Initial Public Offering (IPO) Launch Alerts

NEW ISSUE ALERTS

Be among the first to hear about new launches. Please note: We are not able to offer every IPO or launch online, often due to the limited size and specialist nature of a new issue or because of restrictions set by third parties. Our IPO alerts service is for people who understand the risks of investing in equities, it is not personal advice. Investing in IPOs and individual companies isn’t right for everyone - it’s higher-risk as your investment is dependent on the fate of that company. All investments and any income they produce will rise and fall in value, so you could make a loss. If a company fails you risk losing your whole investment. Investors should make sure they understand the companies they’re investing in, the company specific risks, and make sure any businesses they own are held as part of a diversified portfolio. If you’re not sure of an investment's suitability for your circumstances, please seek advice. REGISTER FOR ALERTS Please be aware that this service is provided on a best endeavours basis and as such we shall not be held liable to you for any losses, costs or expenses incurred by you as result of you using the alert service including email delivery/receipt failure or delay, for whatever reason. IPOs are only open to UK investors. By registering for these alerts, you are confirming that you are located and resident in the UK.

1

A slowly improving picture for the UK?

After a mixed start to the year in January, we experienced a marked improvement in Global markets in February and March. With most of the activity in the US, Japan and the rest of Asia all showing strong gains. However, European stocks were muted, and the UK market continued to lag.   UK shares… UK shares suffered in February, as data confirmed that the economy fell into a technical recession in the second half of 2023. However, the most recent data is suggesting that we have turned a corner in 2024. With a reduction in the maximum price that energy suppliers can charge for a unit of energy which should support falling headline inflation. The consensus now is that headline inflation will fall to just below 2% and core inflation to around 2.6% by the end of 2024.   In the US… In the US there is a different situation, despite the central banks best efforts to cool the US economy by keeping interest rates elevated, the economy remains resilient. With the full years economic growth forecast being revised up, which could mean there may not be a rate cut at all in 2024. The Federal Reserve at the March meeting left its main interest target unchanged in a range of 5.25%-5.5%. US shares led the market in the first quarter, aided in part by strong momentum trades and the fact that the outperforming Magnificent Seven are all based in the country.   Looking Ahead After a troubled couple of years, with the UK economy falling into a technical recession, the economic picture is now slowly improving. With unemployment and growth broadly pointing to a “Soft Landing”, meaning that economies could emerge from a high inflation period with just a shallow recession. UK Equities have seen ownership decline, but there is a growing perception that a change in the UK economic environment could bring about a reversal of fortune. A raft of economic data is showing that things are turning around, with inflation falling, robust wage growth and tax cuts. all feeding through to higher levels of consumer confidence. The feeling now seems to be that we will see interest rate cuts later this year as inflation falls to around the target level of 2%. UK shares are still considered cheap compared to other markets at the current time, but that could change.   If you would like to discuss your current investments or future plans we would be happy to schedule a call – Contact details for the CFM team are here and my contact details are: E: stephen.lovelock@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk T: 0203 6970561. Stephen Lovelock, April 2024

1

You ain't seen nothing yet

I trust that our readers have had a pleasant and relaxing Easter holiday. Today, I will be covering several topics, Easter Eggs, defence, the water industry and politics in turn. I expect most of you have enjoyed receiving or giving the traditional Easter Eggs in the last few days, albeit at a slightly higher price, possibly suffering a little shrinkflation along the way. Well as they say ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’. The spot price of cocoa beans had been jogging along around US$1,700 per metric ton for years and suddenly it has hit several multiples of that figure. The current price is around US$10,000. I expect you have read that this is all due to ‘Climate Change’ but that is far from the truth. It seems ‘Climate Change; has now replaced ‘Brexit’ which three years ago was the excuse trotted out for any complex problem the user did not understand and had been brainwashed to believe. The true fact is that while crop failures and adverse weather is repetitive over the years, the main reason is the nature of the supply. Almost 70% of world cocoa production comes from West Africa, nearly a half from Ivory Coast alone, with Nigeria, Togo, Cameroon and Ghana other suppliers. While the El Nino impact (quite naturally) has led to drier conditions in West Africa, the main problems are structural. The growers are not large corporations, as you would find with the Palm Oil sector, but a myriad of small farmers. These are just one step up in the hierarchy from subsistent farmers. Like UK farmers, they have historically suffered from poor pricing. Indeed, they barely make a living and have not been able to invest in the plantations. Cocoa trees have a productive life of about 25 years, but the crop declines rapidly in later years and disease resistance increases significantly. Moreover, the historic way of finding new land for planting with slash and burn is much more difficult due to the environmental lobby. Add in the dry conditions and you have a significant decline in yield which has now led to the sharp price increase. You might ask why this has not yet been fully reflected in chocolate prices, including this year’s Easter eggs. The answer lies in the way that the big Chocolate companies buy their cocoa. This is through the futures market (buying forward at expected prices at the time), so it will probably take several months, if not a year or so to come through. There are no easy ways to invest in this agricultural sector, again unlike Palm Oil, where there are quoted companies, there are some ETF’s that give coverage for investors but if you love chocolate, then have a good stock as prices will continue to rise. Defence stocks continue to outperform. I have been a strong holder of Bae and we now see others like Babcock, Qinetiq and Cohort following in their wake. We could see a prolonged bull market in this sector, which of course is precluded from being held in the fashionable ESG funds. The war in Ukraine and the Russia- Iran – N Korea axis, China/ Taiwan plus weak Western governments suggests there are a lot more threats to come. The change in warfare playing out in Ukraine will require lots more investment in technological warfare, drones being an example. I would suggest Ukraine has similarities with the Spanish Civil War, where new tactics and equipment were perfected for the coming World War 2. There has been a lot of misleading hot air about the problems at Thames Water, where there is an £18bn debt problem at a time when consumers are rightly concerned about discharge of sewage into water courses at times of excess precipitation. The bad management changed in 2017 when ownership changed. Previous management geared up the business and paid increased dividends and bonuses from the borrowed funds, this was a mistake. They imagined that water businesses had a reliable income stream and could stand higher levels of debt. This ignored the need for investment to cope with changes in water run-off. Coincidentally, the ownership had passed largely overseas. The current owners have not continued with that greed or in short termism, but faced with the need for substantial investment they will not put more equity investment in unless prices to consumers are increased by around 40%. The regulator has said no, hence the crisis. Thames Water may go bust or be nationalised. Anyway, prices will go up. How did this mess happen? Greedy, mainly overseas shareholders, a regulator asleep on the job and international pricing comparisons that leave UK water charges at the bottom end of the international table. One important factor that you will not read about is the vast increase in rainfall run off due to huge rises in urban development. It is no surprise that this has happened to Thames, where population growth has been very big. Builders get a few section106 requirements for new traffic roundabouts and the like, but are allowed to channel the extra run off into water channels that have not been improved in a century. No wonder Thames water cannot cope with the discharge of water and the increased effluent. Very poor long-term thinking here and the taxpayer will have to pick up the big one way or another. Lastly, I turn to politics with all the talk about when the General Election will be. I am not really interested in the timing; it is the implications that are important. in my last article I explained the several reasons for low growth in the UK economy, I do not see any chance that any constructive measures will be taken whichever party forms the next government. Th polls suggest that Labour is probably going to win a huge majority. No surprise here after the revolving leadership and relative incompetence of the Conservative government, I say that knowing how distracting the pandemic and the Ukraine war has been. Lots of money spent (mainly borrowed) and largely unappreciated by the population. Moral here is that handouts to maintain a living standard are never appreciated. So, the most voters will turn to Labour just for a change of power, but Labour will be totally hamstrung by the high borrowing levels to do anything to satisfy voter’s high expectations of change. The honeymoon period will undoubtedly be short and a majority of circa 200 as forecast will certainly lead to party divisions between left of centre ideas and a leadership that says ‘we can’t’. Big majorities and an impoverished opposition are never good for democracy and will further lead to the public’s distrust of politicians. Although some months off, the best indicator of how things are panning out will be the exchange rate, which for most investors will mean a bit more inflation and perhaps higher interest rates than expected and a portfolio orientation towards overseas currency earners. Just watch that exchange rate two years from now.   If you would like to discuss your current investments or future plans we would be happy to schedule a call – Contact details for the CFM team are here and my contact details are: E: barrie.newton@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk T: 07977 784167 Barrie Newton, April 2024

1

Growth

When I was studying economics at university, the theories of John Maynard Keynes were to the fore. His ideas changed the way economics was practiced by politicians the world over. His idea that investment would produce more consumption and more wealth is known as the ‘multiplier effect’. He expounded that public expenditure should supplement private investment in times of distress. Keynes ideas were somewhat relegated by Milton Friedman’s direct criticism and monetarist economics, with the control of money being at its centre. Nevertheless, Keynes was the man who was the main advocate for the US Lend Lease programme, the post war loan from the US to Britain, the IMF, the World Bank and of course Bretton Woods. Many argue that Keynes and Churchill were the two greatest Britons of the 20^th Century. Churchill the political and Wartime leader and Keynes the transformational thinking economist. Indeed, Churchill admitted he much regretted not taking Keynes’ advice not to return to the Gold Standard in the 1920s. So, in a modern context why is growth so elusive? With high debt levels, everyone wants growth to promise a better life. There are, as always, many reasons. I have listed eight that I feel are key.

1. How growth is measured: Yardstick economists use the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the aggregate value of goods and services produced by a nation. However, the components differ like apples and pears. Take the workers in the NHS. The aggregate of nurses’ work and the 800 diversity officers in the NHS cost £40m in employment. One saves lives and the other does not, perhaps making them more complicated. Yet they have an equal pro rata GDP impact. Similarly, a manufacturing based economy, such as China can be measured more accurately than a service-based economy such as the UK.
2. Balance between investment and consumption: Short-termism has led to an imbalance in favour of consumption. This leads to poor infrastructure and an economy overdependent upon imports at the expense of efficient domestic production. Also, investment is carried out differently. The UK has an appalling record in cost escalation and delays for major infrastructure schemes such as HS2. French participants in the construction consortia on HS2 could not understand why it was costing 5x a comparable line in France. The answer was all the environmental red tape and use of cuttings to diminish noise.
3. Rush to net zero: Just look at the green taxes on your energy bill and manufacturing costs in the UK compared with elsewhere. Aside from the CO2 arguments, we are essentially replacing relatively abundant and cheap sources of energy with more expensive new systems that have hidden costs. Additional diverted capital inputs are not producing any greater output so lower growth is achieved despite short term employment opportunities (this kit comes from China; we just put them up and sell them).
4. Extreme ESG finding its way into all forms of life: This enables a country to export all the high carbon tasks overseas and claim it is carbon neutral. Then, it imports dirty overseas products without spoiling ESG data. How bizarre you can export jobs in this way. The authorities are only just waking up to this.
5. Education standards: The Government crows about rising educational levels of school leavers but there are huge flaws in our system. Too many university courses are of no real value and too few students are taking a work-related alternative. Numeracy is way below standards in the Far East, too few scientists and engineers; then there is the rising numbers of pupils who never attend school at all.
6. Immigration: An emotive subject as we are told it is essential to provide growth with an ageing indigenous population and low birth rate, but it seems to wed us to low skilled immigration and depress wage levels. The figures themselves are anything but accurate. Official estimates of EU workers in the UK in 2016 totalled 3.7m, yet 5.6m workers of EU origin applied to remain in the UK. Estimates of illegal migrants range from 2m to 5m. Modern slavery for those people without legal right to live in the UK is a continual problem. None of this will be recorded in GDP figures. Numbers discussed are net immigration, gross immigration is more revealing. Last year 450,000 Britons left the UK. Professionals seeking a better life overseas, with doctors going to Australia as an example and retiring people leaving for sunshine and low pension taxes. If we look at employment vacancies, these have been stubbornly around 1m for several years.
7. Non-productive spending: That is not waste in the UK economy counted as GDP but spending with limited impact on the economy. Here we have defence spending. It does bring employment to the UK (and there are export and import aspects) and it is essential, but overall, the UK at 2% of GDP has a much higher defence spending than its peers in Europe. This is spending that otherwise would go on more productive works. Seems illogical giving aid to India, when their Government spends vast amounts going to the moon whilst neglecting the undoubted poverty in parts of that nation. A better system would be to give aid in kind, with gifts of British goods or services that have created some manufacturing or service activity here.
8. Culture: An innovative nation no doubt, but the last 20 years have seen more red tape and especially a risk averse regulatory environment. That is why 50% of US citizens own shares and only 19% do in the UK. It is why UK pension funds only hold 2% in UK equities. The desire for regulators to be overprotective to the consumer is a very negative factor.

So, there you have it. A range of reasons for low growth in the UK and by no means an exhaustive list. A lot of work is needed to reverse this as speedily as possible.   If you would like to discuss your current investments or future plans we would be happy to schedule a call – Contact details for the CFM team are here and my contact details are: E: barrie.newton@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk T: 07977 784167 Barrie Newton, January 2024

1

As we enter 2024 the markets are treading water, as the global economic landscape appears poised at a critical juncture. After a strong market rally in December, the US Federal Reserve provided the clearest signal so far that interest rates have peaked. This gives the assumption that inflation was tamed, with some pundits expecting interest rates to start being reduced early in the second quarter of 2024. In the US… The economy remained robust whilst inflation was falling, thus allowing the Federal Reserve Board to manage a lowering of rates with the expectation of avoiding a recession. One thing to note; when the rate cutting cycle starts, history has shown the US usually goes first. In the UK and Europe, similar expectations ensued for inflation and interest rates, but the difference is that those economies are weaker than the US. This means that interest rates must fall to provide support. In Europe… The European Central Bank’s Christine Lagarde has said she thinks rates have now reached their peak. Legarde believes the euro zone has passed the hardest and worst part of the inflation battle and that rate cuts can start once the data confirms this. However, the question remains ‘Are we over the worst or is this as good as it gets, will 2024 be a year defined by a silver lining or still confronted by headwinds?’. From the recent US consumer price inflation figures, for now the narrative from the Fed is hawkish, this could drive bond yields higher and risk assets lower. This inflation reading could affect expectations, regarding the next move in monetary policy, the anticipation for an interest rate cut in March has now subsided. However, economic concerns should not stop investment, even though we could see further volatility throughout 2024.This volatility could provide a great opportunity to pick up reasonably priced shares. My Thoughts I feel that equities are likely to perform better in the first half of this year with the UK benefitting due to valuations being lower than other markets. We could also see investors diversify out of cash. 2024 is going to be an interesting year, especially as many countries (including the UK and the US) have elections - although historically elections have had little impact on the markets. Wishing you all a Happy New Year and remember investing diversification is as important as ever.   If you would like to discuss your current investments or future plans we would be happy to schedule a call – Contact details for the CFM team are here and my contact details are: E: stephen.lovelock@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk T: 0203 6970561. Stephen Lovelock, January 2024

1

Some observations

Autumn 2024 is set to see a Presidential election in the USA and a general election in the UK and in both cases, opinion polls are currently indicating that change is afoot. By the end of the year, US President Trump may apparently be greeting UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer to discuss the great affairs of state and international politics. Elections always affect stock markets, due to the increase in uncertainty and this is particularly so at present, given the history of President Trump’s first term and the longevity of the UK Conservative government that we are told is to lose power. Elections and the changes they bring can have huge effects on domestic and international economic policies, but perhaps surprisingly, there is little evidence that they have much medium or long-term effect on stock markets. A recent study by US Bank of the short-term effect of US Presidential elections showed that in the year leading up to an election, the total return from US equities and US bonds were on average lower than in non-election years, at +6% vs +8% for equities and +6.5% vs +7.5% for bonds. This however is typically recovered very quickly, so that for the past 10 elections, spanning the 40 years going back to President Ronald Reagan, on eight occasions the following year showed stronger performance and on only two did it show weaker performance. So, if that pattern were repeated, we should perhaps expect this year to be volatile and nervous as it wears on, but 2025 to give compensating strong returns and the net impact of the Presidential election would be inconsequential.

But what of the UK?

The Conservative Party has been in power alone or in coalition for over a decade, so the changes of direction of policy under a possible Labour government could be very significant. History however again suggests that any effect on stock markets is likely to be short lived. When John Major was re-elected Prime Minister in 1992, the period leading up to the election had seen weak stock markets and this reversed in the six months after it. However, in all subsequent five general elections leading up to Theresa May in 2017, post-election the Stock Market quickly resumed the direction it had been following previously. Boris Johnson’s election in 2019 was of course followed by the arrival of covid and so broke the trend. In many ways, that is probably the lesson of these observations; do not worry about elections, there are more significant effects at work that certainly will influence stock markets and we should spend our energy looking instead at those.   If you would like to discuss your current investments or future plans we would be happy to schedule a call – Contact details for the CFM team are here or contact me direct: peter.land@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk Peter Land, January 2024

1

Stock Market Review

by Paul Coffin

Markets saw a good recovery in the last quarter of 2023 and improved sentiment has carried over into 2024. The reason was a change of consensus over the future direction of interest rates. For most of 2023 we had been expecting inflation to fall, pointing out that we did not expect interest rates to go higher. As inflation data came out much lower in October first in the US and then the UK, the markets began to believe that inflation was under control and that there could be scope for rate cuts in 2024. As of writing, banks have begun to reduce borrowing and mortgage rates. We expect base rates to fall to 4% by the end of 2024, 1.25% lower than they currently stand. Indeed, they may end up slightly lower. This news was good for shares as is usually the case and many stock markets rose between 5% and 10%... In the UK there has been much comment about the London Stock Market being in poor shape. It is certainly true that the Government needs to boost reasons to own shares. Firstly, they need to allow pension funds to hold more shares and to encourage private investors. To encourage this Capital Gains Tax should be cut and taxes on dividends reduced. Regulation needs to be reduced so that investment managers decide where to invest not regulators... The full commentary is available in the CFM Quarterly Newsletter sent out to our clients. If you would like more information on this and becoming a client please contact support@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk 

1

Inflation news better than feared

As I began to pen a few words for this month’s quarterly report, news broke that the headline inflation in the UK dropped sharply in June. Down to 7.9% from 8.7% the previous month. This was indeed better than had been expected and the market had a strong rally, with the FTSE100 closing +134 on the day (19^th July). It may however be too early to describe a drop in CPI from 8.7% to 7.9% as a decisive turning point in the UK’s battle against persistent inflation, but the data at least backs the idea that the trend is finally moving in the right direction. Only last week there was little sign the UK Inflation problems were under control, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures not helping. There was no growth over the three-month period to May, essentially meaning the economy has flatlined. The Bank of England use of interest rate rises to control inflation, may be starting to have an impact, but GDP is showing little sign of improvement.

Where does this leave the Bank of England?

We must now ask, where does it leave the Bank of England. After sending a shock wave to mortgage holders and bond markets with a 50-basis point rise in June, economists now feel that the monetary policy committee is unlikely to repeat this at the next meeting on the 3^rd of August. Consensus now points to a quarter point rate rise to 5.25%, with the Bank having hiked rates from their 0.1% record low at the end of 2021. The Bank of England still needs to be vigilant and act accordingly until there is a level of certainty that inflation is back under control. Some analysts are expecting the Bank to now stop hiking at 5.5%.

Effects on the market

This news pushed the FTSE 100 higher, helped by gains in interest-rate sensitive stocks, with a basket of property shares making up lost ground. While the housing market remains under pressure, with prices falling and mortgage costs higher, this reaction suggests an element of relief for the sector. Although current valuations for housebuilders share price is in an extended slump for the market, there is still ongoing demand for rental properties, and migration patterns. These are likely to back the long-term story for UK property.   If you would like to discuss your current investments or future plans we would be happy to schedule a call – Contact details for the CFM team are here and my contact details are: E: stephen.lovelock@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk T: 0203 6970561. Stephen Lovelock, July 2023

1

How to make a million pounds after the Coronation

With the coronation upon us, I decided to have a look at how Stock markets performed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. She came to the thrown on the 6th February 1952 and died on 8th September 2022, 70 years!  During that period the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), the index which is most used to measure the performance of US stock markets rose by 11,700 per cent! (Eleven thousand seven hundred percent)... Paul Coffin May 2023 For the full article contact us at: support@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk   Clients receive a quarterly newsletter with more insights from Paul and the CFM Investment Managers. Contact Us for more details or Sign Up as a client here.

1

Stock Market Review January 2023 – April 2023

The FTSE and Wall Street were flat during the last quarter. Markets had been looking for indications that interest rates would stop rising. This did not occur as inflation remained stubborn. However, it has fallen to around 5% in the US. In the UK it is likely to follow that trajectory over the next few months as comparisons to last year’s rises in gas & food prices fall...   Paul Coffin May 2023   For the full article contact us at: support@capitalfinancialmarkets.co.uk   Clients receive a quarterly newsletter with more insights from Paul and the CFM Investment Managers. Contact Us for more details or Sign Up as a client here.

1