London open: Miners on the march
9th Dec 2010 08:44
The leading share index is posting good gains this morning, with the mining sector on the march as metals prices advance. Platinum specialist Lonmin leads the FTSE 100 higher. Copper miners Antofagasta, Kazakhmys and ENRC are also in demand, as are the Australian iron ore duo Rio Tinto and BHP Bill
Read moreAshtead hikes Q2 profit
9th Dec 2010 07:17
Growing sales in North America lifted second quarter sales at equipment hire firm Ashtead but it warned end markets remain fragile. Underlying pre-tax profit rose 49% to £18.1m in the second quarter ended 31 October 2010. Revenue advanced 9% to £245.2m. Statutory pre-tax profit was down 14% at £9
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Sports Direct, Greene King, DS Smith...
8th Sep 2010 06:40
The main reasons for the discount on Sports Direct's shares are the two ongoing investigations into the retailer's activities, involving the Serious Fraud Office and Office of Fair Trading. While the retailer is co-operating fully with the inquiries, there remains the prospect of a surprise, such
Read moreLondon close: Winning streak ends
7th Sep 2010 16:48
London's leading share index gave up a winning streak that lasted all last week and continued yesterday. The day started sluggishly and continued in that vein after a lower start on Wall Street. Takeover talk provided much of the excitement, with bid speculation about engineering group Invensys an
Read moreLondon afternoon: Bid rumours relieve the gloom
7th Sep 2010 14:02
It's a case of 'another day, another bid rumour' for London, with bid speculation about engineering group Invensys and oil explorer Tullow Oil providing a bit of cheer to a subdued market. The rumour-mongers are suggesting that the UK engineering conglomerate could be the subject of a 350p per sh
Read moreBroker tips: Ashtead, Dechra, ProStrakan
7th Sep 2010 13:04
First quarter figures from equipment rental firm Ashtead should generate full year earnings estimate upgrades, Singer Capital Markets believes, with the outlook for the company looking promising. "First quarter profit before tax of £11.9m significantly exceeded consensus, and our own very bullish e
Read moreBroker snap: Upgrades expected at Ashtead
7th Sep 2010 13:03
First quarter figures from equipment rental firm Ashtead should generate full year earnings estimate upgrades, Singer Capital Markets believes, with the outlook for the company looking promising. "First quarter profit before tax of £11.9m significantly exceeded consensus, and our own very bullish e
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: De La Rue falls after taking £35m hit
7th Sep 2010 12:23
Shares in banknote printer De La Rue fell after it said that some of its employees had been deliberately falsifying paper specification test certificates for banknotes. The problems will impact pre-tax profits by at least £35m for the first half of the year, the company said. Shipment of affected b
Read moreLondon midday: Winning streak in danger
7th Sep 2010 12:02
Footsie ended the morning making its second attempt of the day at a rally but the blue-chip index remains in negative territory and in danger of seeing its winning streak in September come to an end. Expectations of a lower start on Wall Street as the US returns to work after the Labour Day holiday
Read moreLondon open: Rising streak under threat
7th Sep 2010 09:00
London's seven-day run of gains is under threat as blue chips are struggling in the early exchanges. Barclays is lower after it confirmed Bob Diamond, head of its investment banking arm, Barclays Capital, will take over as chief executive when John Varley steps down at the end of March next year. D
Read moreLondon pre-open: Weak start threatens winning streak
7th Sep 2010 07:31
London's seven-day run of gains could end Tuesday as experts predict a bout of selling when trading starts shortly. Futures prices indicate a 17-point drop for the FTSE 100 when business gets underway. There's little by way of company reports to get traders excited, but all eyes will be on the US l
Read moreAshtead zooms past expectations
7th Sep 2010 07:19
Equipment rental group Ashtead trumped the market's profit expectations handsomely in the first quarter of its financial year. Underlying profit before tax in the three months ended 31 July was £11.9m, up 35% (18% at constant exchange rates) from £8.8m in the company's first quarter of 2009. That
Read moreTuesday preview: Whitbread, Ocado, Retail Sales Monitor
6th Sep 2010 16:22
Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread issues an interim management statement on Tuesday covering its second quarter. Broker Panmure Gordon thinks "the risk to forecasts clearly lies on the upside given the strong momentum established in the first quarter, positive industry data points and co
Read moreUK MARKET TALK ROUNDUP: BROKERS COMMENTS
8th Jul 2010 07:58
Broker comments in the UK today. Compiled by Dow Jones Newswires Markets Desk, [email protected] Contact us in London. +44-20-7842-9464 [email protected] 0658 GMT [Dow Jones] HSBC initiates coverage of European business services stocks. Says there has been some considerable vola
Read moreMARKET TALK: HSBC Starts European Business Services Stocks
8th Jul 2010 07:58
0658 GMT [Dow Jones] HSBC initiates coverage of European business services stocks. Says there has been some considerable volatility in the sector as investors wrestle with recession, the speed of the recovery and the possibility of a relapse in demand. "Through the clamour of much macroeconomic nois
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