London pre-open: Stocks to edge higher as Asia pares losses
2nd Sep 2015 07:26
(ShareCast News) - London's FTSE 100 is being called to open higher on Wednesday as Asian shares pare losses into the close. City sources expect the index to open up 24 points at 6083. On the economic front, investors will eye the release of UK construction PMI at 0930 BST, while in the US, the ADP
Read moreWednesday preview: Ashtead set to reveal strong first quarter
1st Sep 2015 14:44
(ShareCast News) - British industrial equipment rental company Ashtead Group is expected to report strong first quarter results on Wednesday. The consensus forecast is for £151m pre-tax profit for the three months to July, up from £120m previously. Numis said while there is an "obvious drag from oi
Read moreAshtead falls after Merrill Lynch cuts target price on yield pressure
13th Aug 2015 16:29
(ShareCast News) - Ashtead shares were dragged lower as Bank of America Merrill Lynch winched down its target price for the equipment rental company to 820p from 1,000p and reiterated its 'underperform' rating. Ahead of the FTSE 250 company's first quarter results on 2 September, Merrill expressed c
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Coca-Cola and TUI lifted by results, G4S dented by downgrades
13th Aug 2015 14:03
(ShareCast News) - London's top flight index was up 0.3% at 6,593 at 1415 BST, recovering from two consecutive days of losses as worries about a slowdown in China abated. Coca-Cola HBC was the standout gainer after the bottling firm posted a 31.7% rise in first-half net profits to €125.2m, even as s
Read moreAshtead extends its senior credit facility
28th Jul 2015 09:23
(ShareCast News) - Ashtead has amended and extended its senior credit facility that was due to mature in 2018. The company said it has increased the facility size to $2.6bn from $2bn. It said the refinancing provides the group with long-term stability and capacity to continue the execution of its s
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Pearson plumped on FT sale, ARM bounces, Aberdeen drops
23rd Jul 2015 15:35
(ShareCast News) - London's blue chip index bumped along just above parity for most of Thursday, as the bid talk for Pearson's iconic Financial Times newspaper and various company results announcements were the prime mover of prices. As of 15:30, the FTSE 100 was trading just 0.06% lower at 6,663.02
Read moreBroker tips: Ashtead, Tate & Lyle, Mitchells & Butlers, Croda
22nd Jul 2015 12:14
(ShareCast News) - Ashtead took a hit on Wednesday after a double downgrade by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which cut the stock to 'underperform' from 'buy' and slashed its price target to 1,000p from 1,300p, pointing to a "triple whammy" of worrying trends. "We have become increasingly concerned
Read moreAshtead slumps after double downgrade by Bank of America ML
22nd Jul 2015 09:06
(ShareCast News) - Ashtead took a hit on Wednesday after a double downgrade by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which cut the stock to 'underperform' from 'buy' and slashed its price target to 1,000p from 1,300p, pointing to a "triple whammy" of worrying trends. "We have become increasingly concerned
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish flat as optimism fades, Greek uncertainty persists
19th Jun 2015 17:06
UK stocks erased gains by the close on Friday with investors turning cautious ahead of the weekend, as ongoing uncertainty in Greece eroded earlier optimism. The FTSE 100 finished just 2.57 points higher (+0.04%) at 6,710.45, pulling back after hitting a high of 6,759.29 early on. Markets had opene
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Hikma surges on upgrade, miners retreat
19th Jun 2015 13:50
UK stocks inched higher on Friday, despite an underwhelming outcome to the Eurogroup's meeting on Greece, with Hikma and Ashteadin the lead after broker upgrades. As of 15:00 BST, the FTSE 100 was trading 0.1% higher at 6,714. Pharmaceuticals group Hikma was a high riser after analysts at Citigroup
Read moreAshtead raised to 'outperform' by Exane BNP
19th Jun 2015 12:51
Exane BNP Paribas upgraded Ashtead to 'outperform' from 'neutral' and raised the price target to 1,300p from 1,200p following year-to-date relative underperformance, as it believes both macro and micro conditions now suggest a re-acceleration in revenue momentum. It noted that Ashtead is acceleratin
Read moreLondon midday: Hikma, COLT lead stocks higher despite Greek negativity
19th Jun 2015 11:25
UK stocks advanced on Friday as investors shrugged off a disappointing end to the Eurogroup meeting on Greece, and instead sought out bargains following the recent sell-off. The FTSE 100, which dropped to levels not seen since January earlier in the week, was trading up 0.54% at 6,744.20 by midday.
Read moreLondon open: Stocks shrug off Greek woes, Hikma and COLT surge
19th Jun 2015 08:29
UK stocks edged higher on Friday morning despite a bleak outcome to the Eurogroup meeting, as finance minsters failed to come up with proposals to solve the Greek debt crisis. However, given that expectations were low going into Thursday's meeting, disappointment may have already been priced in, ana
Read moreWednesday share tips: Ashtead, Crest Nicholson
17th Jun 2015 14:34
Shares in Ashtead came off on profit-taking following its latest full-year profits. The company, which rents out equipment, believes it can outspend rivals on new investment, allowing it to deliver better service and thus continue to grow its market share. It has been doing just that and the histori
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Supermarkets hit by Credit Suisse note, property stocks lower
17th Jun 2015 13:35
UK stocks dipped on Wednesday, led by sector weakness in supermarkets and property, which overshadowed gains made by construction, telecommunications and mining stocks. As of 15:00 BST, the FTSE 100 was trading 0.26% lower at 6,693. Supermarket rivals Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco fell after Cre
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