AstraZeneca halts share repurchases
1st Oct 2012 14:06
Shares in drugs giant AstraZeneca were hit in afternoon trading on Monday after the company revealed that it has suspended its share repurchase programme. After trading in the blue in morning trade, shares swung into negative territory shortly after the announcement, trading down 1.93% at 2,898p by
Read moreLondon pre-open: GCC and Weidmann in the spotlight
12th Sep 2012 07:30
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down four points from yesterday's close of 5,792, taking the lead from markets in Europe. On today's schedule, the highest court in Germany (GCC) will announce its ruling on whether the country considers its participation in the permanent European Stabil
Read moreAstra taps the bond market
12th Sep 2012 07:10
Anglo-Swedish drugs giant AstraZeneca has tapped the bond market with an issue of notes in two tranches. The group has successfully issued $1bn of 7-year fixed rate notes with a coupon of 1.95% and $1bn of 30-year fixed rate notes with a coupon of 4%. The proceeds of the issue will be used for deb
Read moreFriday broker round-up
7th Sep 2012 09:03
ASOS: Jefferies keeps buy rating and 2,199p target. AstraZeneca: Morgan Stanley upgrades to equal weight. Aviva: AlphaValue downgrades to add, target lifted from 385p to 389p. Barclays: Deutsche Bank upgrades to buy. Dixons: Nomura keeps neutral rating and 20p target. Legal & General: Credit Su
Read moreWednesday broker round-up -UPDATE
29th Aug 2012 09:38
888 Holdings: Investec upgrades from sell to buy target hiked from 18p to 95p. Advanced Medical Solutions: Singer Capital Markets upgrades to buy, target lifted from 80p to 82p. AstraZeneca: AlphaValue downgrades to reduce. Bunzl: Jefferies raises target from 835p to 860p, underperform rating kep
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes flat after long weekend
28th Aug 2012 16:48
- Markets await Jackson Hole symposium - Miners lower on concerns over Japan - Chemring drops after profit warning. Concerns about global economic growth were weighing on sentiment on Tuesday, meaning that the FTSE 100 was little changed by the close despite some volatile swings between gains and
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks erase losses after Spanish auction
28th Aug 2012 11:47
- Spanish bond auction lifts sentiment - Miners lower on concerns over Japan - Chemring drops profit warning. London's blue-chip index was trading broadly flat by midday, having erased all of the morning's losses, after a solid Spanish bond auction eased concerns about the heavily indebted Eurozone
Read moreLondon open: Global concerns dent stocks early on
28th Aug 2012 08:39
- Japanese concerns weigh on sentiment early on - G4S slips after first-half results, job cuts - Kingfisher lower after broker downgrade. The FTSE 100 slipped on Tuesday morning following a long weekend on concerns over the Japanese economy and uncertainty in the Eurozone. "Another big factor in t
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small decline expected in early trading
28th Aug 2012 07:30
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down three points from Friday's close of 5,777 following the bank holiday weekend and details which emerged last night in relation to the European Central Bank, which is said to be 'still working' on its bond-buying programme. Casting a downbeat mood acr
Read moreAstra names Roche executive Soriot as new CEO
28th Aug 2012 07:08
Pharmaceuticals group AstraZeneca, which has been on the search for a new boss for four months, has appointed Pascal Soriot as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), joining the firm from Swiss rival Roche. Soriot, who has been the Chief Operating Officer of Roche's pharmaceuticals division since 2010,
Read moreSector movers: Marks and Spencer lifts retailers after takeover rumours
24th Aug 2012 15:32
Retailers were on the up on Friday afternoon after Marks and Spencer jumped on rumours that private equity titan CVC Capital Partners is considering a takeover offer for the High Street group. It is thought that CVC is looking at an offer and has approached executives both inside and outside the fi
Read moreMonday broker round-up -UPDATE
20th Aug 2012 08:17
AstraZeneca: JPMorgan Cazenove downgrades to underweight, target lifted from 2,800p to 2,970p. Balfour Beatty: JPMorgan Cazenove downgrades to neutral. Barclays: Citigroup reiterates buy and 330p target price. ENRC: Credit Suisse downgrades to neutral, target cut from 500p to 450p. FirstGroup: J
Read moreLondon close: Stocks maintain gains despite mixed data
14th Aug 2012 17:06
- Eurozone GDP in line - German and French data beats expectations - UK inflation rises in July Some better-than-expected economic growth data from Germany and France helped UK stocks hold on to gains on Tuesday; although London's benchmark index, the FTSE 100, was trading within a narrow range of
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Standard Life soars as profit leaps
14th Aug 2012 14:53
Life assurance behemoth Standard Life leapt into the top spot after it saw profits rise in the first half after a strong performance in the UK, its biggest market. Operating profit before tax was up 15 per cent with assets under administration three per cent higher than the year before. United Uti
Read moreLondon midday: United Utilities leads stocks higher
14th Aug 2012 11:33
- UK CPI inflation rises in July - Eurozone GDP falls in line with forecasts - United Utilities up on takeover speculation The Footsie had moved broadly sideways in morning trade on Tuesday, holding on to the gains made in the opening hour, as investors digested a barrage of economic data from home
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