Enterprise software firm Sage (SGE) reported a solid start to its 2026 financial year on Tuesday, posting double‑digit revenue growth in Q1. Importantly, it also signalled continued momentum in its transition toward cloud‑based services. The upbeat trading update initially prompted a positive reaction in London, the shares jumping more than 5% in early dealings. But that optimism quickly subsided to leave the stock largely flat. Sage (SGE)Price: £10.49 (+0.6%)Market cap: £9.99bn The FTSE 100 accounting and business software provider said group revenue rose 10% year‑on‑year to £674 million for the three months ended 31 December, underpinned by broad‑based growth across…

With more than $10 trillion in combined market cap and a volatile start to the year, there’s a lot riding on big tech earnings this week. Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), and Tesla (TSLA) will kick things off after the bell on Wednesday, with Apple (AAPL) the following day, after-hours on Thursday. These quarterly results will set the tone for the entire tech sector and, probably, the whole market. These four giants represent more than 17% of the S&P 500’s $58.5 trillion market cap. With the S&P 500 near record highs and volatility primed to rise post-options expiration, these four titans will…

Gold prices vaulted to fresh record highs on Monday, extending last week’s sharp rally. Investors are seeking refuge in the precious metal amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and growing uncertainty over US trade policy. Gold spot prices rallied to an all-time high of over $5,100 an ounce by 9.30am GMT, while US gold futures advanced by around 2.5% to a record $5,134/oz. The latest surge builds on a powerful move last week, when gold gained more than 8% and repeatedly breached previous historic peaks. Prices are now up almost 17% year-to-date, underpinned by heightened geopolitical risk, expectations of looser US monetary…

In our latest podcast, Sharesify’s Steven Frazer and Ian Conway try to make sense of a bumpy old week for major global stock markets following some classic TACO trade stuff. Are investors taking a bit of risk off the table and chasing defensives as volatility creeps in? Find out what the chaps think, with an eye on Procter & Gamble (PG) stock, and why investors don’t only react to published numbers. Steven then discusses chipmaker Intel (INTC), one of Wall Street’s stars over the past year, but not now. Is this a reality check for investors after a stunning H2…

Revival at Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust (USA) has been running for two years now. Yet today’s solid half-year results were given a big meh by investors. The share price has rallied 46% since April last year. However, convincing investors that its long-term growth strategy is worth backing won’t be easy. The FTSE 250 investment trust delivered total returns of 18% on its share price and 14.1% on NAV (net asset value), after deducting borrowings at fair value. Yet investors could have done better. This is based on the trust’s own 18.6% total return calculation for the S&P 500 Index.…

Chipmaker Intel (INTC) felt the full force of indignant market mood after investors were left unimpressed by soft Q1 2026 guidance. The stock plunged more than 11% in after-hours trading on Wall Street Thursday. The company continues to grapple with supply constraints while transitioning to new manufacturing technologies. Intel is forecasting breakeven EPS, below market expectations of $0.05. Meanwhile, revenue was steered towards the lower end of the estimates range. The company guided for revenue of between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion. This compares with a consensus forecast of $12.55 billion. Pressure on production Thin guidance overshadowed a narrow earnings…

A sharp sell-off in Atlassian (TEAM) shares has created an ‘attractive setup’ ahead of the company’s fiscal Q2 2026 earnings. That’s the view of Morgan Stanley, whose analyst Keith Weiss says investors are overstating the risks posed by AI. Shares in the collaboration tools designer are down about 20% already year to date, having lost 35% in 2025. This leaves Atlassian stock trading at a ‘deeply discounted valuation’, according to the analyst. AI disruption ‘exaggerated’ Morgan Stanley argues market concerns around AI disrupting Atlassian’s seat-based pricing model are exaggerated. On the contrary, the bank views AI as a structural tailwind…

The withering hand of weak investor sentiment may be reaching across the European defence sector, but it hasn’t touched Senior (SNR). Shares in the advanced components firm surged more than 10% in Thursday trade in London. This increase came after the FTSE 250 engineering manufacturer said full-year 2025 adjusted profit before tax will breeze past previous guidance. This result proves that profit before tax will breeze past previous guidance once again, reinforcing management confidence. The company now sees profits ‘comfortably above’ previous guidance, underpinned by stronger-than-anticipated performance in its Aerospace division. Analysts agree that profit before tax will breeze past…

FTSE 250 firm Computacenter (CCC) delivered a markedly stronger-than-expected trading performance in 2025. It prompted the UK-listed IT services supplier to bring forward its full-year update. The update highlighted broad-based momentum across revenue, profits, cash generation and order intake. It also saw the stock charge more than 8% higher in London. Computacenter (CCC)Price: £33.47Market cap: £3.88bn The company said gross invoiced income increased by 31% year-on-year in 2025, or 32% on a constant-currency basis. This was comfortably ahead of market expectations. Analysts at Jefferies estimated the revenue outcome to be around 14% above consensus forecasts. This underlines the scale of…

European defence stocks retreated on Thursday after US President Donald Trump retreated from antagonistic trade war talk. He said Washington would not move ahead with planned tariffs on European countries. This was due to what he described as progress toward a prospective agreement linked to Greenland. Shares in Germany’s Rheinmetall (RHM), Italy’s Leonardo (LDO) and France’s Thales (HO) chalked up declines of 2% to 3%. Sweden’s Saab (SAAB-B) also fell, while the UK’s BAE Systems (BA.) nudged more modestly lower to £20.48. Productive NATO talks Trump said the decision followed discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, which he characterised as…