There has been a stream of stock markets for small companies over the past three decades, but with the latest, the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), in decline, is it time for another go at this problem?
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It was only last spring we were being told house prices were down 18 per cent on the year: now the rate of inflation is about to become plus 10 per cent. A hidden housing boom is underway.
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There is not only a dearth of takeovers at present, there is a trend to abandon bids that have already been announced. Are bidders’ eyes proving bigger than their stomachs or have predators lost their nerve?
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When brands are king there is an interesting move in the opposite direction at Wyevale garden centres. The name is being removed from most of the 122-strong chain so that they look like independents.

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Most people would probably prefer Bernie Madoff to look after their investment than expect HM Government to pick shares. Yet a million employees will soon be asking the state to manage their investments.
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It is no surprise some shareholders in 3i object to a rights issue. Every pound they subscribed to the private-equity group would instantly be worth 50p or less.
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I don’t know what the definition is of insider-dealing in Sunderland, but in the City it means trading shares with privileged information. It doesn’t mean writing newspaper stories that move share prices.
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Once companies did anything to avoid cutting dividends. In 2009 it is the most fashionable thing to do but directors should be careful they do not become fashion victims.
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It was the housing market that led us into this financial mess. Is it ready to lead us out?
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If the government can’t force banks that it owns lend to small firms, how can it make foreign-based credit insurers unblock the flow of funds?

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