• 16 April 2026

    Driving the conversation on money and the markets

    Who do you talk to about investing?

    Some people may be fortunate enough to have a friend or family member with some knowledge of the markets to help set them on the right path, However, for many of us, including our My Portfolio contributor Aaron, investing can be a lonely furrow to plough at times.

    That’s where we come in. Not only through are...

    3 min read
    Shares magazine
    People talking
  • 16 April 2026

    Move over FTSE 100: the UK’s dividend throne has a new ruler

    The UK stock market has just hit a striking milestone – and income investors should take note. Mid-cap stocks are now paying more generous dividends than the blue chip giants, marking the longest stretch since 2001 where the FTSE 250 offers a bigger yield than the FTSE 100.

    On average over the past 25 years, the FTSE 100 has yielded 3.6% and the...

    6 min read
    Shares magazine
    Chess pieces
  • 16 April 2026

    Vodafone is finally dialling up growth after years in the doldrums

    After more than a decade in the doldrums Vodafone shares have shown a remarkable recovery, delivering more than 70% in total shareholder returns in just the last 12 months, making them one of the top 10 performing shares in the FTSE 100 index.

    What has driven the strong performance?

    The UK’s biggest telecommunications group has cleaned up its once...

    7 min read
    Shares magazine
    Vodafone shop window
  • 20 March 2026

    Not panicking, sticking to the plan and thinking about opportunities

    Don’t panic. Stick to your plan. These are words to live by when markets get choppy as they have done since the beginning of March as simmering tensions in the Middle East escalated to armed conflict. There is absolutely no reason to lose faith in investing. It is important to remain optimistic and focus on the long-term potential for your money to...

    4 min read
    Shares magazine
    Man running and looking determined
  • 20 March 2026

    Why investment trusts are buying themselves more than ever

    Share buybacks are a commonplace market phenomenon, but it’s a tool that’s used for widely different reasons.

    The practice involves a listed firm buying back its own stock so that the total amount of its shares in issue is reduced. The overall aim is to enhance the value of the remaining shares and for standard public trading companies, this is...

    7 min read
    Shares magazine
    Stock chart