Shares in AG Barr (LON:BAG) plunged after the beverages producer warned supply constraints impacted Q2 sales. Despite this short-term blip, the IRN-BRU maker still delivered resilient H1 revenue growth of 8%. Reassuringly, the Rubicon-to-Boost brands owner maintained FY27 profit guidance. The FTSE 250 firm insisted recent supply constraints are now ‘being resolved’. Supply chain pain In an update covering the half ended 1 August, AG Barr explained that revenue was impacted by reduced stock availability as Q2 progressed. This mainly reflected internal supply chain issues. However, external issues associated with third party manufacturing were also a factor. The H1 revenue…

Sven Borho has stepped down as lead portfolio manager of Worldwide Healthcare Trust (LON:WWH) with immediate effect. Borho was a founder of the trust’s New York-based manager OrbiMed Capital. He has also been a named manager on the £1.35 billion cap fund since 2013. So how worried should investors be by his sharp exit? Bye bye Borho Sven Borho has been involved in the trust fund since its 1995 launch, although he did not become a named manager until 2013. He has been replaced by Trevor Polischuk, Worldwide Healthcare Trust’s co-manager since 2015. Geoff Hsu, lead manager of Biotech Growth Trust…

Shares in AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) slumped on reports the UK pharmaceutical giant has held merger talks with US-based rival Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY). Should it come to pass, a combination would create one of the globe’s biggest pharmaceutical groups worth almost $400 billion. So why is the market cool on the idea? Well, investors and analysts questioned the strategic logic of this potential mega-merger, a deal that would be hugely expensive for AstraZeneca and bring integration risk. ‘Given the strength of AstraZeneca’s growth and innovation profile, we are a bit perplexed,’ said Jefferies. ‘Of course financial accretion can look good and…

In the latest episode of the Sharesify podcast, the team talk markets and Microsoft’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) historic one-day move. In addition, they explain why MIGO (LON:MIGO) wants a battery fund to put itself up for sale. Tech watcher Steven discusses the reasons behind the KOSPI’s eye-popping rebound. He also tell our audience why Microsoft’s Q4 results were exactly what AI investors had been waiting for. Our income guru Ian brings us up-to-speed with the latest updates from UK banks. And James lends us his view on two investment trust ‘Dividend Heroes’ which have lagged momentum-driven markets. Finally, the chaps preview next week’s…

Global investment trust Alliance Witan (LON:ALW) lagged the benchmark in the half to June 2026. The FTSE 100 fund’s relative performance fell below the board’s expectations. Chairman Dean Buckley said the shortfall reflected a market in which returns were ‘unusually concentrated in AI-related stocks’. Unfortunately for shareholders, Alliance Witan’s deliberately diversified portfolio ‘did not participate in every area of momentum’. While this short-term period of underperformance is disappointing, manager Willis Towers Watson (WTW) stressed that Alliance Witan’s portfolio has meaningful exposure to attractive AI‑related businesses. Furthermore, the trust owns many companies with strong fundamentals whose value WTW believes has ‘yet…

Investment trust Scottish American (LON:SAIN) underperformed its benchmark in the first half to June. Known as ‘SAINTS’, the global equity income fund’s underweight exposure to the semiconductor industry detracted from relative returns. Nevertheless, the operational performance of SAINTS’ holdings remained ‘encouraging’. Broad-based earnings growth was generated across the equity portfolio. And the Baillie Gifford-managed fund insisted it ‘remains on track to continue beating inflation’ and deliver its 53rd consecutive year of dividend growth. Solid returns For the uninitiated, SAINTS’ objective is to deliver real dividend growth by increasing capital and growing income. In H1, the trust generated a positive net…

In our latest Podcast special, Ian Conway and James Crux welcome Iain Pyle, co-manager of Aberdeen Equity Income Trust (LON:AEI), which aims to deliver an above-average yield. Iain was previously manager of Shires Income, which merged with AEI, and he also manages UK and global income portfolios. Our special guest talks us through Aberdeen Equity Income’s ‘Focus on Change’ philosophy. Iain explains why cash flows and cash flow yields are important to him when looking for investment ideas. He also highlights the advantages of the investment trust structure including the ability to borrow money or ‘gear’. In addition, Iain tells us…

Shares in Adidas (ETR:ADS) plunged in Frankfurt after the German sportswear giant’s Q2 earnings missed expectations. Adidas pinned the blame on higher marketing spending around this summer’s FIFA World Cup, as CEO Bjorn Gulden sought to outcompete US sportswear rival Nike (NYSE:NKE). Share price: €150.3 (-17.4%)Market cap: €31.7bnPE FY26: 9.1Yield FY26: 2% The Gazelle and Samba sneaker maker also set nerves jangling with the news long-serving CFO Harm Ohlmeyer will leave when his contract expires at the end of the year. Ohlmeyer’s replacement is Birgit Kretschm, who is rejoining Adidas from clothing retailer C&A. Q2 miss While Adidas’ net profit from…

Shares in Pets at Home (LON:PETS) perked up after the specialist retailer reported a rise in Q1 sales. There was also relief as the FTSE 250 firm maintained FY27 guidance in the face of subdued consumer confidence. The update confirmed CEO James Bailey’s turnaround plan is working and helping the company extend its leadership of the UK pet care market. The pet food-to-vet services purveyor is ‘encouraged’ by its start to FY27. And the Cheshire-based firm is set up well for the remainder of the year where it will be lapping a ‘more stable retail performance’. First quarter treats For…

In the latest episode of the podcast, the Sharesify gang discuss the KOSPI’s plunge from all-time peaks. They also preview tonight’s big Fed meeting and key tech earnings across the pond. Our tech whizz Steven tells listeners why the market is worried about levels of AI spending. He also explains what ‘circular financing’ is. AI sell-off explained: Why circular funding and Credit Default Swaps have suddenly become the market’s biggest worry James has observed a clear rotation into value and quality names this week. He walks us through forecast-beating earnings from Unilever (LON:ULVR) and Reckitt Benckiser (LON:RKT). James also discusses…