Barclays delivered a strong first half of 2026, reporting increased profits, robust investment banking performance, a strengthened capital position, and improved guidance for the full year.
I recently invested in Primary Health Properties (PHP) and Glencore (GLEN). In this portfolio update, I explain why I chose these two very different UK companies and what I hope they will bring to my long-term investment strategy.
Vodafone posted a strong Q1 FY27 performance, with total revenue increasing 9.7% to €10.3 billion, organic service revenue up 5.2%, and management expecting results at the upper end of updated full-year guidance.
The UK’s benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 0.27% to close at 10,600.37 points on Friday, lifted by utility stocks and British American Tobacco. In contrast, the midcap FTSE 250 fell 0.47%, and luxury retailer Burberry shares slid 6.38% following its first-quarter trading update.
The FTSE 100 closed higher after UK economic growth returned in May and ABB’s £4.1bn acquisition of Rotork lifted sentiment across London’s engineering sector. Investors remained cautious as global technology weakness and geopolitical risks continued to influence markets.
Share buybacks are often greeted as good news by investors, but what do they really achieve? This guide explains how buybacks work, why banks like Lloyds use them, and why the real question isn’t how many shares are repurchased—but whether management is allocating shareholders’ capital wisely.