Ashtead raises full-year expectations after strong H1
8th Dec 2011 07:21
Ashtead, the plant hire group, expects full-year profits to be "substantially ahead" of expectations after seeing its underlying pre-tax profit soar nearly 200% for the first half ended 31 October. The firm, which generated underlying revenues of £575.5m, up 24% on the same period the previous yea
Read moreThursday preview: ECB, BoE, Mulberry, Ashtead
7th Dec 2011 15:15
In focus on Thursday will be the interest rate decisions from both the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE). With the BoE expected to freeze rates at 0.5% and leave its stimulus plans unchanged, an announcement by the ECB will likely take centre-stage given the severity of the c
Read moreThursday broker round-up - UPDATE
17th Nov 2011 09:45
Intertek: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform rating and 2,250p target - "Focus List stock". Imperial Tobacco: Nomura downgrades from buy to reduce, target cut from 2,400p to 2,150p. British American Tobacco: Nomura raises target from 3,020p to 3,320p, buy rating maintained. Experian: Credit Suis
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Greene King, McBride, Johnson Service
7th Sep 2011 06:33
Greene King raised £200m in May 2009 to fund expansion. Greene King has spent £70m to £80m a year out of earnings on doing up its existing estate. Much of the rights issue cash went on premium pubs in London and food-led outlets elsewhere. The shares, not far from where they were a year ago, sell on
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Ashtead's full-year predictions see share price grow tall
6th Sep 2011 14:26
Plant hire group Ashtead saw its share price soar 19% after announcing that it has raised full-year guidance after a strong first quarter performance. Underlying revenue was up 12%, or 21% on a constant exchange rates (CER) basis in the three months to the end of July from a year earlier, while pr
Read moreBroker snap: 'Very, very good results' for Ashtead, says Singer
6th Sep 2011 11:48
Ashtead's first quarter numbers have confirmed the bullish trend seen in the results of its US competitors, according to Singer Capital Markets, which has reiterated its buy rating on the plant hire group. The firm - which rent lifts, generators, diggers and pumps - reported a 21% increase in reven
Read moreAshtead raises guidance after stonking quarter
6th Sep 2011 07:39
Plant hire group Ashtead has raised full-year guidance after a strong first quarter performance. Underlying revenue was up 12%, or 21% on a constant exchange rates (CER) basis in the three months to the end of July from a year earlier, while pre-tax profit was up 136% on a like-for-like basis. Th
Read moreTuesday preview: McBride, Ashtead
5th Sep 2011 16:53
During the credit crunch when the newspapers were full of stories of shoppers trading down, McBride, the company that provides a lot of 'own brand' goods to retailers, had a spell as a stock market darling, but things over the last year have been tough for the company, with rising costs and a tough
Read moreAfrican Barrick boss opens account
3rd Aug 2011 16:29
African Barrick Gold's finance boss Kevin Jennings has bought shares worth a total of £74,370, opening his account a week after the company reported strong results for the second quarter. Jennings's acquisition of 15,000 shares at 495.80p is his first purchase of shares in the firm. He has be
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Premier Farnell, Victoria, Sodastream
17th Jun 2011 06:32
Premier Farnell's share price had risen by more than 50% since the start of 2010 before yesterday's 9% fall, so a correction was probably inevitable as soon as the electronics distributor undershot the market's forecasts. Though Asian markets such as China, sales up 14%, and India, up 50%, continue
Read moreLondon close: Miners dominate fallers as global worries continue
16th Jun 2011 16:45
Global growth worries dampened the markets on Thursday as all but a few constituents on the FTSE 100 finished in the red. While the Footsie edged higher in the late afternoon, it still closed under the 5,700 level, a level not seen since mid-March. FTSE 100 closed down 44 at 5,699. A lack of clarit
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Laird rockets after approach
16th Jun 2011 15:39
Shares in Laird rocketed after the electronic components manufacturer rejected an all-cash 185p-a-share takeover proposal from US rival Cooper Industries. Laird makes antennae for mobile phones and other telecommunications-related electronic products. Cooper, which employs 2,100 people in the UK, ho
Read moreLondon midday: Greek worries hit stocks
16th Jun 2011 12:16
Stocks are firmly under the cosh still as worries over the situation in Greece continue. Greek prime minister George Papandreou is to seek a vote of confidence in the Greek parliament today, as talks about a much needed rescue package from the EU continue to drag on. Despite all the worries though
Read moreLondon open: Shares dive as Greek crisis drags on
16th Jun 2011 08:33
Shares have taken a dive as the Greek debt crisis continues to set traders' nerves on edge and after US shares fell following some disappointing economic data from the world's biggest economy. Greek prime minister George Papandreou is to seek a vote of confidence in the Greek parliament today, as t
Read moreUS rental growth lifts Ashtead
16th Jun 2011 07:16
Plant hire group Ashtead reported full year pre-tax profit in line with expectations and said it is confident demand for rentals will provide further growth. Pre-tax profit rose to £31m for the year to the end of April compared to £5m in 2010, after a 10% increase in revenue from US rental operatio
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