Imagination Technologies(LSE: IMG) andPlaytech(LSE: PTEC) are two of the markets biggest risers today, with their shares jumping 6.2% and 6.5% respectively at time of writing. Playtech has risen following an upbeat set of first-half results, while Imagination has benefited from the prospect of merger activity within the semiconductor sector. Solid Read More...

Shares in Shell (LSE: RDSB) have easily outperformed the FTSE 100 since the turn of the year, with the oil major showing capital gains of 11%, while the FTSE 100 is up just 1% over the same time period. Indeed, this weeks news of a further asset disposal (a 155,000 Read More...

A look at the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and ThreatsfacingBarclays (LSE: BARC) (NYSE: BCS.US). Behind the pantomime mask penned by tabloid headline writers after a string of mishaps, Barclays remainsa strong, largely profitable bankwith excellent franchisesin Barclaycard and Barclays Africa [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3oqcM67Nek?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] If you’d like to further research Barclays, then check Read More...

2014 has been a super year for investors in AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) (NYSE: AZN.US). Shares in the pharmaceutical giant have risen by 24% since the turn of the year, which is far better than the performance of the FTSE 100 over the same time period. The UKs leading index of Read More...

Over in the US, the benchmark S&P 500 index surged to an all-time high this week, while the Dow Jones Industrial average is following close behind. This year alone the S&P 500 has reached an all-time high eleven times and now the index is now around 30% above its pre-financial Read More...

Todays news flow from Tullow (LSE: TLW) was upbeat, with the oil exploration company announcing positive drilling results from a series of exploration, appraisal and testing activities in Kenya. This highlights the potential that Tullow has in its asset base, although its share price has not reflected this during 2014. Read More...