UK MARKET TALK ROUNDUP: BROKERS COMMENTS

23rd Jul 2010 07:22

Broker comments in the UK today. Compiled by Dow Jones Newswires Markets Desk, [email protected] Contact us in London. +44-20-7842-9464 [email protected] 0622 GMT [Dow Jones] Liberum Capital cuts Kingfisher (KGF.LN) to neutral from buy and its target price to 240p from 275p. The broker said it fears that the company's UK project spend will continue to weaken over the next 12 months and that this could be reflected in other markets. "We see evidence of this in our consumer survey data on home improvements, willingness to move and UK planning applications," it said. Shares closed Thursday at 225p. ([email protected]) 0609 GMT [Dow Jones] Citigroup lowers Lonmin (LMI.LN) target price to 1925p from 2100p "based on 1.5x our 1283p net present value." Brokerage keeps a buy rating on the stock, noting that a year ago, the big concern was Lonmin's mining side of the business, given the previous challenges with mechanization. "Since then, Lonmin's mining performance has steadily improved and we believe management now has credibility and believability when they talk positively about future mining trends," says Citigroup. Shares closed at 1495p. ([email protected]) 0606 GMT [Dow Jones] Deutsche Bank initiates Carillion (CLLN.LN) at buy with 393p target. Says in response to the UK Government's 30% cut to capital expenditure by the end of the current parliament, Carillion is phasing down its UK construction revenues by GBP600M over the next three years. Expects a hiatus in new public-private partnerships projects in the near term. These pressures on UK construction and PPP have been factored into Deutsche Bank's forecasts. Sees medium-term growth in areas such as Canadian PPP and Middle East construction. Carillion shares closed Thursday at 319p. ([email protected]) 0600 GMT [Dow Jones] Charles Stanley initiates its coverage of Mothercare (MTC.LN), with a hold rating and a 500p price target. Says Mothercare has a reputation as one of the best long-term investment stories in the UK general retail sector. However, says the recent increasing uncertainty surrounding trading at the UK business deters it from being more constructive on the stock, for now. Says recent trading statements show how dependent group profitability still is on Mothercare's highly operationally geared UK business. Therefore, short-term uncertainty with regards the UK outweighs the long-term attractions. Shares closed Thursday at 526p.([email protected]) Contact us in London. +44-20-7842-9288 [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 23, 2010 02:22 ET (06:22 GMT)