Investors face another quiet week of corporate news as the second-half reporting season slowly begins to ramp up across the UK, Europe and the US. Among the key FTSE All-Share updates, Marks & Spencer (LON:MKS) holds its AGM with shareholders looking for reassurance that trading remains resilient following recent cyber disruption, while software reseller Bytes Technology (LON:BYIT) also hosts its AGM after a strong full-year performance, with investors keen for fresh guidance on demand for AI and cloud spending. Budget fitness operator Gym Group (LON:GYM) rounds off the week’s highlights with a pre-close trading update that will provide an important…

Rather like some World Cup matches, 1H 2026 was a tale of two halves for global stocks, minus the hydration breaks. Q1 saw stocks struggle on the Iran conflict, while Q2 saw them rally on blowout US earnings. Unsurprisingly, due to the weight of Tech stocks in the indices, US stocks fared better than UK stocks. For 1H 2026 the S&P 500 notched up a 10% gain and the Nasdaq 100 posted a 19% gain. In contrast, large-cap UK stocks ended 1H with a gain of 5% while unusually mid-caps underperformed with just a 3% gain. Channelling Bloomberg columnist John…

In what was described as a ‘landmark’ deal, Capricorn Energy (LON:CNE) agreed a takeover offer from Genel Energy (LON:GENL). The cash offer, at $4.74 per Capricorn share including dividends, values the firm at $360 million or £271 million. Landmark acquisition Genel CEO Paul Weir called the acquisition ‘a landmark transaction that delivers our strategic intent, reshapes our company’s growth trajectory, diversifies our portfolio of oil and gas fields and begins our role as a partner in Egypt’s energy future’. Genel’s only existing production base is a 25% non-operated working interest in the Tawke PSC, located in Kurdistan. Comprised of two…

Investment trust 3i Infrastructure (LON:3IN) said it had a ‘strong start’ to its new financial year and its portfolio was performing well. Manager Bernardo Sottomayor added most companies were trading in line with or ahead of expectations and the company was making new investments. Strong start After posting a total return towards the bottom end of its target range for the year to March 2026, FY27 has started strongly. Total income and non-income cash for the three months to end-June was £52 million, in line with expectations. Portfolio company Infinis made ‘good progress’ with 274MW of new solar capacity under…

With markets seemingly back in risk-on mode, we thought we would check up on the most-shorted stocks. As a reminder, these are the names with the highest percentage of their share capital loaned out to short sellers. For the uninitiated, short selling involves borrowing stock and selling it with the aim of buying back at a lower price. We have to stress this is only recommended for hedge funds and professional traders, NOT for retail investors. This is because the ‘risk-reward’ involves a great deal more risk than reward. The reward is limited, because the share price can only go…

Fund management group Polar Capital (LON:POLR), known for its flagship Technology and Health Care funds, posted record AuM (assets under management) in FY26. Encouragingly, momentum has continued into the current FY with assets rising further still. For the year to 31 March, Polar’s AuM increased 43% to £30.6 billion while operating profit rose 49% to £76.9 million. Positive fund performance accounted for £8.8 billion or the bulk of the increase in AuM. Net inflows of £902 million accounted for the rest of the increase, marking the second year running of positive fund flows. AuM by type at 31 March 2026…

Digital services provider to the public sector Made Tech (LON:MTEC) posted a strong FY trading update and raised guidance again. The AIM-listed firm said activity had exceeded its expectations and its results would exceed its previously upgraded forecasts. Raising guidance again For the year to May, the group expects revenue of £58.9 million, up 27% and ahead of market expectations. The company-compiled consensus is £57.5 million, up from £55 million at the 1H stage when the firm raised its outlook. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to rise 69% to £5.9 million compared with the latest consensus of £5.6 million. At the…

Supermarket group J Sainsbury (LON:SBRY) maintained its FY27 earnings and free cash flow guidance after a positive Q1 performance. Group LFL sales were up 2.1% in the 16 weeks to 20 June, driven by a 3.6% increase in grocery sales, ahead of the market. Positive start Despite a strong prior-year period, when grocery sales increased 5%, Sainsbury’s delivered positive growth in Q1. The 3.6% rise was ahead of house broker Shore Capital’s forecast of 2.75% to 3.25% and ahead of the market. It was also well ahead of Tesco’s (LON:TESCO) 1.8% LFL sales growth in the 13 weeks to 30…

Nicola Takada Wood, Asset Value Investor’s managing director for Japan, outlines the investment case for AVI Japan Opportunity Trust (AJOT). This active engagement strategy capitalises on the increased focus on corporate governance, balance sheet efficiency and shareholder returns in the Land of the Rising Sun. Nicola says global asset allocators have consistently overlooked Japan for decades. For this and many other reasons, she tells our audience why investors haven’t ‘missed the boat’. Our special guest explains AJOT’s investment process, which selects the most promising opportunities from frequent screening and comprehensive research. Takada Wood drills down on the trust’s constructive approach…

Specialist industrial technology group Porvair (LON:PRV) posted record revenue and profit for H1 2026. The group also confirmed its FY26 outlook, although factoring in recent acquisitions earnings could top forecasts. Metals demand leads King’s Lynn-based Porvair specialises in filtration, laboratory and environmental technology and serves the aerospace, industrial and life science sectors. It also designs and manufactures porous ceramic filters for the metals industry and is a world leader in the filtration of aluminium and super alloys. For the six months to end-May, the group reported a 9% rise in revenue and a 10% rise in adjusted pre-tax profit. Aerospace…