This morning the UK's FTSE100 Index is just 208 odd points short of reaching a new High, now at 9722.26, while the highest reached to date has been 9930.10. Over in the States, the Dow Jones Index closed at 48,704.01 against its highest of 48,756.34. There is certain to be a push towards the FTSE hitting 10,000, while the 50,000 level for the DJI looks an easier target for achievement. The number of bids happening in the last few weeks is a sure signal of growing corporate co

Mark Watson-Mitchell – 12.12.2025 For ‘penny share punters’ prepared to take an early view on the development of an interesting little group with proven management – just take a look at Bob Holt’s new vehicle, EARNZ (LON:EARN) . Actually, it is not so new because he acquired control of the old Verditek operation early in 2024. And Just Who Is Bob Holt? Bob Holt is a highly accomplished executive with over 37 years' experience in senior leadership roles across various sectors,

Mark Watson-Mitchell The Interim Results to end-October from the £688m-capitalised greetings group Moonpig (LON:MOON) are due to be announced next Tuesday, 9 th December, the accompanying statement could well indicate that the business is still on the growth track. The Business The group is a leading online greeting cards and gifting platform, comprising the Moonpig, Red Letter Days and Buyagift brands in the UK and the Greetz brand in the Netherlands. The group's leading

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 02.12.2025 This coming Thursday, 4th December, will see The Watches of Switzerland Group (LON:WOSG) announce its Interim Results covering the 26 weeks to 26th October. The group, which is the UK's largest retailer for Rolex, OMEGA, Cartier, TAG Heuer and Breitling watches, despite retail sector challenges, enjoyed a strong first half. Following the group’s early November Trading Update and ahead of this week’s announcement broker’s analysts have shown a

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 02.12.2025 Saxo, one of the leaders in online trading and investment, announced its annual Outrageous Predictions for 2026 today. The future almost never arrives in straight lines. Whether it’s technology, culture, or politics, changes and evolution often come slowly from year to year. But then, suddenly, there is a lurch. Saxo’s outrageous predictions live in those lurches. They are not a house view or a forecast; they are low-probability, high-impact

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 01.12.2025 Early tomorrow morning, Tuesday 2nd December, will see a very interesting prediction being made - don't miss it.

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 26.11.2025 Taking a bullish stance to get the markets swinging upwards again What a load of fuss and hot air - now we know (not guess) what Rachel has in store for us. The drama in the lead-up to today's announcement became almost hysteric. It is now visible and the country, the market and industry now just have to get on with the job again and cast aside the false rumours that were swirling around ahead of the Chancellor's statement and its content. An

This morning a new report has been published that reveals confusion and misinformation are the biggest barriers to retail investor participation Mark Watson-Mitchell - 13.11.2025 Britons are being held back from investing by a lack of financial education, according to new research by high-growth retail trading platform, Capital.com . The research, titled Fear or Fortune? , found that eight in 10 adults feel too nervous to invest, with confusion and misinformation emerging

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 12.11.2025 I am grateful to Aaron Morby at Construction Enquirer for the latest bit of news about Costain (LON:COST) , my favourite infrastructure group. It could well explain why the group's shares have been moving forward over the last week or so, now up to 156p, making a near 47% advance in price over the year to date. Morby noted that Costain had joined the £800m Eastern Highways Alliance framework, stepping in to replace Morgan Sindall on the refr

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 11.11.2025 Next Monday, 17 th November, James Cropper (LON:CRPR) , the advanced materials and paper and packaging manufacturer, will be announcing its Interim Results for the six months to end-September. On looking at what is happening within the 180-year-old group, I would suggest that the shares at 300p offer a very attractive upside over the next couple of years. New CEO And Strategy In February this year, the Kendal, Cumbria-based group appointed

Mark Watson-Mitchell – 10.11.2025 Perhaps it was the suggestion by Donald Trump that he was thinking about giving everyone in the States the sum of $2,000 as extra spending money. Perhaps it was something else that suddenly charged up the markets today. Whatever it may have been – the effect has been electrifying. The FTSE-100, as I write is up over 98 points on the day, after topping 103.90 points, a very healthy one-day gain in such nervous markets. That peak was at 9786.

Mark Watson-Mitchell – 06.11.2025 The results for the year to end May 2025, reported by EnSilica (LON:ENSI) on Tuesday of this week, were disappointing and could well stymie any significant rise in the group’s share price for quite a while. After having peaked at 53.60p a month ago, following a questionable valuation ‘puff’, they have since slipped back to 40p. There is no doubt that the group is attempting to win more business within the ‘space sector’ and will add to its

Mark Watson-Mitchell – 06.11.2025 This morning Filtronic (LON:FTC) has announced yet more contract business to add to its growing Order Book. Based in Sedgefield, the £306m-capitalised group is involved in the design and manufacture of advanced RF solutions for the space, aerospace and defence, and telecoms infrastructure markets. It announced that it has secured a contract with a leading European aerospace manufacturer, to supply RF assemblies for integration into a major

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 04.11.2025 Daniela Hathorn, Senior Market Analyst, at Capital.com commented on how the upcoming Budget is likely to impact the markets and what it means for investors. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a sober pre-Budget speech this morning, signalling that she is prepared to make “necessary, not popular” decisions to safeguard the British economy. She warned that since her last Budget, the world has thrown “even more challenges our way,” citing s

This morning Chancellor of the Exchequer denied that any of it was her fault, in her Speech To The Nation delivered outside number 11. In a twenty minute delivery she has effectively given the country notice that tax rises are on the way. Commenting upon Rachel Reeves’ speech this morning, Bina Gayadien, partner at law firm Spencer West LLP stated that:, "Rachel Reeves prepares the ground for a tax rising budget later this month, potentially breaking pledges set in Labour’s

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 29.10.2025 This afternoon some fresh buying has helped to raise the share price of SRT Marine Systems (LON:SRT) to a New High of 93p. Just a week ago, Wednesday, 22nd October, the maritime surveillance solutions group declared its results for the year to end June. The shares were then 81.20p - this afternoon they have hit 93p on a very good dealing volume. That near 15% uplift in seven days is nothing! I stand by my prediction that they will touch 150p

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 29.10.2025 Less than two weeks ago the price of Gold was topping out at $4,358, since when it has fallen back to test the $3,923 level, before reacting today to news of new unrest on the Israel / Gaza front. Now at $4,031 it is beginning to show its lustrous legs once more. As I always say - 'Nothing Goes In A Straight Line For Ever' - not love, sex, bank accounts - they all go up and down. So too we the values of equities and commodities. I feel that G

Mark Watson-Mitchell – 28.10.2025 This morning, we have received comments from Daniel Lewin, Tax partner at law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman UK LLP , who notes that: The difficulty starts with the manifesto pledge. Promising not to raise income tax, National Insurance contributions and VAT for ‘working people’ effectively meant ruling out increasing the three main taxes that genuinely move the economic needle of the UK’s public finances. Got A Proposition For You Against th

26.10.2025 I think that I disagree with former PM Rishi Sunak's latest proclamation that the UK should cut its Spend. Decades ago, my economics teacher taught me that 'You have to put in to take out!' So I ask now - is a big change required in which Rachel Reeves looks at the UK Balance Sheet? A Government should use the funds that are raised to spend out in the economy - new and repaired roads, new housing, a well-equipped defence sector, schooling facilities, health service

26.10.2025 Bina Gayadien, Tax partner at law firm Spencer West LLP, has commented that: With all the speculation around November’s Autumn Statement, one thing feels certain: tax rises are coming. Whether through direct tax rate increases or more structural reforms to the tax system, the Chancellor will need to find billions from somewhere without breaching Labour’s manifesto pledges. A number of possible changes are being suggested but their broad impact means that the Chan