Shell Says It's Not in Talks to Buy BP
Shell Plc denied a Wall Street Journal report that it is in active talks about acquiring its London-based oil rival BP Plc. "This is further market speculation. No talks are taking place," a Shell spokesperson said. Bloomberg's Simon Casey reports.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gun range could become skatepark or energy centre
A former rifle range and undercroft by Blackfriars Bridge could find a new use as a skatepark or energy centre. The site has been occupied since 2017 by Bazalgette Tunnel Ltd for the construction of the Thames Tideway tunnel. It will now return to either the City of London Corporation or Transport for London once it is determined which of the two bodies is the legal owner. Thames Water will manage the foreshore, which will include a café. The shooting range was shut down to allow for the construction of the tunnel and sits beneath the undercroft. A report by the corporation noted the undercroft was "historically associated with antisocial behaviour" and has been inaccessible, with hoardings around it for decades. Three proposals have been put forward for the redevelopment of the site: A dedicated space for skateboarding and wheeled sports An energy centre delivering low-carbon heat Commercial options, such as kiosks and food and drink outlets A corporation spokesperson said the site was still being used to store materials related to the Tideway Tunnel. A further report detailing costs for each of the reuse options is to be presented to the City of London Corporation committee in early 2026. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The FTSE 100's worst stock for passive income could be a long-term growth opportunity to consider!
Founded in 1996, Polar Capital Technology Trust's (LSE:PCT) a stock that won't appeal to those on the lookout for passive income opportunities. That's because it doesn't pay a dividend. In fact, it never has. And it's the only current member of the FTSE 100 that adopts this approach to shareholder distributions. Instead, it focuses on capital growth. During the five years to 31 May, the trust's share price has increased 71% and its net asset value's risen 119%. This compares favourably to another FTSE 100 technology-focused trust – Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust – that's seen its share price rise by 38% during this period. However, this fund invests heavily in unquoted companies, which can be difficult to value. By contrast, much of Polar Capital's growth can be attributed to having positions in each of the 'Magnificent 7'. At the end of May, six of these stocks were in the trust's top 10 holdings. However, it should be pointed out that an equal investment in all seven would have generated a return of over 300% since June 2020. But it's wise to have a diversified portfolio. By spreading risk across multiple positions, it's possible to mitigate some of the volatility that arises from investing in the stock market. And that's one of the advantages of an investment trust. By owning one stock, an investor will have exposure to multiple companies often in different jurisdictions. However, although Polar Capital has positions in 98 stocks, they're all in the same sector. Its manager is particularly keen on artificial intelligence (AI). Indeed, it describes itself as an 'AI maximalist'. Also, over 30% of its exposure is to the semiconductor industry. This could be a concern because history tells us that these types of stocks can be volatile. The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 75% between March 2000 and October 2002. But the trust's currently (27 June) trading at a near-10% discount to its net asset value. In theory, this means it's possible to gain exposure to the world's biggest tech stocks for less than their market value. However, over 70% of its value comes from North American stocks. Here, there's still a significant degree of uncertainty as to how President Trump's approach to tariffs will affect the economy. According to JP Morgan, there's a 40% chance of a recession this year. And due to their lofty valuations, a downturn's likely to affect the tech sector — and the Magnificent 7 in particular — more than most. For those who believe technology stocks will continue to deliver over the long term, I think Polar Capital Technology Trust's a share to consider. But only as part of a well-diversified portfolio. And anyone taking a position shouldn't expect to receive a dividend any time soon. The post The FTSE 100's worst stock for passive income could be a long-term growth opportunity to consider! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. James Beard has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Amazon, Apple, Cloudflare, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
How to invest £500 a month in a Stocks & Shares ISA and aim for £1m
Investing £500 a month in a Stocks and Shares ISA, with the goal of reaching £1m, is a classic demonstration of the power of compound returns and the importance of starting early. The principle is simple: by consistently investing a fixed amount and allowing returns to compound over time, wealth can grow exponentially. This is not just theoretical. Historical data from the S&P 500, the world's most-watched stock market index, shows why a 10% annual return is a reasonable long-term expectation for equity investors. The S&P 500 has delivered an average annual return of about 10% since 1957, including dividends. This figure is not a guarantee for every year — returns can swing wildly from one year to the next — but over decades, the average holds remarkably steady. For example, over the last 30 years, the S&P 500's average annualised return has been around 9% to 10%, even after accounting for periods of dramatic losses like the dot-com bust and the global financial crisis. Over the last 10 years, the average has been even higher, at approximately 11.3% annually. These numbers illustrate that, despite short-term volatility, patient investors who stay the course are often rewarded. The real magic happens when investing starts early. With £500 invested each month at a 10% annual return, the compounding effect means that after 10 years, the balance could exceed £100,000, but after 30 years, that sum grows to over £1.1m. The vast majority of this final amount comes not from the contributions, but from the interest earned on previous gains. This is why time in the market is so valuable: the longer the money has to grow, the more powerful compounding becomes. Planning for the future by investing early and consistently is the surest way to harness the full potential of the stock market's long-term returns. Of course, the actual investing can be the hard part. Novice investors often make the wrong decisions and can lose money. The Monks Investment Trust (LSE:MNKS) is a long-established global investment trust managed by Baillie Gifford, with a focus on achieving long-term capital growth rather than income. Investors may be more familiar with its larger sibling, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. Its approach is patient and actively managed, seeking out a diversified range of growth stocks from around the world. The portfolio is spread across regions including North America, Europe, the UK, Japan, developed Asia, and emerging markets, with significant allocations to sectors such as technology, industrials, consumer discretionary, and financials. This broad diversification helps to reduce risk and smooth out returns over time. As such, it may be a good place to start for novice investors looking to achieve immediate diversification. Performance data shows that Monks has delivered strong long-term results, with a share price total return of approximately 198% over the past 10 years and a net asset value (NAV) total return of 192% over the same period. Risks? Well, gearing — borrowing to invest — is always a concern as this can magnify any losses. However, I certainly believe it's an investment worth considering. It's also present in my daughter's pension and mine. The post How to invest £500 a month in a Stocks & Shares ISA and aim for £1m appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool James Fox has positions in Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Plc and The Monks Investment Trust Plc. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
