Shares in trading platform IG Group (LON:IGG) crashed 25% to a year-low in early trading after it cut its FY26 revenue guidance. This is the fintech firm’s second disappointing update in recent months after the shares tumbled on the H1 results. Cut to FY revenue guidance For the three months to September, IG expects total revenue to be in the region of £240 million. That represents a drop of 14% on the same period last year, with the firm blaming lower OTC revenue retention. As a result, the group now expects FY26 revenue to grow by mid-single digits instead of…

Next week represents the calm before the storm as it bridges the end of the Q2 reporting season and the beginning of the Q3 season. Therefore, we see little likelihood of company news moving markets and more of a focus on the oil price, bonds and geopolitics. There are just a handful of companies reporting here and in the US (see below), and a handful of fund and trust updates. Among the latter, Fidelity Emerging Markets (BV6QJB2), Polar Capital Technology (PCT) and Schroder Japan (SJG) are the most noteworthy. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) Shares in US beer and spirits group Constellation…

Positive results overnight from US memory chip maker Micron (NASDAQ:MU) failed to lift sentiment towards European tech stocks. Semiconductor maker STMicroelectronics (EPA:STM) and equipment maker ASML (AMS:ASML) opened higher, but quickly gave up their gains. Q4 results beat market expectations Micron reported stronger-than-expected Q4 results, thanks to the continued surge in demand for memory chips. Revenue of $54.2 billion was nearly five times the prior-year figure and well above the $51.2 billion consensus. Earnings per share of $33.42 were more than 11 times the prior-year figure of $3.03 and also well above the $31.60 consensus. Despite the beat, however, Micron…

Shares in Filtronic (LON:FTC) flew higher after the specialist electronics maker revealed it had received a second large order from SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX). CEO Nat Edington called the order ‘another significant milestone, providing extended order visibility and coverage over the next couple of years’. Follow-on order AIM-listed Filtronic specialises in advanced RF (radio frequency) chips for the space, aerospace, defence and telecoms infrastructure markets. The latest order, valued at $68.1 million, is for its Cerus E-band gallium nitride (GaN) Solid State Power Amplifier units. This order follows the initial $62.5m SpaceX contract announced in August 2026, also for Filtronic’s proprietary GaN…

Shares in over 50s travel and insurance group Saga (LON:SAGA) sailed higher after it reported H1 profit which nearly doubled. The firm said its ‘excellent’ performance reinforced its confidence in exceeding its medium-term targets early. Strong H1 revenue growth For the six months to July, Saga posted a 12% increase in group revenue to £367.5 million. The Travel business delivered underlying revenue of £282.1 million, up 14% on the previous year. Within Travel, Ocean Cruise also grew revenue 14% to £149.5 million while Holidays grew revenue 9% to £97.7 million. River Cruise made up the balance with revenue of £4.9…

Shares in steel and foundry firm Vesuvius (LON:VSVS) vaulted higher after it revealed it had been in a bid situation for a year. The shares gained as much as 30% before settling up 25% in mid-morning trade. Bid approach began a year ago In response to media speculation, Vesuvius admitted it had received a series of unsolicited bids dating back to September 2025. The bidder, Austrian-based but UK-listed RHI Magnesita (LON:RHIM), mines and sells high-grade refractory products for the steel industry among others. RHI made its first approach on 29 September 2025, a year ago today, pitched at 448p per…

In this article we have put together what we consider to be six of the best high-yielding investment trusts on offer. To spread the investment risk, we have chosen two equity-based funds, two bond-based funds and two alternative-based funds. We have also tried to avoid concentration risk by picking a mix of UK and internationally-focused funds. At the start of this year, investors expected global interest rates to move steadily lower aided by falling inflation. Instead, due to the Middle East crisis, rates look set to stay where they are or in some cases move higher. Meanwhile, the yield on…

AIM-listed toy maker Character Group (LON:CCT) raised its FY26 earnings guidance after a surge in H2 sales. The firm now sees pre-tax profit beating current market expectations by around 20%. Improved margin and raised guidance The maker of Doctor Who, Power Rangers and Peppa Pig toys, among other products, said it had a ‘strong finish’ to its full year. Sales in July and August were ‘very encouraging’, it added. While sales in the US were lower, the UK and Scandinavia saw a resurgence of demand. Having reversed the drop in H1, group sales for the year to the end of…

Shares in leading housebuilders rallied sharply on the government’s new plan to help first-time buyers of new homes. Shares in Barratt Redrow (LON BTRW) rallied 14% while Taylor Wimpey (LON:TW) jumped 15% and Vistry (LON:VTY) jumped 17%. Help for first-time buyers The ‘Your First Home’ scheme will be open to first-time buyers in England and will only apply to new-build houses. Buyers with a 2.5% deposit will be able to apply for a loan of up to 20% of the value of a new property. Details have yet to be finalised, but there is expected to be an initial interest-free…

Safety technology group Halma (LON:HLMA) raised its FY27 operating profit margin forecast after ‘strong progress’ in H1. The firm now sees margins reaching 23.5% to 24% against 22.7% previously, which was flat on FY26. ‘Premium growth’ in photonics In its H1 trading update, Halma said it had delivered ‘broad-based growth’ despite continued economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Based on its six-month performance, the company repeated its forecast of low double-digit organic FY revenue growth. This guidance includes ‘premium growth’ of around 5% thanks to the photonics business, where organic sales growth is around 30%. The firm said its long-run organic revenue…