FTSE 100 movers: Ashtead leads after raising full-year estimates
3rd Sep 2014 15:59
Equipment rental group Ashtead Group was a top riser after saying it expects to beat full-year estimates after profits jumped by a third to a record high in its first quarter. Results were supported by strong revenue growth and improving margins. Barclays gained after selling its Spanish operations
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
18th Aug 2014 09:54
Admiral Group: Credit Suisse reduces target price from 1425p to 1350p and stays with its neutral rating. Ophir Energy: RBC Capital reduces target price from 400p to 240p, while its neutral rating remains unchanged. Petra Diamonds: Westhouse Securities ups target price from 200p to 230p upgrading f
Read moreBroker tips: Smith & Nephew, Centamin, Balfour Beatty, UK motor insurers
15th Aug 2014 12:14
Shares in Smith & Nephew were under pressure on Friday after analysts at Morgan Stanley downgraded the medical devices maker from 'overweight' to 'equal weight' following a recent strong run in the stock. The bank said that even if US peer Stryker returns with a bid in November, the deal "remains
Read moreBerenberg upgrades Esure but expects "challenging period" for UK motor insurers
15th Aug 2014 10:52
Berenberg has lifted its target prices for Admiral, Direct Line and Esure but reckons that the UK motor insurance market is "about to enter a very challenging period". "We expect recent declines in pricing to squeeze underwriting margins as claims costs continue to grow, while regulatory change pre
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
15th Aug 2014 09:47
Admiral Group: Berenberg raises target price from 1090p to 1168p, but still recommends selling. Canaccord Genuity reduces target price from 1400p to 1220p keeping a sell recommendation. Centamin: Numis downgrades from buy to hold with a target price of 70p. Direct Line Group: Berenberg shifts targ
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: TUI Travels gains on merger reports
14th Aug 2014 15:43
TUI Travel advanced following reports its majority owner TUI AG is pressing ahead with plans to merge the two companies. Germany-based TUI AG, which owns 55% of TUI Travel, said there was "no plan B" in the event of a failure of the proposed merger with the listed UK business. TUI AG also reporte
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Aug 2014 09:39
Admiral Group: Deutsche Bank reduces target price from 1330p to 1260p and maintains a hold recommendation. Balfour Beatty: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 250p to 245p keeping its hold recommendation. Betfair: Jefferies raises target price from 1175p to 1230p maintaining a buy recommendatio
Read moreShore Capital says sell Admiral after H1 premiums dip
13th Aug 2014 17:14
Broker Shore Capital has repeated its advice to investors to sell shares in Admiral after the car and home insurer revealed premiums fell again in the first half. Admiral's average UK car insurance premium fell 11% to £495, although customer numbers rose more than 4%, fuelling a 1% increase in grou
Read moreSector movers: Admiral drags non-life insurers lower on subdued premiums
13th Aug 2014 15:31
Poorly-received first-half numbers from Admiral were dragging the non-line insurance sector lower on Wednesday, while life insurers were given a boost by Prudential. Admiral's shares were down 6% at 1,365p in afternoon trade after the car insurance group said that turnover in the first half was dow
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Admiral and Glencore shares fall after H1 results
13th Aug 2014 14:49
Car insurance group Admiral was a heavy faller on Wednesday after the group said turnover in the first half was down 5% at £1.04bn as a 9% rise in customers was outweighed by a fall in premiums over last year. The company said that while UK premiums are no longer falling a return to growth remains e
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks advance as rate-hike speculation eases
13th Aug 2014 12:08
- BoE strikes dovish tone as wages fall - Ukraine crisis, Asian data in focus - Ex-dividend stocks limit upside - Banking stocks lead upside techMARK 2,736.01 +0.28% FTSE 100 6,661.68 +0.44% FTSE 250 15,528.53 +0.41% An overall dovish tone to the Bank of England's (BoE) Inflation Report gave UK st
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat on rate speculation ahead of Inflation Report
13th Aug 2014 09:04
- Inflation Report, rate speculation keeps markets cautious - Ukraine crisis in focus as Russian convoy heads to border - Chinese data disappoints, Japanese GDP sinks - Ex-dividend stocks fall techMARK 2,725.51 -0.10% FTSE 100 6,630.77 -0.02% FTSE 250 15,403.28 -0.40% Weak economic data from Asia,
Read moreLondon pre-open: Geopolitics, Asian data to weigh on stocks ahead of BoE
13th Aug 2014 07:53
UK stocks are expected to open with small losses on Wednesday with investor risk appetite subdued ahead of the Bank of England's Inflation Report. Ongoing geopolitical concerns and a wave of economic data from Asia were also likely to be dampening sentiment in morning trade. City sources predict
Read moreAdmiral sees higher premiums but margins fall - UPDATE
13th Aug 2014 07:25
Car insurer Admiral forecast a rise in premiums in the next few months but said margins on business secured this year were lower. Admiral, which also owns price comparison site Confused.com, said there were signs in the UK that premiums had halted a decline sparked by tough competition as companies
Read moreWednesday preview: Investors seeking contract news from G4S
12th Aug 2014 17:20
Investors will be looking for news of UK government deals when security group G4S reports half-year results on Wednesday. Doubts have hung over G4S's ability to win state contracts since the company failed to provide enough security staff for the 2012 London Olympics and faced allegations of overch
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