Investors expected a lot from memory chip manufacturer Micron Technology (MU). They got plenty, but not enough it seems. Pre-market data has the stock down nearly 7%, so what’s caused the kerfuffle? The short answer is cash, spending it, lots of it. Micron unveiled plans to invest more than $25 billion in new manufacturing capacity in fiscal 2026 (to end Aug), about $5 billion more than expected, or roughly 60% of last year’s net profit. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in 2026, it’s that markets now want a much clearer link between investment and returns, especially when it comes…

Softcat (SCT) shares surged after the FTSE 250 IT infrastructure reseller delivered a stronger‑than‑expected first‑half performance. It also upgraded its full‑year profit outlook. Investors were looking for signals of resilient demand trends amid intensifying corporate investment in AI‑related technologies, and they got it in spades. The £2.45 billion company now expects high single‑digit growth in underlying operating profit for FY2026 (to end July), up from a previous low single‑digit forecast. That raise follows a substantial earnings beat in the six months to January. Softcat (SCT)Price: £12.43 (+8.1%)Market cap: £2.45bn Underlying operating profit jumped 27.3% to £93.8 million, exceeding analyst expectations…

FTSE 250 Trustpilot (TRST) delivered one of its strongest financial performances to date, with annual operating profit more than quadrupling. AI‑driven search activity fuelled explosive new traffic growth. The online reviews platform, already a major digital presence, has rapidly become one of the most frequently cited data sources for large language models. Moreover, this is reshaping its strategic position in the global tech ecosystem. Trustpilot is fast emerging emerging as ‘an AI winner.’ Having flagged the results as ones to watch last Friday (read here), they did not disappoint. The stock surged 26% in early London trading following Tuesday’s announcement.…

Allianz Technology Trust (ATT) beat its benchmark again in 2025. This was supported by strong gains in semiconductor stocks and continued momentum across the global technology sector. The trust reported NAV (net asset value) total return of 24.7% for the year to 31 December 2025. This outperformed the 20% gain in the Dow Jones World Technology Index. NAV per share rose to 571.7p from 458.6p a year earlier. Shareholders benefited slightly more. In fact, the trust’s share price total return hit 25.8%, helped by a modest narrowing of the discount to NAV. Allianz Technology Trust (ATT)Price: 532.38p (+0.45%)Market cap: £1.87bn…

The Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (SMT) wants to up its exposure to ambitious private companies. The global growth fund is one of the most owned by retail investors. It will gather shareholders at the offices of broker Deutsche Numis on 10 April 2026. They will vote on a proposal to expand its assets allocation to unlisted businesses. Under existing rules, the trust cannot allocate more than 30% of its total assets to private companies, calculated at the time a new investment is made. It’s a guardrail designed to balance boldness with prudence. Shifting arithmatic For years, Scottish Mortgage has been…

Investors have been antsy about Adobe’s (ADBE) future for more than a year and now they are facing the added uncertainty of leadership change. Shantanu Narayen’s resignation announcement came out of the blue and knocked investors for six, sending the stock plunging overnight. Pre-market data has the share price opening more than 8% lower later today, close to multi-year lows. Adobe (ADBE)Price: $248.42 (-8)Market cap: $119bn Narayen will remain in the role until a successor is named and stay on as board chair to support the transition. Even so, he’s been running the show since 2007, when the stock traded…

In our latest podcast, Sharesify’s Steven Frazer and James Crux welcome Winterflood’s head of investment trusts research, Emma Bird. They discuss the trusts landscape, structure, historically high discounts, Saba activism and lots more. To begin with, they talk through Smithson’s (SSON) controversial switch from investment trust to OEIC status and what the advantages of the trust structure is even for funds largely invested in liquid listeds. The team then move on to historically wide NAV discounts, a frustration for all shareholders. In light of the 12%-14% average gap, is activist Saba doing all investors a service? Why trusts are…

In our latest podcast, Sharesify’s Steven Frazer, James Crux and Ian Conway talk markets, mining and the shock walk out of an investment trusts management team. FTSE 100 is still clinging above 10,000, Ian explains. Meanwhile, there is a surprise reverse for defence stocks as Trump talks up an end to conflict in the Middle East. Edinburgh Worldwide (EWI) plans a cash return to shareholders after crumbling in the face of Saba activism, James explains. In addition, the AIC is slamming Saba as its war of words becomes increasingly heated. Elsewhere, massive AI infrastructure capex has been embraced, spurned and embraced…

Escalating debt was the big worry for investors ahead of Oracle’s (ORCL) Q3 2026 earnings. However, growth and guidance stole the show. Shares in the Texas-based $474 billion database company are set to explode when Wall Street reopens later today. Pre-market trading is hinting at a near-11% jump to around $165. Even so, the scars of volatility so far in 2026 are still evident. The stock will still be down 16% year-to-date even after today’s implied rally. Oracle (ORCL)Price: 164.61 (+10.2%)Market cap: $474bn What did Oracle say? Oracle reported ‘clean beats across the board’, to quote Jefferies’ analysts. The company…

If you were asked to pick three key investment themes so far in 2026, what would you choose? Energy and oil, gold, silver? Probably. Tech and AI? Possibly, despite the volatility. Conflict in the Middle East and Asia’s huge exposure to oil from that part of the world would likely mean you avoided Asia trusts, while the bumpy ride for many global stock markets this year and dialled down riosk appetitte would probably see you ignore private equity. Yet, surprisingly, the best-performing UK investment trusts so far this year have primarily focused on Japanese equities, South Korean equities, natural resources,…