Sector movers: Tobacco, financial stocks tumble as market retreats from election highs
12th May 2015 15:04
Most sectors were in the red as the London market pulled back from post-election highs on Tuesday with the FTSE 100 back below the 7,000 mark. At 15:51 BST, the blue chip index was trading down 103.87 points or 1.48% at 6925.98, with the bounce received from the election of a Conservative majority g
Read moreFriday broker round-up
8th May 2015 10:42
IMI: JP Morgan reiterates overweight. ITV: Westhouse Securities reiterates add and 288p target. Aviva: Canaccord Genuity reiterates buy and 600p target. Randgold Resources: Credit Suisse reiterates neutral and 5,050p target. UBS stays at buy with 5,600p target. Provident Financial: Canaccord Genu
Read moreThursday broker round-up
7th May 2015 16:39
Morrison: Shore Capital reiterates buy. Direct Line Insurance Group: Canaccord Genuity reiterates buy and 350p target. BAE Systems: Charles Stanley reiterates accumulate. GlaxoSmithKline: UBS reiterates buy and 1,700p target. Aviva: Panmure Gordon reiterates buy and raises target to 660p from 600
Read moreAviva posts rise in first-quarter value of new business
7th May 2015 07:46
UK insurer Aviva posted a 14% rise in the value of new business to £247m from £224m in the same period last year, supported by operations in the UK, Europe and Asia. The company said it would publish separate first-quarter figures for Friends Life, which it purchased last month. Group chief executi
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
5th May 2015 14:59
Lloyds: Exane, UBS and Jefferies reiterated their buy recommendation, with the latter bumping up its price target to 201p from 88p. BT Group: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform and Barclays its overweight stance, with price targets of 495p and 600p, respectively. Aviva: Barclays ups target to 632p
Read moreBarclays lowers European insurers on capital and earnings headwinds
5th May 2015 09:23
Barclays Capital has lowered its recommendation for the entire European insurance sector from 'neutral' to 'negative'. The broker said companies are facing "significant and growing" capital and earnings headwinds, particularly in parts of the life insurance sector. "These challenges are primarily a
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Aviva, Falkland Oil and Gas
14th Apr 2015 17:33
The Tempus column in The Times has labelled new-look Aviva as a 'buy' following the insurer's now-completed takeover of Friends Life, saying that the enlarged group is one of the most high-yielding stocks in the life insurance sector. After each one of the past three chief executive officers at Aviv
Read moreLondon close: Stocks retreat from record with investors nervous ahead of busy week
13th Apr 2015 16:29
Decent gains from financial stocks were outweighed by heavy falls in the mining sector on Monday as the UK equity market pulled back from a record high reached last week. Political uncertainty and nervousness ahead of busy week had prompted a bout of profit-taking in London, with the FTSE 100 down 0
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners hit by sector-wide downgrades
13th Apr 2015 14:08
Citigroup downgraded its stance on the mining sector on Monday to 'neutral' from 'bullish', saying that upside is "now capped" by weaker iron ore prices. Citigroup now expects iron ore price to $45 per tonne in 2015 and $40 per tonne in 2016. Consequentially, the bank lowered its ratings on BHP Bill
Read moreJP Morgan starts coverage on Aviva at overweight
13th Apr 2015 12:41
The combined Aviva and Friends Life Group (FLG) stands to benefit from higher cash-flows, a reduced risk profile and better growth prospects, according to analysts at JP Morgan Cazenove. In total, management now expects free cash flows of £1.4bn. That will help it raise its dividend by 10%/15%/20% o
Read moreLondon midday: Miners fall as investors take profits after recent record
13th Apr 2015 11:41
Hopes for further stimulus in China weren't enough to lift stocks in the mining sector on Monday, as risk appetite was scaled back in the aftermath of another record high for the Footsie. With both UBS and Citigroup making downwards revisions to their iron ore forecasts, mining stocks were sold off
Read moreAviva CEO turns down £3.4m bonus...but accepts £3m instead
10th Apr 2015 15:11
Mark Wilson, chief executive of insurance company Aviva, has elected not to receive his full £3.4m bonus after shareholder pressure. The FTSE 100 company, which is currently tying up the loose ends of its £5.6bn takeover of rival Friends Life, said that Wilson and finance director Tom Stoddard both
Read moreFriends Life partnership scheme sells nearly £164m of Aviva shares
31st Mar 2015 16:10
The partnership structure created by insurance group Friends Life has sold nearly £164m of shares in UK insurer Aviva, according to a report by Reuters on Tuesday. Dubbed as "Value Share", the partnership structure was created by Friends Life in order to reward its founders. "Value Share" sold 30.8
Read moreFriday broker round-up
27th Mar 2015 16:29
Aviva: Jefferies reiterates buy and ups target to 630p from 608p. RBS: UBS keeps at neutral and trims target to 375p from 386p. ITV: Exane reiterates add and lifts target to 288p from 267p. Wolseley: Exane reiterates underperform and lowers target to 2,660p from 2,730p. Hunting: JP Morgan Cazenov
Read moreFriday broker round-up
20th Mar 2015 15:33
Asos: Citi reiterates neutral. TSB Banking: Numis reiterates hold and 340p target. Aviva: Nomura reiterates buy and lifts target to 690p from 650p. WPP: Morgan Stanley reiterates buy and raises target to 1,625p from 1,400p. Tullow Oil: Barclays reiterates overweight and 550p target. William Hill
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