Author: James Crux
James Crux writes extensively about funds and investment trusts and also specialises in retail, food and beverage sector stocks. He has spent 25 years working in the industry and was named Best Financial Consumer Journalist at the AIC Media Awards 2024 and 2025 for his work at Shares magazine (owned by AJ Bell). Before that, he was the editor of Growth Company Investor and a writer for investment and business titles What Investment and Business XL. James is a long-suffering West Ham supporter and a big fan of The Sopranos.
In the latest Sharesify podcast, the chaps chew over another busy week for markets, big tech share price swings and investment trust news. Our tech whizz Steven gives us his analysis of debut results from SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX). He also rounds-up a busy week for tech share price movers including AI-powerhouse Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) and memory stock Sandisk (NASDAQ:SNDK). James discusses H1 results from popular trust Allianz Technology (LON:ATT) and global equity income fund Murray International (LON:MYI). He also explains why Diageo’s (LON:DGE) latest update had investors popping champagne corks. And Ian explains why WPP (LON:WPP) is benefiting from self-help and a…
Global equity income trust Murray International (LON:MYI) delivered another robust performance in the six months to June. The fund generated a positive net asset value (NAV) total return of 10.5%. Admittedly, performance lagged the 12.4% delivered by the MSCI ACWI High Dividend Yield Index. However, Sharesify views this is as a respectable result for a value-oriented trust during a period dominated by the AI trade. Robust H1 performance Managed by Samantha Fitzpatrick and Martin Connaghan, Murray International is a global equity income trust that seeks to generate long term growth in dividends and capital ahead of inflation. During H1, the…
Investors raised a glass to Diageo (LON:DGE) after the alcoholic drinks giant’s CEO Dave Lewis delivered further details about his strategy to turn the business around. The unveiling of this restructuring plan overshadowed downbeat FY26 results and another dividend cut from Diageo. Shares in the Johnnie Walker-to-Smirnoff maker rallied in afternoon dealings. ‘Drastic Dave’ has a radical plan Lewis is living up to his ‘Drastic Dave’ nickname at indebted Diageo. He intends to extract roughly $1 billion in savings from the business over the next three years. Restructuring costs relating to the cost-cutting drive are estimated at $1.2 billion. The…
In our latest special podcast, Steven Frazer and James Crux welcome James Thom, manager of Aberdeen New India Investment Trust (LON:ANII). The fund seeks out world-class, well governed companies that are strongly positioned to benefit from India’s long-term structural growth. Our special guest tells us why investors should consider putting their money to work in India now. James talks us through the trust’s sector allocations including financials. And he flags some of the areas that he is most excited about today. James also explains the reasons why the trust trades on a double-digit discount to net asset value (NAV) and…
Consumer goods business PZ Cussons (LON:PZC) delivered forecast-beating profits for FY26. The Manchester-based company also reported a significant reduction in net debt and delivered a return to dividend growth, clear evidence that CEO Jonathan Myers’ turnaround strategy is paying off. Despite the pressures facing consumers, trading in FY27 has started in line with expectations. And PZ Cussons also highlighted the ‘good underlying momentum in the business’. So why were shares in the Carex-to-Imperial Leather marked lower in early dealings? Well, the absence of another earnings upgrade disappointed some investors and prompted profit-taking after a recent rally. Refreshed strategy delivering progress…
In the latest episode of the podcast, the Sharesify gang discuss markets at all-time highs, income stocks and a return to Earth for SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX). Our tech guru Steven analyses the first quarterly earnings as a listed company from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The numbers were impressive on the surface. However, they reinforce that SpaceX remains an outstanding company but not necessarily an outstanding investment at today’s valuation. Income guy Ian gives us his take on high-flying equity markets. He also talks us through updates from dividend stalwarts HSBC (LON:HSBA) and Legal & General (LON:LGEN) and energy majors BP (LON:BP.) and Shell…
Beverage bottler Coca-Cola HBC (LON:CCH) upgraded FY26 guidance after delivering volume-led growth for H1. Shares in the FTSE 100 company fizzed up 4% in early dealings on the palate-pleasing news. A strategic bottling partner of Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), Coca-Cola HBC now sees FY26 organic operating profit growth in the 8% to 10% range. That is up from previous guidance of 7% to 10%. Organic revenue growth is now forecast to be ‘around the top end’ of the firm’s 6% to 7% guidance range. Plenty of bottle Switzerland-based Coca-Cola HBC bottles and sells the beverages of The Coca-Cola Company exclusively in 28…
Shares in Next (LON:NXT) rallied to an all-time high after the clothing retailer raised FY27 profit guidance again following a stronger-than-expected Q2. UK heatwaves and a Middle East sales recovery helped to drive the ‘beat’. However, Next maintained its H2 sales forecast with tougher overseas comparatives to come. Q2 sales beat For the 13 weeks to 1 August, full price sales were up 9.2% year-on-year. That was ‘materially ahead’ of the 4% growth Next had previously forecast. The FTSE 100 retailer attributed this over-performance to hot UK weather. Another driver was the release of pent-up demand in the Middle East and Northern Europe…
Despite the gloomy moody music that has prevailed in recent years, Europe remains one of the world’s wealthiest regions. And the continent is home to some of the globe’s strongest, most resilient companies. Europe remains vulnerable to energy price shocks, as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East illustrate. And the threat from rising inflation hasn’t gone away. However, strong flows into European equities demonstrate a positive shift in overall investor sentiment towards the continent. Even after a period of strong performance, European equity valuations remain attractive. And the key drivers behind Europe’s resurgence have further to run. These…
Investment trust Seraphim Space (LON:SSIT) has deployed over £21 million of the £137 million raised through May’s bumper C share issue. The SpaceTech-focused fund has put more money to work with two existing portfolio companies, namely Pixxel and Zeno Power. The deployment demonstrates there is much more to Seraphim than its largest holding ICEYE, the high-flying Finnish satellite constellation operator. The world’s first listed SpaceTech fund, Seraphim Space is opening access to a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity in the global SpaceTech sector. Seraphim recently rocketed into the FTSE 250 Index, reflecting the company’s growth since its IPO and increasing institutional recognition of…













