London open: Markets flat as stocks digest GDP figures
14th Feb 2013 08:37
Markets opened broadly flat on Thursday morning, pausing after hitting a fresh five-year high the day before, as investors showed caution on a busy day for economic data. Overnight, it was announced that Japanese gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.1% in the fourth quarter, down 0.4% on an
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Feb 2013 08:09
African Barrick Gold: Deutsche Bank cuts target price from 410p to 340p, while staying with its hold recommendation. Investec reduces target price from 405p to 315p and downgrades from buy to hold. JP Morgan lowers target price from 370p to 290p and downgrades to underweight. AG Barr: Barclays down
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Japanese GDP, John Lewis, Shale oil...
14th Feb 2013 06:47
Japan remained mired in recession in the last three months of 2012 as the economy defied experts' expectations for a mild rebound, a development that could help insulate Tokyo against criticism over stimulus policies that have shaken up global currency markets. Government data indicated that Japanes
Read moreLondon close: Footsie jumps one per cent as economic data impresses
24th Jan 2013 17:09
Better-than-expected economic data lifted the FTSE 100 over one per cent higher on Thursday afternoon, as markets shrugged off disappointing results from the world's largest technology company, Apple. American jobless claims and a US manufacturing survey from Markit came in better than forecasts to
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Chemring rises on full-year results
24th Jan 2013 15:36
Defence tech group Chemring was on the rise after presenting its full-year results. While the company recorded a sharp drop in profits, they were in line with expectations which 'counts as a positive given the recent history', according to analysts at Investec. Transport firm FirstGroup rose after
Read moreLondon midday: Markets boosted by economic data from Europe and China
24th Jan 2013 11:20
London's benchmark index was registering decent gains by Thursday lunchtime as earlier concerns about disappointing earnings from Apple were outweighed by better-than-expected economy data from Europe and China. Investors began today's session in a cautious fashion with the FTSE 100 struggling to
Read moreLondon open: Markets flat as Apple disappoints
24th Jan 2013 08:26
UK stocks opened broadly flat on Thursday morning as a disappointing earnings report from the world's largest technology company weighed on sentiment early on. US tech titan Apple saw shares tumble after the closing bell in New York last night after its fiscal first-quarter results missed forecasts
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
24th Jan 2013 08:20
Ashtead Group: Jefferies raises target price from 450p to 525p and keeps a buy recommendation. Aviva: Berenberg cuts target price from 480p to 470p, while retaining a hold recommendation. JP Morgan revises target price from 424p to 443p and maintains an overweight rating. Barr (AG): Societe Genera
Read moreA.G. Barr forecasts seven per cent growth in yearly revenue
24th Jan 2013 08:06
Soft drinks manufacturer A.G. Barr has unveiled a pre-close trading statement forecasting encouraging results for the full year 2012, underpinned by growth across the group's core brands. The company, which is expected to merge with Britvic in February pending approval from the Office of Fair Tradi
Read moreNew date provided for proposed Britvic-Barr merger decision
16th Jan 2013 09:02
A decision about the proposed all-share merger between soft drinks manufacturers A.G. Barr and Britvic is expected to be announced on February 13th, according to a revised timetable advised by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Today's announcement comes shortly after Britvic announced that the OFT
Read moreLondon midday: Financials lead markets higher
14th Jan 2013 11:46
UK stocks were trading cautiously on Monday morning ahead of the official start of US corporate earnings season. However, markets were registering slight gains after dovish comments from a member of the Federal Reserve Stateside. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans said that the
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat as earnings season kicks off
14th Jan 2013 08:34
London's benchmark index opened more or less flat in early trading on Monday ahead of the official start of corporate earnings season in the US. "Attention remains on corporate earnings this week; in particular the banks, with Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan among others due to report. With earnings ex
Read moreLondon pre-open: Positive start to the year set to continue
14th Jan 2013 07:33
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 14 points from Friday's close of 6,122, extending its strong start to the year. This follows a broadly flat finish in the US on Friday evening, ahead of what is a big week for the banks as the fourth-quarter earnings season kicks into gear. In UK co
Read moreBarr and Britvic merger delayed
14th Jan 2013 07:07
Drinks firms AG Barr and Britvic will have to wait until at least February to see if their merger will get the thumbs up from the regulator as the Office for Fair Trading (OFT) continues to probe the deal. The OFT is looking at whether the merger could result in a "substantial lessening of competit
Read moreBritvic and Barr merger passes shareholder vote
8th Jan 2013 13:38
Shareholders at Britvic and AG Barr have given the thumbs for the companies to merge. The firms expect the merger to go through on January 30th 2013. Under the terms of the merger Britvic shareholders will receive 0.816 AG Barr shares for every Britvic share held. This means Britvic shareholders
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