Broker tips: Standard Chartered, IAG, Aviva
1st Aug 2011 12:53
Nomura says that Standard Chartered's premium valuation is justified, and keeps its buy rating and 1,800p target price on the stock ahead of its first half results on 3 August. The broker expects the emerging markets banking giant to deliver $3.4bn in pre-tax profit on revenues of $8.65bn, represen
Read moreBroker snap: Panmure reiterates buy on Aviva ahead of results
1st Aug 2011 12:45
Panmure Gordon keeps its buy rating on Aviva ahead of its first half results on Thursday 4 August, noting recent press speculation that its Asian assets are on the block. "Comments in today's FT which suggest that Aviva might be looking to dispose of its Asian operations should come as no surprise,
Read moreFormer AIA boss eyes Aviva assets, FT says
1st Aug 2011 10:23
The former chief executive of Asian life insurance group AIA is seeking private equity backing to bid for non-core emerging markets businesses of FTSE 100-listed insurer Aviva, the Financial Times quotes people familiar with his plans as saying. Mark Wilson left AIA last year following Aviva's UK p
Read moreThursday tips round-up: BATs, Morgan Crucible, Aviva...
28th Jul 2011 06:46
British American Tobacco has tended to forge ahead of its smaller quoted rival Imperial Group, and this week's results have proved no exception. Imps, mired in a price war in Spain, reported a 3 per cent decline in cigarette sales in its nine-month trading update. BAT came in with a 1 per cent decli
Read moreLondon close: US debt uncertainty persists, Footsie finishes under
25th Jul 2011 16:42
The Footsie trimmed earlier gains as markets in the US recovered after a weak start. Despite falling as low as 5,893 on Monday, London's blue chip index finished firmly above the 5,900 mark, as giants BP, ARM, BG and GlaxoSmithKline rose ahead of their interim results due tomorrow. While stocks on
Read moreLondon close: Footsie closes higher, despite afternoon sell-off
22nd Jul 2011 16:31
After a solid start on the back of positive developments in Europe, the Footsie trimmed gains in the afternoon as investors looked to lock in profits following a strong finish on Thursday. Despite touching as high as the 5,967 level before midday, the Footsie steadily declined to close at 5,935. Me
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Financials mixed as investor lock in profits
22nd Jul 2011 14:18
The financial sector was mixed on Friday, despite rising strongly early on following yesterday's Eurozone deal to bailout Greece. Shares soared on Thursday after the region's leaders agreed a new aid package for Greece and an overhaul of the Eurozone sovereign rescue fund. While RBS bucked the tre
Read moreAviva takeover rumours resurface
22nd Jul 2011 10:47
Vague and unconfirmed takeover chatter regarding insurance behemoth Aviva surfaced late Wednesday night, sending its shares up nearly 3%. Two European peers - Allianz and Zurich Financial - were cited to be potential suitors for the general insurer and may be mulling over a possible approach worth
Read moreLondon close: BSkyB, financials provide a drag
11th Jul 2011 16:37
The Footsie dropped over 1% lower on Monday as satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) and European debt-contagion fears weighed on sentiment. Shares of BSkyB took a tumble as the potential takeover by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp hangs in the balance. The UK government said it was pre
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: BSkyB leads fallers, Int'l Power rises
11th Jul 2011 15:11
Shares of BSkyB dropped by6% and was the top loser on the blue chip index on Monday as the potential takeover by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp hangs in the balance. The UK government said it was preparing to ask telecoms regulator Ofcom for additional advice. The Australian government's proposal on cl
Read moreLondon close: BSkyB leads slide after US jobs disappointment
8th Jul 2011 16:49
Stocks finished firmly in the red after disappointing jobs data from the US, with satellite broadcaster BSkyB leading the slide as the fallout from the News of the World phone hacking scandal continues. Newspaper group News Corporation, which hopes to take over the 60% of BSkyB it doesn't already o
Read moreLondon midday: BSkyB drags FTSE 100 lower
8th Jul 2011 12:07
The top share index is oscillating between gains and losses, with satellite broadcaster BSkyB the heaviest faller after the fallout from the turmoil at its suitor News International. News Corporation, which hopes to take over the 60% of BSkyB it doesn't already own, last night dramatically announc
Read moreLondon open: Financials lead gains
8th Jul 2011 08:40
Financial stocks were leading the risers on Friday morning, as the Footsie built on gains made on Thursday. Banking peers Barclays, Lloyds and RBS were among the best performers. Following suit were insurers Old Mutual, Aviva, Resolution, Prudential and RSA Insurance. Both Hammerson and British La
Read moreGoldman reshuffles recommendations on insurers
28th Jun 2011 08:50
Goldman Sachs made important changes to its view on several of the main UK life assurance companies on Tuesday, according to reports, due to what it seems to think is a trend towards a greater commoditisation of the industry´s products. Thus, it has lowered Aviva to 'neutral' from 'buy' and Standa
Read moreLondon midday: Trichet comments heap more gloom
23rd Jun 2011 12:19
Gloomy comments from European Central Bank (ECB) President Jean-Claude Trichet have sent stocks further into the red. Trichet warned that the Greek debt crisis threatens to infect banks. Recycled packaging firm DS Smith is in demand after it overcame a sharp rise in input costs to grow pre-tax pr
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