Sector movers: Housing stocks rise, insurers fall after Budget
19th Mar 2014 14:03
Household goods and home construction stocks were making gains on Wednesday in the aftermath of George Osborne's 2014 Budget, in which he unveiled a number of stimulus measures to boost activity in the housing market. However, the life insurance sector was trading in the red as investors reacted ne
Read moreSector movers: Strong results from Prudential boost life insurers
12th Mar 2014 14:40
Strong results from Prudential gave the life insurance sector a lift on Wednesday after the company impressed with a decent increase in the dividend as profits came in at the top end of analysts' estimates. Even though Prudential was the only life insurance stock to register gains in London, its w
Read moreLondon close: FTSE ends marginally lower on Ukraine fears, retail figures
11th Mar 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 3.93 at 6,685.52 - Ukraine tensions cause further concern - UK retail sales disappoint - Industrial production rises techMARK 2,851.60 +0.23% FTSE 100 6,685.52 -0.06% FTSE 250 16,481.45 +0.18% UK stocks eased back from earlier losses to end today's session only just in the red,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Sports Direct in top spot as banks head lower
11th Mar 2014 14:48
Sports Direct was the day's top riser, gaining strongly after shareholders approved a huge 65m pound bonus plan for founder Mike Ashley. The payout is dependent on the company achieving earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £330m in 2014 and £410m in 2015 - the l
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks near four-week low, supermarkets fall
11th Mar 2014 11:37
- Markets at lowest in nearly four weeks - Russia said to be drawing up counter offer to US - Supermarkets fall after Kantar data techMARK 2,841.55 -0.13% FTSE 100 6,674.07 -0.23% FTSE 250 16,448.94 -0.01% After a quiet start, UK stocks fell into the red by Tuesday lunchtime with retailers and ba
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
11th Mar 2014 09:03
Aviva: RBC Capital takes target price from 400p to 550p upgrading to neutral. Nomura increases target price from 489p to 625p and reiterates a buy recommendation. Balfour Beatty: Citi raises target price from 220p to 310p maintaining a neutral rating. Goldman Sachs reduces target price from 335p to
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge higher ahead of UK data
11th Mar 2014 08:31
- FTSE 100 up after hitting lowest since February 14th - Mark Carney, UK data in focus - Inchcape up after record results techMARK 2,851.92 +0.24% FTSE 100 6,692.77 +0.05% FTSE 250 16,506.44 +0.34% UK markets edged higher on Tuesday after hitting their lowest levels in nearly a month the previous
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aviva rises after brokers hike target price
7th Mar 2014 14:33
Insurance group Aviva continued to rise after analysts at Barclays and JPMorgan lifted their price targets for the stock today. Yesterday saw the share price soar as investors celebrated a better-than-expected set of 2013 results after its turnaround under Chief Executive Mark Wilson delivered encou
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pare losses as investors await US non-farm payrolls
7th Mar 2014 11:43
- Markets await non-farm payrolls - 150k gain expected by analysts, jobless rate to hold steady - Broker comments move stocks amid lack of earnings - Heavyweight miners fall techMARK 2,880.97 -0.22% FTSE 100 6,780.62 -0.12% FTSE 250 16,648.67 -0.14% UK markets had trimmed earlier losses by Friday
Read moreBroker tips: HSBC, Royal Mail, Aggreko, Aviva
7th Mar 2014 11:39
Goldman Sachs has removed HSBC from its 'conviction buy' list and reduced its profit forecasts following the bank's 2013 results last week. Goldman maintained a 'buy' recommendation for the stock, but lowered its target price to 740p from 900p. Analysts have cut their estimates for 2014 to 2017 on
Read moreBarclays lifts Aviva target, but stock 'no longer cheap'
7th Mar 2014 10:54
Barclays has lifted its target price for insurance group Aviva from 380p to 415p after the company beat expectations with its annual results, though the bank still kept an 'underweight' recommendation on the stock on valuation concerns. The shares jumped by over 8% on Thursday as investors celebrat
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip as investors await US jobs data
7th Mar 2014 08:28
- Markets await non-farm payrolls - 150k gain expected by analysts, jobless rate to hold steady - Lack of corporate earnings - HSBC, Vodafone fall on broker comments techMARK 2,873.63 -0.48% FTSE 100 6,766.04 -0.33% FTSE 250 16,620.60 -0.31% UK markets opened slightly lower on Friday morning ahead
Read moreLondon close: Stocks glide higher amid multiple data and corporate releases
6th Mar 2014 16:59
- Focus on BoE and ECB decision - Aviva leads risers - US jobless numbers come in below consensus techMARK 2,887.46 -0.40% FTSE 100 6,788.49 +0.19% FTSE 250 16,671.75 +0.35% UK stocks ended the day on a positive note, as investors digested central bank decisions from the Bank of England (BoE) and
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aviva rises after 2013 results impress
6th Mar 2014 14:49
Shares in insurer Aviva soared after investors celebrated a better-than-expected set of 2013 results as its turnaround under Chief Executive Mark Wilson saw encouraging progress. Operating profits rose 6% year-on-year to £2,049m, some 3% ahead of the consensus estimate of £1,988m. Panmure Gordon w
Read moreBroker tips: Aviva, Schroders, Rolls-Royce, Imagination Technologies
6th Mar 2014 13:05
The share price of insurance giant Aviva soared on Thursday after the company beat expectations with its 2013 results, with Panmure Gordon providing a lift as it upgraded its rating on the stock from 'hold' to 'buy'. The broker highlighted Aviva's internal debt position which had reduced from £5.1b
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