For UK investors who feel they have missed the spectacular rally in the US ‘Magnificent Seven’ stocks and perhaps worry about US valuations per se, there is a sea of attractive opportunities elsewhere. Outside the US, investors can gain exposure to AI through semiconductor manufacturing, memory chips, industrial automation, internet platforms, enterprise software and digital infrastructure—often at considerably lower valuations. Many of these companies generate substantial free cash flow, have dominant competitive positions and trade on more modest earnings multiples than their US counterparts. Morningstar analysts continue to identify several non-US AI beneficiaries as undervalued despite the long-term structural AI…

Jet2’s (LON:JET2) shares jumped by almost 8% on 8 July after the company delivered a stronger-than-expected finish to its financial year, increased shareholder returns and struck a more optimistic tone on summer trading than investors had feared. The market had been concerned that geopolitical uncertainty, intense pricing competition and late booking trends would force a cautious outlook. Instead, management highlighted resilient demand, a successful launch at London Gatwick and continued confidence in the business model. Although Jet2 had already guided investors towards operating profit of £435-440 million in April, the full results reassured investors that margins remain resilient despite investment…

For many UK retirees, the debate between living off portfolio income (dividends, bond coupons and interest) or focusing on total return (income plus capital growth) is one of the most important investment decisions they will make. The traditional view was simple: invest for income and never touch your capital. Increasingly, however, financial planners argue that retirees should concentrate on the overall return from their investments, using a combination of natural income and occasional withdrawals from capital where appropriate. The reality is that neither approach is universally better. The best strategy depends on income needs, attitude to risk, life expectancy and…

Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) delivered another exceptional quarter as the AI infrastructure boom continued to drive demand for memory chips. However, despite record profitability, the shares fell sharply as investors questioned whether earnings have peaked and whether today’s AI spending can be sustained. For UK retail investors, the results highlight an increasingly familiar theme in semiconductor investing: outstanding fundamentals do not always translate into a higher share price when expectations have become extremely ambitious. Samsung investor relations Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930)Price: ₩287,000 (-10%)Market cap: ₩1,832.64tn (~$1.2tn) Q2 2026: Reported vs expectations MetricReportedConsensusResultRevenue₩171.0tn₩171.4tnSlight missOperating profit₩89.4tn₩85.1-86.0tnBeatOperating profit YoY+1,800%+ (around 19x)Strong growth expectedAheadShare price reaction-10%—Negative…

The Craneware (LON:CRW) investment case has now suffered its biggest setback in years. A trading update issued on 3 July warned that full-year revenue and earnings will come in below market expectations after delays in recognising revenue from eligible activity within the US 340B drug pricing programme and the deferral of several significant enterprise software contracts into FY2027. For years, the healthcare software company looked like one of the highest-quality software businesses on the London market. It combined recurring revenues, high margins, strong cash generation and exposure to the structurally attractive US healthcare software market. Investors were prepared to pay…

Meta’s reported plans to launch a hyperscale cloud computing business represent one of the biggest strategic shifts in the company’s history. Until now, investors have largely valued Meta as an advertising business investing heavily in AI. If the reports prove accurate, Meta could begin monetising the enormous AI infrastructure it has built by selling computing power and hosted AI services to third parties, creating an entirely new revenue stream. For UK investors who own Meta through direct US shareholdings, SIPPs, ISAs or global technology funds, the proposal could materially improve the long-term investment case—but it also introduces a new set…

South Korea’s stock market has been one of the world’s standout performers during the first half of 2026. While most headlines have focused on memory-chip giants Samsung Electronics (LON:SMSN) and SK Hynix, the reality is that a much broader group of companies has helped power the rally. For UK investors looking for global diversification, the KOSPI illustrates an important lesson: major bull markets rarely rely on just one or two companies. Although AI infrastructure has been the catalyst, defence, industrial automation, power equipment, financials and biotechnology have also produced exceptional returns. Semiconductor giants still dominate Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix…

Despite another year of geopolitical uncertainty and volatile markets, UK retail investors have remained remarkably consistent in what they’ve been buying. Data published during the first half of 2026 by major DIY investment platforms and investment publications points to four dominant themes: defence, UK value, high dividend income and quality compounders. The table below brings together the FTSE 350 shares that appeared most consistently across ‘most bought’ lists from leading UK investment platforms and commentators during the first six months of 2026. Valuation figures and consensus upside are approximate market consensus as at the end of June. London Stock Exchange…

South Korea’s SK Hynix has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence investment boom. Now UK retail investors are about to get a much easier way to own the stock. The world’s second-largest memory chipmaker plans to launch American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on Nasdaq under the ticker SKHY, giving investors access through most international share dealing platforms without having to trade directly on the Korean Exchange. Trading is expected to begin on 10 July 2026, subject to final pricing. For UK retail investors who have struggled to access Korean shares, the listing could prove almost as significant…

The UK market continues to trade at a valuation discount to many international peers despite several companies generating high returns on capital, strong free cash flow and recurring earnings. That has led many analysts to argue that a number of premium-quality businesses remain undervalued relative to their long-term growth prospects. Among the names frequently highlighted are Autotrader (LON:AUTO), Rightmove (LON:RMV), Experian (LON:EXPN), Melrose Industries (LON:MRO), and London Stock Exchange (LON:LSEG). London Stock Exchange At-a-glance comparison CompanySectorInvestment caseMain attractionKey riskAutotraderDigital marketplaceDominant UK car platformHigh margins and cash generationUK vehicle market slowdownRightmoveProperty technologyMonopoly-like market positionExceptional pricing powerProlonged housing weaknessExperianCredit & data analyticsStructural…