FTSE 100 movers: Sky lifted by broker comments

14th Jan 2014 15:07

UBS upgraded BSkyB to 'buy' this morning, giving the stock a decent lift as it said that competitive concerns have been priced in and growth opportunities are now being overlooked at the broadband and pay-TV group. It also sees M&A upside in the stock, speculating about a possible merger by Fox to create 'Sky Europe' and even a mobile merger with either Vodafone UK or O2 UK. Biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca was also providing a lift after saying that it expects to return to growth sooner than analysts currently predict.Pharmaceutical group Shire raised its earnings guidance for 2013 to the upper end of previous expectations. Shire shares spiked immediately higher on Tuesday afternoon as the Dublin-headquartered company put out a short statement from Chief Executive Flemming Ornskov that confirmed a strong finish to the year.Hargreaves Lansdown was also a high riser today being lifted to 'overweight' by Morgan Stanley.Tullow Oil was extending yesterday's losses, after being hit by Barclays' decision to lower its target price on the stock. Financial peers Schroders and Aberdeen Asset Management were falling sharply after FTSE 250 counterpart Ashmore said assets under management fell 4.1% during the quarter ended December 31st amid continued market volatility.Sports Direct investors continued to show their disapproval of the company's decision to buy a 4.6% stake in High Street chainstore Debenhams. FTSE 100 - RisersBritish Sky Broadcasting Group (BSY) 874.00p +4.11%AstraZeneca (AZN) 3,736.00p +1.98%Shire Plc (SHP) 2,966.00p +1.89%Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 357.30p +1.74%Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,509.00p +1.62%ITV (ITV) 206.00p +1.58%Royal Mail (RMG) 595.00p +1.36%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,252.00p +1.26%Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 4,707.00p +1.25%Reed Elsevier (REL) 917.50p +1.16%FTSE 100 - FallersTullow Oil (TLW) 854.50p -2.68%William Hill (WMH) 372.30p -2.21%Intertek Group (ITRK) 3,002.00p -2.18%Schroders (SDR) 2,537.00p -2.05%Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 451.90p -1.74%Prudential (PRU) 1,349.00p -1.53%Sports Direct International (SPD) 736.50p -1.47%Amec (AMEC) 1,089.00p -1.45%Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,775.00p -1.28%BP (BP.) 489.50p -1.27%NR