London midday: Evraz leads fallers on the FTSE 100
4th Sep 2012 11:53
- Investors in 'wait and see mode' ahead of ECB - Markets await pivotal US ISM data - Moody's lower EU outlook to 'negative' The FTSE 100 had slumped to its lowest levels of the day by Tuesday lunchtime as investors were cautious about building positions ahead of some pivotal US economic data this
Read moreBroker tips: Petrofac, REITs, Ashtead
4th Sep 2012 11:49
Following a period of weakness, Credit Suisse has upgraded its rating on the shares of oilfield services group Petrofac from 'neutral' to 'outperform' and raised its target price from 1,750p to 1,800p. "We believe the stock has performed poorly on a lack of project awards over the summer period an
Read moreBroker snap: Peel Hunt hikes forecasts for Ashtead
4th Sep 2012 11:45
Shares in plant hire firm Ashtead surged on Tuesday morning after the firm raised its full-year guidance, leading broker Peel Hunt to upgrade its forecasts for the group. Ashtead reported a pre-tax profit of £61.4m in the first quarter, up 82% year-on-year and well above Peel Hunt's £48.0m estimate
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
4th Sep 2012 09:31
Ashtead: Jefferies lifts target from 360p to 320p, buy rating kept. Barclays: JP Morgan downgrades to neutral from overweight, target cut from 265p to 250p. British Land: UBS downgrades to neutral, target cut from 575p to 560p. Capital Shopping Centres Group: UBS upgrades to buy, target lifted fr
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip before US data
4th Sep 2012 08:30
- Moody's lower EU rating to 'negative' - Markets await US ISM data - Investors keep eyes pinned on ECB UK stocks pulled back on Tuesday morning following a strong performance the day before as some gloomy comments from Moody's and caution ahead of some US economic data dampened sentiment. Yesterd
Read moreAshtead raises profits guidance again
4th Sep 2012 08:10
High-flying plant hire firm Ashtead has raised profits guidance again as its new financial year got off to a strong start. Underlying profit before tax in the quarter ended July 31st rose 82%, or 76% on a constant currency (CC) basis, to £61.4m from £33.8m the year before. Statutory profit before
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
18th Jul 2012 09:21
Ashmore: Goldman Sachs upgrades to buy. Ashtead: Jefferies reiterates buy rating and 320p target. Booker: Investec maintains buy rating and 98p target. British Land: BarCap downgrades to equal weight. Capital Shopping Centres: BarCap upgrades to overweight. Chariot Oil & Gas: Merchant Securitie
Read moreSunday share tips: Ashtead, Unilever, GB Group
24th Jun 2012 10:51
Ashtead hires construction equipment and has tapped into a trend of companies renting rather than buying plant in order to preserve their cash. It also continued to invest through the downturn, despite a slump in construction. As well, the company has one of the largest market shares of the fragment
Read moreFriday broker round-up
22nd Jun 2012 10:37
Ashtead: UBS raises target from 320p to 340p, buy rating unchanged. Avon Rubber: Investec downgrades to hold, keeps 315p target. BAE Systems: Investec downgrades to hold, target cut from 360p to 290p Bovis Homes: Liberum Capital downgrades to hold. Cobham: Investec downgrades to sell, target cut
Read moreLondon midday: Economic data drives stocks lower
21st Jun 2012 11:30
- Chinese, Eurozone PMIs paint gloomy picture - Spanish banking-sector audits due today - Miners, oil stocks fall Disappointing economic data, a negative revision to US growth and rising bond yields in Spain combined to put downward pressure on UK stocks on Thursday, with the Footsie trading firmly
Read moreThursday broker round-up
21st Jun 2012 09:13
ARM Holdings: Investec maintains buy rating and 800p target. Ashtead: Jefferies ups target from 300p to 320p, buy rating retained. Bellway: Goldman Sachs downgrades to neutral. British Land: Societe Generale downgrades to sell. CRH: HSBC upgrades to overweight. Dignity: Goldman Sachs downgrades
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall on Chinese data, US growth
21st Jun 2012 08:40
- Chinese PMI falls to seven-month low - Fed extends 'the twist', lowers GDP forecast - Miners provide a drag in London Disappointing economic data from China and a downward revision to US growth dented the Footsie in early trading on Thursday, with mining stocks bearing the brunt of the sell-off.
Read moreAshtead raises guidance
21st Jun 2012 08:16
Ashtead Group, the construction equipment leasing firm, has reported record profits as tight cost control and strong demand in the US helped the firm beat analyst expectations. In the 12 months to the end of April revenue improved by 20% compared to the previous year, hitting £1,135m, reflecting a
Read moreThursday preview: Upbeat Dixons statement expected
20th Jun 2012 15:58
Thursday's results from electrical goods retailer Dixons will be the first on the watch of new Chief Executive Officer, Seb James. "Consensus expects pretax profits to be in the range £65m to £70m and we are at the top end," notes Panmure Gordon. "We expect that the numbers and accompanying presen
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Aquarius Platinum dives on operations halt
11th Jun 2012 14:59
Aquarius Platinum disappointed investors after saying that its operations with its Marikana Pooling and Sharing Agreement in South Africa are being put on hold as a result of the ongoing low PGM (platinum group metals) basket price. 'Trading conditions in the platinum industry are expected to remain
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