Broker tips: Barclays, AstraZeneca, Whitbread
26th Apr 2012 12:49
Nomura has maintained its neutral rating and 268p target price for UK lender Barclays saying that while the first-quarter results were slightly better than expectations, the second-quarter outlook is 'deteriorating'. Barclays said that while the first-quarter performance was "encouraging", "the con
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie flat as AstraZeneca provides a drag
26th Apr 2012 11:51
- Footsie flat after strong start - AstraZeneca drops after disappointing first-quarter results - Domestic economic data comes in mixed After a strong rise early on, the FTSE 100 had erased gains to trade broadly flat by lunchtime after a mixed reception to a barrage of company results and trading
Read moreBroker snap: Astra's guidance cut comes as a surprise, says Jefferies
26th Apr 2012 11:11
Jefferies has maintained its cautious stance on pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca after the group missed consensus revenue estimates by eight per cent in the first quarter. Revenues came in well below market expectations, falling 11% to $7.349bn, compared with Jefferies forecasts of $7.58bn and con
Read moreLondon open: Footsie rises after barrage of results
26th Apr 2012 08:36
- Unilever, Shell, Whitbread, Barclays rise after results/updates - Astra, Croda, Admiral provide a drag - Fed expects growth to 'pick up gradually' The FTSE 100 was heading for its third consecutive rise on Thursday with some well-received results from Unilever, Royal Dutch Shell, Whitbread and Ba
Read moreThursday broker round-up - UPDATE
26th Apr 2012 08:36
Admiral: Oriel Securities retains sell rating and 740p target. AstraZeneca: Panmure Gordon maintains buy rating and 3,600p target. Barclays: Nomura reiterates neutral rating and 268p target; Exane BNP Paribas keeps outperform rating and 300p target; Oriel Securities keeps buy rating and 285p targe
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small rise expected in early trading
26th Apr 2012 07:39
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 13 points from yesterday's close of 5,719, following comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday that US monetary policy was 'more or less in the right place', indicating further quantitative easing in the near-term is unlikely.
Read moreProfits plunge and CEO to go at AstraZeneca
26th Apr 2012 07:07
Pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca said profits fell by more than a third in the first quarter after a number of patents ran out and it was hit by tough market conditions. This led it to downgrade its full year earnings prospects. The company also announced that Chief Executive David Brennan would
Read moreThursday preview: Barclays, Astra, Shire and Shell
25th Apr 2012 18:23
Barclays kicks off the banking results season on Thursday, but it will have plenty of competition for headline space from other heavyweights reporting on the same day, including pharmaceuticals giants Astra and Shire, plus Anglo-Dutch titans Royal Dutch Shell and Unilever. The results statement fro
Read moreMonday broker round-up
23rd Apr 2012 08:56
ARM Holdings: JP Morgan Cazenove upgrades from underweight to neutral, target lifted from 400p to 540p. AstraZeneca: Barclays Capital upgrades from underweight to equal weight, target upped from 3,200p to 3,250p. Aviva: Goldman Sachs upgrades from neutral to buy. Barclays: Nomura reiterates neutr
Read moreAstraZeneca buys US biotech firm Ardea Biosciences
23rd Apr 2012 07:09
Pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca has announced that it has agreed to acquired California-based biotechnology company Ardea Biosciences, whose lead product 'Lesinurad' (RDEA594) is currently in Phase III development as a potential treatment for the chronic management of hyperuricaemia in patients w
Read moreWeek Ahead: Barclays kicks off banking results season
20th Apr 2012 10:57
Barclays kicks off the banking results season on Thursday, while the pharmaceuticals giants are also putting the finishing touches to their trading statements, with Glaxo, Astra and Shire all set to give first quarter updates. Anglo-Dutch Footsie heavyweights Royal Dutch Shell and Unilever will be
Read moreFriday broker round-up
13th Apr 2012 10:09
Aggreko: UBS ups target from 2,500p to 2,550p, buy rating unchanged. AstraZeneca: Jefferies maintains hold with a 3,050p target. Burberry UBS lifts target from 1,370p to 1,580p, neutral recommendation maintained. Chariot Oil & Gas: Merchant Securities initiates coverage with a buy rating and 402.
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Vedanta, AstraZeneca, Green Dragon Gas
11th Apr 2012 06:55
Questor digs into the numbers for Indian mining giant Vedanta Resources. It had a shocker yesterday with iron ore production down 27 per cent, leading to a sell-off. But Questor makes the case for the group, which has interests in lead, silver, zinc, copper and, after a protracted deal with Cairn En
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Randgold rises on Mali settlement
10th Apr 2012 15:18
Gold miner Randgold Resources leapt into the top spot after it welcomed the announcement of a political settlement in Mali which will see the lifting of sanctions against the country by its West African neighbours. The stock was bucking the trend though with miners in general leading the decline a
Read moreSector movers: Oil services stocks drop, defensives in demand
10th Apr 2012 15:09
Drugs and utilities stocks were among the few making gains on Tuesday afternoon, as investors sought 'safer', more defensive assets on the back of some gloomy employment data out from the US on Friday. GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca were providing a lift in the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology se
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