🧾 1) Headline numbers vs expectations CompanyRevenue (Reported)Revenue (Forecast)EPS (Reported)EPS (Forecast)Amazon$181.5bn~$177–178bn$2.78~$1.62–1.63Alphabet$109.9bn~$107bn$2.81~$2.63Meta$56.3bn~$55.5–55.6bn$10.44 (adj)~$6.67Microsoft$82.9bn~$81.3bn$4.27~$4.05 Source: Company reports & consensus data 👉 Takeaway: All four companies (Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft) delivered clear beats on both revenue and EPS. 📊 2) Key investment theme: AI is driving everything In short: Cloud + AI demand = core growth engineCapex = exploding to historic highsMarket reaction = mixed despite strong earningsCollectively, these firms are planning ~$650bn+ AI infrastructure spend 👉 For UK investors: this is no longer a ‘growth story’ — it’s a capital cycle story (like oil majors or utilities). 🟠 3) Company-by-company analysis 🛒…

If you are new to investing in the UK, one of the first terms you are likely to come across is the Stocks and Shares ISA. It is often described as one of the most tax‑efficient ways to invest, but for beginners it can feel confusing or intimidating. This guide explains what a Stocks and Shares ISA is, how it works, and why people use one, in clear and simple terms. What does ‘ISA’ mean? ISA stands for Individual Savings Account. It is a type of account created by the UK government to encourage people to save and invest by…

Intel’s (INTC) +23% overnight surge isn’t random. The stock is +70% YTD and +210% in a year, but the after-hours action is still one of the most violent repricing’s of a legacy semiconductor company in years—and it hinges on a single question: Has Intel genuinely entered the AI race… or are investors projecting Nvidia-level upside onto a very different business? Data that triggered jump Start with what actually changed. Q1 2026 headline beats: Structural signal: Narrative shift: This wasn’t just a beat—it was a story upgrade. Earnings snapshot (what matters) SegmentRevenue signalWhat it meansDatacentre & AI~$5.1bn, strong growthCore AI exposure…

Next week’s earnings from Alphabet (GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) will act as a reality check for the ‘Magnificent Seven’ trade. After a year dominated by AI optimism and heavy capital spending, investors are no longer just looking for growth—they want evidence that multi-billion-dollar AI investments are translating into durable revenue, margins, and cash flow. Consensus estimates (next earnings) CompanyRevenue (Cons ests)EPS (Cons ests)Alphabet~$100.1bn~$2.27Microsoft~$75.3bn~$3.66Meta Platforms~$49.3bn~$6.65Apple~$90bn–$95bn~$1.40–$1.50Amazon~$150bn–$160bn~$0.90–$1.00 Big Tech earnings: the narrative investors are pricing 1) AI is no longer a story—it’s a margin test Across all five companies, the central question is whether AI is…

IBM (IBM), Lam Research (LRCX) and Texas Instruments (TXN) reported earnings after-hours (22 April) and the overnight tape told a familiar—but increasingly nuanced—story. It is a tale of strong earnings tied to the enormous AI buildout being rewarded, yet not all ‘AI infrastructure’ names were treated equally. The divergence wasn’t about whether companies are exposed to AI—it was about how directly, how visibly, and how credibly that exposure translates into near-term growth. IBM (IBM)Price: $233.76 (-7%)Market cap: $219.71bnLam Research (LRCX)Price: $268.48 (+1%)Market cap: $334.92bnTexas Instruments (TXN)Price: $264.55 (+12%)Market cap: $240.70bn Act I: Clean beats, clear narratives — the market rewards certainty…

In our latest podcast, the team talk rock ‘n’ roll, Primark and change at the top of the Apple (AAPL) tree. Additionally, they discuss incoming Tesla (TSLA) earnings. There’s also vaping, friends ‘with benefits’ [no, not that – ed], plus our new step by step guide on how to ‘Start investing now’. Furthermore, there is more content available. James reveals how Gear4Music (G4M) has been blowing out the speakers and flags the long-mooted ‘Primark’ spin-off from AB Foods (ABF). Will both sides of the group make the FTSE 100, wonders Steve… yes, reckons James. So, a demerger to keep your…

In the third part of our ‘Start investing now’ series, we look at index funds and ETFs and explain how they can help you continue your investment journey (read Part 1 and Part 2). If you’re new to investing in the UK, you might not be familiar with index funds and ETFs, or exchange-traded funds but they are among the most recommended investment options for beginners—and for good reason. Let’s start at the beginning… what exactly is an index fund, and why do so many investors favour them? Let’s break it down in a straightforward way. 🌍What is an index…

You can start investing in the UK with just £100 (or even less), and that £100 can be the foundation of a long-term wealth-building habit. In part 2 of our ‘Start investing now’ series (read part 1 here), we will show you exactly how to turn your first £100 into your first investment—step by step, with no jargon. Investing is often misunderstood as something that requires thousands of pounds to start. The reality in 2026 is very different. 🧭 Step 1: Understand what £100 does for you Let’s be clear: £100 invested won’t make you rich. But it will do…

You can very easily join the millions of Brits who invest for themselves. Investing can feel intimidating when you’re just starting out. You hear words like ‘stocks’, ‘shares’, ‘ETFs’, and ‘ISAs’ and it can quickly feel like something only experts or wealthy people do. The truth is, you can start investing in the UK with as little as £1–£100, and you don’t need any financial background to begin. In this first part of our’Start investing now’ series, we will walk you through everything step-by-step in simple language, so you can go from ‘I don’t know where to start’ → ‘more…

Netflix (NFLX) delivered a strong Q1 2026 performance, yet the market reaction told a different story. Wall Street wasn’t pleased with the streaming giant’s report, its first since it backed out of its bid for Warner Bros Discovery’s (WBD) streaming and studio assets. The stock dropped more than 10% in after-hours trading largely because of weak Q2 guidance and the surprise announcement that co-founder and chairman Reed Hastings will leave the board in June (read the shareholder’s letter). Netflix (NFLX)Price: $96.90 (-10%)Market cap: $409.60bn Netflix investor fans might argue that this is a harsh response to temporary timing of exclusive content launches. But it does…