First half revenue up 4% Strong futures trading Confident outlook Shares in global multi-asset fintech and trading platform Plus500 (PLUS) skipped 2% higher after the firm revealed 15% growth in second quarter revenue, nudging up revenue for the first half to 30 June by 4% to $415.1 million. The stock has gained around a third so far in 2025 and 50% over the last 12-months, comfortably ahead...

Positive set-up for UK mid caps Valuations attractive versus history Bellway, Babcock, Premier Foods among names to watch By definition, mid caps have the potential to become the UK's next large cap leaders. But in recent years, many of the UK's most promising 'second liners' have been acquired, either by private equity buyers or overseas companies looking to take advantage of the UK's cheap...

Stocks were down in London, Paris and Frankfurt at midday on Tuesday, after PMI data showed a decline in UK service sector activity, while registrations of new cars in the UK were down 10% in April. The FTSE 100 index was down 17.29 points, 0.2%, at 8,579.06. The FTSE 250 was down 10.15 points at 20,230.36, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.25 points at 707.50. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at...

$20 million Indian acquisitionLargest retail trading marketBoost to group's global futures marketGlobal fintech and trading platform Plus500 (PLUS) has agreed to acquire Indian financial services company Mehta Equities for approximately $20 million in cash.Investors welcomed the news, sending shares in the FTSE 250 company up 34p or 1.25% to £27.56, taking year to date gains to 8% compared...

Stocks in Europe were mixed on Tuesday afternoon, with London's blue chip index boosted by miners and defence as talks between the US and Russia continue, though the pound surrendered some earlier progress as the Bank of England governor warned on tepid economic growth.The FTSE 100 index rose 14.82 points, 0.2%, at 8,782.83. The FTSE 250 fell 34.80 points, 0.2%, at 20,903.88, and the AIM...

Q3 revenue up 11%New customers up 21%Full year guidance reiteratedGlobal fintech and trading platform Plus500 (PLUS) revealed continued strong trading in the third quarter as revenues and profit increased by 11% and 2% respectively.The company also reiterated full year expectations in line with raised guidance given at the half year results.The shares added 1% to £24.46 taking gains over the...

London indices closed higher on Monday with mining stocks benefitting from rising gold prices while aerospace & defence manufacturers waned.The FTSE 100 index closed up 45.53 points, 0.6%, at 8,356.94. The FTSE 250 ended up 108.56 points, 0.5%, at 21,157.47, and the AIM All-Share closed up 2.32 points, 0.3%, at 776.59.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.6% at 835.35, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 0.7% at...

Stock prices in London were mixed at Midday Monday, with fintech Plus500 in the FTSE 250 enjoyed a boost after reporting a profit rise and a share buyback programme.The FTSE 100 index was down just 3.61 points at 8,307.80. The FTSE 250 was up 22.16 points, 0.1%, at 21,071.07, and the AIM All-Share was down 1.43 points, 0.2%, at 775.70.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at 829.91, the Cboe UK 250...

2024 guidance upgraded againCash pile tops $1 billionAdditional $185.5 million of returnsPlus500's (PLUS) shares powered up 5.3% to an all-time high of £25.60 in early dealings on Monday after the online trading platform raised its full year guidance yet again.The upgrade follows an 'excellent' first half to 30 June 2024 from the spread betting and CFDs (Contracts for Difference) provider,...

London opened mixed on Monday, as it kicks of a quiet week, where the main event will be the annual Jackson Hole meeting.The FTSE 100 index opened down 9.17 points, 0.1%, at 8,302.24. The FTSE 250 was up 17.52 points, 0.1%, at 21,066.43, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.22 of a point at 774.49.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 829.35, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.2% at 18,472.40, and the Cboe Small...

London?s blue-chips recovered early losses to close in the green, despite falling oil stocks, but there was caution in the air ahead of US inflation figures later this week.The FTSE 100 index closed up 4.58 points, 0.1%, at 7,694.19. The FTSE 250 ended up 183.41 points, 1.0%, at 19,393.80, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.42 of a point, or 0.1%, at 750.82.The Cboe UK 100 ended down...

Plus500 shares up 4% year-to-dateExpands US futures businessBalance sheet robust at $900 million approximatelyPlus500 (PLUS), the global multi-asset fintech group said it made ?excellent progress? in the year ending 31 December 2023.The company generated revenue of approximately $725 million and earnings before interest taxation and depreciation (EBITDA) of approximately $340 million, which...

If you buy Warren Buffett lore that you should only invest in companies that you're happy to own forever, you want to make sure they're up to it. One of the key things that Fundsmith Equity (B41YBW7) founder Terry Smith, and many other top investors, use to evaluate companies is a measure called return on capital employed, or ROCE for short. This looks at a company's profitability compared to...

Back to sequential revenue and profit growth in Q3Full year outlook maintainedShare buybacks top $2 billion over last decadeGlobal fintech and trading platform Plus 500 (PLUS) topped the FTSE 250 leaderboard on Tuesday, gaining 7% to £13.97 after the company retained its full year outlook despite lower trading volumes.The shares have lost around a quarter of their value since January and were...

Interim sales and profits downCustomer numbers and spend down$120 million dividend and buyback pleaseShares in trading platform Plus500 (PLUS) jumped 6% to £15.19 shortly after the market opened, topping the FTSE 250 leader board, even though sales and earnings were down in the first half of the year.Investors were cheering a significant increase in shareholder returns instead, after the firm...

2023 guidance for revenue and profit reiteratedAdditional share buyback up to 10% of issued share capitalFirm makes significant strategic progressOnline trading surged during the pandemic driven by a new cohort of customers who had more time on their hands, but the trend continues to normalise.For the first half of 2023, global multi-asset fintech group Plus500 (PLUS) onboarded 50,449 new...

The cost-of-living crisis, job insecurity and uncertain economic conditions mean people are eager to find investments that pay a dependable stream of income.The aim is to find something that can deliver sustained growth in the dividend each year and for the capital value to also grow over time.GOLDEN RULE #1There are three golden rules to follow when searching for quality sources of income....

It's been a tricky 2022 for global stock markets and that's made life hard for ordinary and professional investors alike. In this feature several leading fund managers explain what worked out for them over the course of the year and what went wrong.James Harries - Securities Trust of Scotland (STS)What worked?At Troy (Securities Trust of Scotland's investment manager) we seek companies that...

- First half trading beats expectations- US futures business drives growth- Consensus earnings estimates to be revised upwardsShares in FTSE 250 financial trading platform Plus500 (PLUS) jumped as much as 5% to £16.50 in early trading after a first half update which was significantly better than the market was expecting.Management also said it saw full year revenue and earnings beating...

Shares in FTSE 250 financial trading platform Plus500 (PLUS) advanced 1.3% to £15.91 following plans to buy back an additional $50 million shares to the $55 million buyback programme already in motion.This follows on from yesterday's first quarter results, where earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation was double the consensus estimate at $162 million.Together these bits of...