British American Tobacco director sells off LTIP share awards
4th Aug 2014 15:51
John Benedict ('Ben') Stevens, the head of finance at British American Tobacco, has sold nearly £0.7m-worth of shares in the cigarette maker. After being awarded 39,142 shares under the company's long-term incentive plan from 2011, Stevens offloaded 18,802 of them at a price of 3,486p each. Steven
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Carillion-Balfour, share sell-off, Lloyds Banking
3rd Aug 2014 18:04
Carillion plans to put Balfour Beatty in a "bear hug" to tempt Balfour's shareholders to support its attempted takeover, the Sunday Times said. Carillion last week scuppered a planned all-share merger when it backtracked on the agreed sale of Balfour's Parsons Brinckerhoff US design consultancy. Wit
Read moreAstrazeneca chairman add 6,000 shares
1st Aug 2014 16:43
Improved full year guidance ensured Astrazeneca shares proved popular with board members this week, with chairman Leif Johansson adding a further 6,000 shares to his stake in the drugs maker. The shares were acquired at SEK 502.95 per share, equal to 4,347p each. Purchases were also made by non-
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
1st Aug 2014 10:33
AstraZeneca: Deutsche Bank ups target price from 3950p to 4000p staying with its hold recommendation. Avacta: Numis places both its target price and its buy recommendation under review. Barclays: Berenberg upgrades from sell to hold with a target price of 220p. Bodycote: UBS shifts target price f
Read moreLondon midday: Earnings come in mixed as investors watch US data, Fed
31st Jul 2014 12:04
- Shell, BG Group and Intu lead the risers - Weir, Schroders and Lloyds fall - Afren drops after suspending directors - US data and Fed keep investors cautious techMARK 2,763.54 -0.57% FTSE 100 6,763.04 -0.15% FTSE 250 15,495.73 -0.86% London stocks were trading in the red for a second straight da
Read moreAstrazeneca raises guidance after better-than-expected Q2
31st Jul 2014 08:42
- Core EPS and revenue outlook raised - H1 revenue up 3%, Q2 revenue up 4% - Q2 PBT of $1.89bn Astrazeneca has lifted its guidance for the year after delivering a 4% increase in second quarter revenue to $6.4bn, ahead of expectations. Half year turnover at the drugs giant climbed 3%, driven by ga
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks flat ahead of US data, Fed decision
30th Jul 2014 11:42
- Corporate earnings receive mixed market reaction - Barclays, Travis Perkins and Astra rise - Antofagasta, ITV and Compass fall - US data, Fed decision in focus later on techMARK 2,783.73 +0.05% FTSE 100 6,803.99 -0.06% FTSE 250 15,675.20 -0.08% The FTSE 100 was trading broadly flat on Wednesday,
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip as investors digest earnings, Barclays rises
30th Jul 2014 08:26
- Barclays rises as investors digest wave of corporate earnings - Russian sanctions, Gaza and Argentina in focus - US economic data, Fed decision due out later on techMARK 2,785.48 +0.12% FTSE 100 6,797.66 -0.15% FTSE 250 15,671.08 -0.10% UK markets opened slightly lower on Wednesday as investors
Read moreAstrazeneca to gain rights to Almirall's respiratory franchise
30th Jul 2014 08:16
Astrazeneca has struck a deal with drug developer Almirall for the rights to the Spanish group's respiratory franchise. Under the agreement, which includes an initial consideration of $875m, the FTSE 100-listed company will gain the rights for the development and commercialisation of Almirall's ex
Read moreSector movers: Weak results, outlook from Glaxo sink pharma stocks
23rd Jul 2014 14:17
A slump in the share price of GlaxoSmithKline dragged the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector into the red on Wednesday as the drugmaker disappointed with a drop in quarterly sales and its full-year outlook. The company announced at midday that it has slashed its 2014 outlook as it reported a
Read moreBroker tips: GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Housebuilders
18th Jul 2014 12:23
Panmure Gordon said it is "not expecting fireworks" from GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) second-quarter results due out next Wednesday. "In light of our recent downgrade to forecasts due to exchange rate headwinds, we are expecting another tough quarter. China has not washed through completely either and g
Read moreExane BNP Paribas expects Pfizer to return with better offer for Astra
18th Jul 2014 11:16
Exane BNP Paribas sees at least a 50% chance that US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will return with a sweetened offer for UK rival AstraZeneca (AZN) following its failed takeover earlier this year. The bank said it expects another approach in November, when restrictions under takeover panel rules exp
Read moreCalls for US tax avoidance crackdown rock Shire
16th Jul 2014 16:16
Shares in takeover target Shire took a beating on Wednesday as US lawmakers demanded a crackdown on US companies basing themselves abroad to cut their tax bills. The British drug company's stock closed 79p down at 4786p in London as US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew urged leaders of the congressional
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Jul 2014 10:11
Abcam: Numis cuts target price from 510p to 490p and stays with its add rating. ARM Holdings: Credit Suisse reduces target price from 1200p to 1125p and maintains an outperform rating. AstraZeneca: Jefferies reduces target price from 4850p to 4790p maintaining a hold recommendation. BP: Credit Su
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Experian, Sports Direct, Shire
13th Jul 2014 12:24
Sir John Peace will suffer his third shareholder rebellion in three months this week when investors in Experian revolt over pay and succession plans at the credit checking company, the Sunday Times said. Peace will then have suffered rebellions at each of the three FTSE 100 companies he chairs. At B
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