Thursday tips round-up: Imagination, AstraZeneca, Sepura
23rd Jun 2011 06:50
Imagination Technologies takes licensing payments when a chipmaker adopts its technology and then royalties when the completed chips are used in their end product, a mobile phone, tablet or whatever. The problem for the market is twofold. One, the shares are on a multiple that, even for the sector,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Man Group leads the recovery
22nd Jun 2011 15:33
Hedge fund manager Man Group is the high riser of the day, pulling the Footsie back into positive territory, after some kind words from Credit Suisse. Man is "moving in the right direction", according to the Swiss brokerage, who upgraded the firm from a 'neutral' to an 'outperform' rating. "Clearly
Read moreAstra sells Swedish dental unit
22nd Jun 2011 08:46
Pharmaceuticals behemoth AstraZeneca is to sell its dental and healthcare Astra Tech business to DENTSPLY for around $1.8bn in cash. In 2010, Astra Tech recorded worldwide revenue of $535m and normalised earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $105m, with net assets valued a
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 slumps after US jobs shock
1st Jun 2011 16:38
After a directionless start, the top share index fell deep into the red ahead of the close, with some unfavourable US economic data denting sentiment. Rio Tinto held out to finish with gains. The mining giant announced today that it is to establish a large-scale presence in commodity hungry China
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Ex-div stocks provide a drag
1st Jun 2011 14:07
National Grid, Vodafone and Marks & Spencer were among the blue chips that went ex-dividend today, providing a drag over the lunchtime period. Mining giant Rio Tinto is trading higher after announcing today that it is to establish a large-scale presence in commodity-hungry China with the formation
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks seeking direction
1st Jun 2011 12:16
Stocks are uncertain which way to move after a rally that brought the top share index past the psychologically important 6,000 point barrier yesterday. Rio Tinto is doing its bit to keep the FTSE 100 close to that level. The mining giant announced today that it is to establish a large-scale presenc
Read moreLondon open: Footsie slips into red in early trading
1st Jun 2011 08:29
The Footsie has opened up in the red, with ex-div stocks National Grid, Marks and Spencer and Vodafone providing an early drag. Plumber's merchant Wolseley has taken a hit after it saw like for like (LFL) revenue growth of 6% in its third quarter. This represents a slow-down from the LFL growth ra
Read moreSector movers: Miners fall on commodities sell-off
12th May 2011 15:16
Unsurprisingly, the miners are the worst performing stocks on Thursday, as commodity prices continue to decline. Fresnillo, Antofagasta, Vedanta Resources, Kazakhmys and Lonmin are among the fallers on the FTSE 100. Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation is lower even though it reported a positive
Read moreBroker tips: Sainsbury, AstraZeneca, Imperial Tobacco
12th May 2011 12:58
Even though Sainsbury's full-year results were in line with expectations, Nomura thinks there's better value - and growth - elsewhere in the supermarket sector, and downgrades its sales forecasts or 2012. Nomura trims its like-for-like sales forecasts (excluding fuel, including VAT) for the current
Read moreBroker snap: Brilinta suggests significant upside for Astra
12th May 2011 12:44
UBS has upgraded drug giant AstraZeneca to a 'buy', from 'neutral', and adds the stock to its 'Key Calls' list on upcoming catalysts, such as the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision on the group's Brilinta drug. The broker highlights consensus estimates for the impact of the FDA decisi
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish ahead of Royal Wedding
28th Apr 2011 16:46
Stocks finished flat heading into the long weekend, though there was no shortage of company updates for investors to digest. Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread shrugged off the economic difficulties said to be plaguing Britain as it upped its dividend by 17% and announced plans to step up
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Shire and Astra take a hit
28th Apr 2011 15:25
Drug groups Shire and AstraZeneca are lower are reporting their first quarter results. While Shire posted a strong rise in revenues and profits in the period, sentiment seems to have been hit by sector peer Astra which cited US healthcare reform measures and generic competition as the reasons why it
Read moreBroker snap: Generic competition to continue at AstraZeneca
28th Apr 2011 12:36
Matrix says it has "significant concerns" related to AstraZeneca's ability to deliver revenue growth amid generic competition, and keeps its 'reduce' rating on the drugs giant after its first quarter results. The group reported on Thursday that sales in the first three months of the year were down
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 seeking direction after updates
28th Apr 2011 12:05
A stream of updates from big-hitters such as Shell and Unilever has failed to give the top share index any overall sense of direction. Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread shrugged off the economic difficulties said to be plaguing Britain as it upped its dividend by 17% and announced plans
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge higher
28th Apr 2011 08:31
Shares have got off to a firmer start as the stream of company updates continues. Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread shrugged off the economic difficulties said to be plaguing Britain as it upped its dividend by 17% and announced plans to step up expansion plans. Revenues in the year to 3
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