Sector movers: Bodycote lifts industrial engineering sector
27th Apr 2011 14:06
Industrial engineers are wanted today, helped by a positive first quarter update by thermal processing services firm Bodycote. The metals engineer said revenues for the three months to 31 March 2011 were 19.2% higher than in the same period last year, and expects headline operating profit for the y
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aggreko leaps on full year guidance
27th Apr 2011 13:39
Temporary power supplier Aggreko has surged ahead after saying it expects its full year profits to be slightly ahead of 2010 after a strong start to the year. Airline IAG is firmly highly, continuing from strong gains made yesterday. Engineers GKN, IMI and Weir Group are also among the best perfo
Read moreBroker tips: ARM, AB Foods, William Hill
27th Apr 2011 12:57
"Exceptionally strong" first quarter results from chip giant ARM Holdings have prompted Peel Hunt to upgrade the group's rating and raise its target price by over a third, saying that the period was "as good as it could have been". "The performance was strong across the board as well as being strat
Read moreBroker snap: Second half outlook subdued at AB Foods
27th Apr 2011 12:14
Nomura says that while Associated British Foods' first half results were 'in line', the second half outlook is more subdued suggesting consensus downgrades for the full year. The British Sugar and Primark owner reported first half sales of £5.21bn and earnings before interest and tax of £390m, broa
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 bounces back
27th Apr 2011 12:05
Shares are slightly in the blue now, though the relatively calm performance overall belies some big share price movements in both directions following a stream of updates. Banking giant Barclays is lower after saw adjusted profit before tax rise 10% in the first quarter of 2011, despite a 15% slide
Read moreLondon open: Stocks move both ways after updates
27th Apr 2011 08:32
Shares have edged slightly lower in early dealings with some big name company updates getting a poor reception, though there are some significant risers. Banking giant Barclays is lower after saw adjusted profit before tax rise 10% in the first quarter of 2011, despite a 15% slide in top-line incom
Read moreLondon pre-open: Shares to edge slightly lower
27th Apr 2011 07:56
Shares are expected to open slightly lower as traders digest a raft of trading updates and await first quarter economic growth data later this morning. Controversial oil colossus BP saw its first quarter profit advance to $7,124m from $6,079m the year before. Replacement cost profit dipped to $5,48
Read moreAB Foods dampens full year expectations
27th Apr 2011 07:04
British Sugar and Primark owner Associated British Foods saw adjusted earnings per share grow by 7.9% year on year at the interim stage, ahead of some brokers' expectations, but warned full year results will only be roughly on a par to last year. Group revenue rose 9% to £5,207m in the 24 weeks to
Read moreWednesday preview: BP, Barclays, Glaxo ...
26th Apr 2011 16:12
It is just over a year since the Gulf of Mexico Macondo oil well tragedy, an event that will continue to loom large over oil colossus BP when it announces its first quarter results on what is a busy Wednesday for company results. However, recent events in Russia are likely to be more to the forefro
Read moreWeek Ahead: Barclays, ARM, AB Foods
21st Apr 2011 09:03
Some big guns are due to make trading updates next week including heavy hitters from the banking, pharma and oils sectors, such as Barclays, Lloyds, Glaxo, Astra, Shire, BP and Royal Dutch Shell. On Wednesday banking giant Barclays gives an interim management statement covering the first quarter of
Read moreBroker snap: AB Foods interims preview
19th Apr 2011 10:34
Credit Suisse reiterates its 'outperform' rating on Associated British Foods (AB Foods) ahead of its interim results due next week, but does highlight its caution in a number of areas. AB Foods - which has operations in the sugar, agriculture, retail, grocery and ingredients markets - confirmed in
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: Becht bows out at Reckitt
14th Apr 2011 14:47
Shares in Cillit Bang maker Reckitt Benckiser took a sharp dive after the FTSE 100-listed maker of household products announced the retirement of its chief executive Bart Becht. The Dutchman, who has been at the helm of the firm since it was formed from the merger of UK company Reckitt & Colman and
Read moreLondon close: Market closes at low for the day
16th Mar 2011 17:07
An attempt at an early afternoon rally was short-lived and Footsie ended at its low for the day as investors continue to worry about the situation in Japan and sovereign debt in Europe after the downgrade of Portugal's debt by ratings agency Moody's. A sharp fall on Wall Street did not help sentime
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks pare losses
16th Mar 2011 14:06
Stocks pared losses over the lunch time session leaving the overall picture looking mixed, though the Footsie is slightly easier on balance, as investors continue to fret about the fall-out from the Japanese disaster, while sovereign debt concerns in Europe have been revived by the downgrade of Port
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Financial dividend payers head decline
16th Mar 2011 13:11
Financials are heading the fallers in the Footsie today. The two biggest fallers in the FTSE 100 index have gone ex-dividend. HSBC has fallen by more than double its dividend of 7.66p a share. Standard Life has not declined quite as much as its final dividend payment of 8.65p a share. HSBC and S
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