[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Those hoping that the group’s 2024 results would kickstart the Legal & General (LSE:LGEN) share price will have been disappointed in early trading today (12 March). Investors appeared unmoved by the announcement of a 6% increase in core operating profit to £1.62bn. But due to its complicated insurance contracts, the group’s numbers can be difficult to interpret. Looking at the results, the difference between the statutory figures (as required by accounting standards) and the management team’s preferred metrics (alternative performance measures) is particularly wide. A confusing picture For example, the headline in the press release…
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[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Premium content from Motley Fool Share Advisor UK Our monthly Fire Best Buys Now are designed to highlight our team’s three favourite, most timely Buys from our growing list of growth-focused Fire recommendations, to help Fools build out their portfolios. “Best Buys Now” Pick #1: Pearson (LSE:PSON) A former diversified publishing giant, it has repositioned itself as a pureplay education business. The company, whose portfolio is now roughly 82% digital or digitally enabled, is learning to operate more as a software business so that it can innovate faster and offer new learning experiences that are personalised and…
[ad_1] WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House voted Tuesday to pass a six-month funding bill that would prevent a government shutdown at the end of the week, overcoming fierce Democratic objections.The vote was 217-213, with all Republicans but Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, supporting the legislation. One Democrat, Jared Golden, of Maine, voted for it.The measure now heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. Republicans control 53 seats, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has made clear he’s firmly against it. That means at least eight Democratic senators would have to support the bill to cross the Senate’s 60-vote threshold and…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images I first bought Persimmon (LSE:PSN) shares just before Covid-19 became a thing. And as a result of the post-pandemic collapse in the housing market, it means I’m sitting on a large paper loss. In these circumstances, it’s psychologically difficult to let go. After all, nobody likes to admit they got something wrong. But after yesterday’s (11 March) results, I think the company (and the housing market as a whole) may have turned the corner. Let’s take a closer look. An improving picture In 2024, completions were 10,664, a 742 (7.5%) increase on 2023. The group’s…
[ad_1] Major stock markets around the world have been hit with short-term losses as the impact of US trade tariffs take hold. Since the beginning of March, several global indexes have suffered declines, leaving analysts to question what’s the best game plan. The FTSE 100 is down 4.3% and the more domestically-focused FTSE 250 is down 3%. That equates to a loss of approximately £85bn in market capital for FTSE 100 companies and £9.5bn on the 250. In the US, the S&P 500 is down 6.5% and the Dow Jones has lost 900 points, down 5.6%. On Monday, the tech-focused…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images We all dream of becoming a millionaire with some shrewd investments on the stock market. Thanks to the existence of the Stocks and Shares ISA, the chances of hitting that financial target are higher than without it. With a healthy annual contribution limit of £20k, and investor protection against capital gains tax and dividend tax, our ability to build long-term wealth is boosted. Don’t just take my word for it, though. Fresh data from interactive investor (ii) — which styles itself as “the UK’s second largest DIY investment platform” — illustrates how the ISA has…
[ad_1] (Bloomberg) — The veteran head of markets at one of Japan’s largest banks sees the potential for the central bank to raise benchmark interest rates to a three-decade high of 2% if economic trends persist. Most Read from Bloomberg The Bank of Japan is likely to increase the policy rate to 1% this year from the current 0.5% as long as the US economy doesn’t falter, said Masamichi Koike, head of global markets business at Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. Beyond that, “I don’t know if it’s in 2026 or 27, but if a time comes where there’s a…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Many investors dream of generating a reliable passive income, and a Stocks and Shares ISA can be a powerful tool to achieve that goal. But how much would an investor actually need in their ISA to generate a decent amount, say £2,000 a month? To generate a sustainable income, building a well-diversified portfolio is essential. Investing in a mix of dividend-paying stocks can help balance risk and reward. Some shares offer high yields but come with volatility, while others provide steadier growth but lower immediate income. Building a spread of FTSE 100 shares An ideal portfolio would…
[ad_1] Workers of German steel manufacturer Salzgitter AG stand in front of a furnace at a plant in Salzgitter, Germany, March 1, 2018.Fabian Bimmer | ReutersThe European Union has reacted swiftly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that came into effect Wednesday, retaliating with their own punitive counter-measures that it said were needed to protect consumers and businesses.The White House confirmed the duties — which will affect Canada, Australia, the EU and others — late Tuesday, but said that Trump no longer planned to raise tariffs on the metals from Canada to 50%.The EU…
[ad_1] Image source: The Motley Fool Share prices have been falling as the implications of US tariffs hit the stock market. And that makes Warren Buffett’s decision to accumulate cash recently look like a very smart one. At the end of 2024, his investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) held $325bn in cash and $267bn in (US) stocks. So with plenty of ammunition in a falling stock market, has Buffett just done it again? Cash reserves Buffett’s routinely noted that the biggest risk to Berkshire is a catastrophic event causing huge insurance losses. And keeping cash in reserve is the best…