Christopher Akers

1 week ago | investorschronicle.co.uk | Christopher Akers

Investment Risk: MediumInvestment Style: ValueInvestment Timescale: Medium termAs governments on this side of the Atlantic shape up to significantly expand defence spending in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the shift in priorities by the US administration, stocks across the European defence sector have soared.

2 weeks ago | investorschronicle.co.uk | Christopher Akers

It has been yet another interesting week for the US economy, as a major deficit-raising tax bill passed the first hurdle and the nation was hit by a credit rating downgrade. Analysis of prospects for US markets and the dollar this year have focused on the role of tariffs and trade policy. These factors remain key despite recent sector exemptions, trade deals and a scaling back of levies with China.

2 weeks ago | investorschronicle.co.uk | Christopher Akers

We ran our previous Quality shares screen in April just days after the ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs announcement upended the global trading order. Things have moved significantly since then, with various delays and exemptions set out in Washington and a (relative) softening of policy towards China. The S&P 500 index has now just about recovered its year-to-date losses after a steep drop, although its performance continues to lag the FTSE 100 and European bourses.

2 weeks ago | investorschronicle.co.uk | Christopher Akers

On track to hit consensus annual profit80 per cent of Q3 seats soldEasyJet (EZJ) chief executive Kenton Jarvis has his eye on “another record summer” for the low-cost airline, which remains on course to post its best-ever annual profits this year. The company said that booking levels indicate it will hit its internally compiled consensus for an annual pre-tax profit of £703mn.

2 weeks ago | investorschronicle.co.uk | Christopher Akers

Clean air margins improvingWeak cash conversion of 9 per centJohnson Matthey (JMAT) shares soared by 30 per cent after the FTSE 250 chemicals business confirmed it had agreed a £1.8bn sale of its catalyst technologies business to US conglomerate Honeywell (US:HON). The company said it would return £1.4bn to shareholders after the transaction completes, which is expected next year.