10bn from the market, new figures have shown. While equity vehicles globally raked in a record £27.2bn through 2024, UK funds haemorrhaged some £9.6bn in their most sluggish year ever relative to the performance of the wider market, according to [...]
‘Untrue and defamatory’: Ian Rosenblatt hits back after troubled listed legal firm RBG ousted him January 8, 2025 Listed legal business RBG Holding, which has seen its shares drop to record low levels, has ousted the founder weeks after he called for the removal of the CEO
‘Horrified’: Shein lambasted by MPs as fast fashion firm dodges questions January 7, 2025 Fast fashion retailer Shein was lambasted by MPs and accused of behaviour that “bordered on contempt” today after a representative of the firm repeatedly refused to answer questions over its supply chain practices and upcoming IPO. The Chinese-founded retailer, which is reportedly gearing up to list on the London Stock Exchange this year, has faced [...]
Lloyd’s of London insurer snubs the City with New York IPO plans January 6, 2025 A Lloyd’s of London insurer has dealt a fresh blow to the City by snubbing the London Stock Exchange in favour of New York for its planned IPO, piling fresh pressure on the capital’s bourse after it shrank at the fastest pace on record last year. Aspen Insurance, an underwriting firm which operates out of [...]
FTSE 100 to outperform S&P 500 in 2025 says Wall Street January 3, 2025 Equity analysts have predicted that the FTSE 100 will have a record year in 2025, helped by lower interest rates and higher oil prices. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Wall Street analysts believe the UK’s flagship blue-chip index will jump 15 per cent in 2025, its best year since 2009. In 2024, the index [...]
Thames Water to avoid state bailout, the FTSE 100 at 7900 and an ITV bid: my predictions for UK plc in 2025 January 2, 2025 Predictions may generally be a mug’s game, but looking back at my forecasts for the business world in 2024, I seem to have fared better than usual. Klarna, the buy now pay later giant, opted for a New York listing; Dame Alison Rose made a comeback in a senior private equity role; Unilever announced that [...]
IAG, Rolls-Royce and Natwest: The FTSE 100’s winners of 2024 December 31, 2024 The FTSE 100 returned 5.8 per cent in 2024, but under the surface, a clear gap has emerged between the blue-chip index’s winners and losers. Quite a few stocks have fallen out of London’s main index, with companies like Burberry and Ocado being replaced by giants like Games Workshop and Alliance Witan. While around half [...]