Richard Hunter's weekly comment

Takeover speculation pushing utilities' share prices higher

Fri 24 May 2013
With fresh takeover speculation surrounding utilities, Richard Hunter takes a closer look at the sector.

What is 'The Market'?

Fri 17 May 2013
With the market (FTSE 100) getting ever closer to its all-time high I look at some important points investors should remember when looking at the UK's benchmark index.

Looking at the big picture

Fri 10 May 2013
Richard Hunter considers the importance of stepping back and looking at the bigger picture when building a portfolio.

Analysts' favourite House builder

Fri 03 May 2013
With the Government continuing to introduce schemes to boost the UK housing market, Richard Hunter takes a look at the current analyst-favourite, Barratt Developments.

Apple's profits hit by rising costs

Fri 26 April 2013
On Tuesday evening, Apple released their latest quarterly results. Richard Hunter takes a closer look.

What should investors do if the market falls?

Fri 19 April 2013
With global markets under pressure, Richard Hunter examines the forces behind the uncertainty and looks at what he believes investors should do.

What are ITV's future prospects?

Thu 11 April 2013
With ITV's share price outperforming the FTSE 100 by 23% over the last six months, Richard Hunter looks at prospects for the company amid an ever-changing landscape.

FTSE 100 up 8.7% in 2013

Fri 05 April 2013
With the FTSE 100 rising by 8.7% so far in 2013, Richard Hunter takes a closer look at what has driven the market rise and the top five risers and fallers.

Buying WPP on a US recovery

Mon 25 March 2013
Could WPP's recent 28% share price rise be a sign that the global economy is recovering? Richard Hunter explains why and looks at the prospects for the company.

Direct Line shares - buy, sell or hold?

Tue 12 March 2013
Following some impressive full year results, Richard Hunter takes a look at prospects for the company.

Google's share price rises 31% in the last year. Can this continue?

Fri 22 February 2013
With Google's share price hitting an all-time high, Richard Hunter takes a look at the company's future prospects.

Barclays' full year results and strategic update: what can we learn?

Fri 15 February 2013
Barclays released their 2012 full-year results on Tuesday, the first UK bank to do so. Keith Bowman takes a closer look at the announcement to see what this could mean for the other UK banks.

Where next for the FTSE 100?

Fri 08 February 2013
After a strong start to 2013, Richard hunter takes a closer look at the prospects for the FTSE 100.

Where next for Apple shares?

Thu 31 January 2013
Apple's share price has fallen 37% in the last six months - Richard Hunter looks at whether this dramatic fall is justified.

What are the prospects for brewery shares?

Fri 25 January 2013
The FTSE 100 contains two of the world’s largest brewers, SAB Miller and Diageo. Richard Hunter takes a closer look at their prospects.

What is the outlook for the Tobacco sector?

Fri 18 January 2013
Tobacco companies suffered a turbulent 2012 despite their highly cash generative, defensive nature. So what does the future hold for the sector? Richard Hunter takes a closer look.

Frequently asked questions

Fri 11 January 2013
Clients seem to ask Richard Hunter the same questions about investing. This week Richard answers his five most frequently asked questions.

Will 2013 be unlucky for some investors?

Fri 21 December 2012
With the end of 2012 upon us, Richard Hunter considers the year ahead and how the current themes might play out. He also highlights a share and sector that he believes are worth monitoring.

The winners and losers in 2012

Thu 13 December 2012
As the year comes to an end Richard Hunter takes a closer look at the best and worst performing shares on the FTSE 100 in 2012.

Mega Monday - which companies could benefit?

Fri 07 December 2012
Record online sales predicted for Mega Monday could signal a very strong Christmas for retailers. Richard Hunter takes closer a look at which companies could benefit.

Time in the market, not timing the market

Fri 30 November 2012
With market sentiment changing on an almost daily basis, Richard Hunter take a look at why a long term investment view is important.

Top dividend growing shares

Fri 23 November 2012
With interest rates stuck at record lows, Richard Hunter takes a look at ten companies showing the ability to maintain and even grow their dividends.

Why has Apple’s share price fallen 23%?

Thu 15 November 2012
Apple's share price hit an all-time high of $705.10 on the 21 September 2012. Yesterday however, less than two months later, the share price closed at $536.93 - a decline of over 23%. What has caused the share price to fall so dramatically?

Who are the players in the gambling sector?

Fri 02 November 2012
Following on from his Gambling sector review last week, Richard Hunter takes a closer look at five companies in the sector.

Is the Gambling sector an odds-on favourite with investors?

Thu 25 October 2012
After a few torrid years the gambling sector has begun to catch the eye of investors, as the industry grows and political objections slowly begin to wane. Richard Hunter takes a closer look at the sector.

Why a lacklustre market need not mean lacklustre returns

Fri 12 October 2012
A stuttering stock market can mask a number of big winners and losers. Richard Hunter investigates how selective investing could generate better returns.

Increased government spending? Who could benefit?

Fri 05 October 2012
With the economy still struggling some commentators (and the Labour Party) are calling for George Osborne to abandon austerity and increase government spending. Richard Hunter highlights some infrastructure companies that could benefit

Should investors buy Standard Chartered?

Thu 27 September 2012
What are the prospects for Standard Chartered? Richard Hunter takes a closer look at some of the news impacting the share price and the recent analyst re-rating to a buy.

Comparing apples and blackberries

Thu 20 September 2012
Following the recent launch of the iPhone 5, Richard Hunter contrasts the fortunes of Apple and its competitor Research in Motion, manufacturer of the BlackBerry.

Which indices best represent the economy?

Fri 14 September 2012
The FTSE 100 and Dow Jones Industrial Average are frequently referenced in relation to the economy, but are these the best indices for investors to monitor? Richard Hunter takes a closer look.

The benefits and risks of brand based investing

Thu 06 September 2012
£1.4 billion was spent by companies on sponsoring the London 2012 Olympics in order to help brand awareness. Richard Hunter looks at the importance of, and the difficulties of valuing, a company's brand.

How to align a portfolio for a market recovery

Thu 30 August 2012
The current economic concerns will come to an end sooner or later and the economy will start to grow again. With this in mind, Richard Hunter takes a look at how investors could benefit by changing the structure of their portfolio.

Takeover rumours surround United Utilities

Thu 23 August 2012
United Utilities were highlighted by the media as a potential takeover target, last week. In his latest article Richard Hunter takes a closer look at the rumours and provides his opinion on the sector.

Investment update on Manchester United and Facebook shares

Fri 17 August 2012
With Manchester United Plc shares now trading on the US stock Market, Richard Hunter takes a closer look at their shares and another recent IPO, Facebook.

Can GlaxoSmithKline benefit from improved investor sentiment?

Thu 09 August 2012
Some of the apathy towards the pharmaceutical sector has begun to dissipate, over the last year. Richard Hunter takes a closer look at a company he thinks could benefit.

Could British Land benefit from London's 'safe haven' property market?

Fri 03 August 2012
With the London property market targeted by international investors seeking a safe haven, Richard Hunter investigates whether British Land could be set to benefit.

Positive news for income seeking investors

Thu 26 July 2012
Despite European economic worries returning over the last week and pushing the FTSE 100 down 3.75%, Richard Hunter suggests it's not all doom and gloom for UK income seeking investors.

Are Aviva shares at a turning point?

Fri 13 July 2012
Could Aviva's new strategic plan mark a turning point for the currently troubled share price? Richard Hunter investigates.

The Barclays LIBOR scandal one week on

Fri 06 July 2012
It's been a torrid week for Barclays in the wake of the LIBOR scandal. Richard Hunter looks at the chain of events and their impact on the shares.

Could you benefit from oil price volatility?

Fri 29 June 2012
Oil prices have fallen nearly 30% in the last 3 months, Richard hunter looks at what’s caused the sharp fall and whether investors could benefit.

Is now the time to buy BSkyB?

Thu 21 June 2012
Following a difficult period for BSkyB, culminating in the failed takeover bid from News Corporation, could now be the time to buy their shares? Richard Hunter takes a closer look.

Are pubs and brewers set for strong summer sales?

Fri 15 June 2012
After a torrid few years for pub shares, the jubilee celebrations and sporting events in 2012 could provide some long overdue relief. Richard hunter takes a closer looks at the possible impact on pubs and brewers.

AB Foods' shares benefit from positive investor opinion

Thu 07 June 2012
AB Foods is a rare example, in the current economic environment, where investor opinion of the shares has made a complete turnaround for the positive. Richard Hunter takes a closer look.

Facebook shares fall over 20%

Thu 31 May 2012
With Facebook already being touted as the worst IPO ever, Richard Hunter looks at events since the $104 billion launch and questions what the future holds for the company.

Is now the time to invest in shares?

Fri 25 May 2012
With bond and cash yields being eroded by high inflation, Richard Hunter investigates how well selected shares could potentially provide investors with inflation beating returns and some capital growth.

Where next for Google shares?

Thu 15 December 2011
Google is the world's biggest internet search company. Formed just 13 years ago, it has become such a success that "google" is now a recognised verb in the dictionary. Richard Hunter takes a closer look at Google's prospects.