London open: Stocks rise but Barclays limits gains

31st Oct 2012 08:44

- Barclays falls after unveiling two new US probes - US stock market expected to open today - Asian data lifts the mood UK stock markets edged higher in early trading on Wednesday despite some poorly-received third-quarter figures from Barclays and Next early on, The New York Stock Exchange is ex

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Barr & Britvic merger deadline extended again

31st Oct 2012 07:08

The deadline for the conclusion of merger talks between soft drinks makers AG Barr and Britvic has been extended again. The Takeover Panel has consented to an extension of this deadline until 17:00 on November 28th 2012. JH

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Sector movers: SABMiller and Britvic drag beverage stocks lower

18th Oct 2012 14:41

Beverage stocks were in negative territory on Thursday afternoon with drinks groups SABMiller and Britvic providing a drag. Lager group SABMiller was trading 1.5% lower despite seeing good growth in lager volumes shipped across most regions in the first half of its financial year. Weighing on the s

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Britvic Fruit Shoots itself in the foot - UPDATE

18th Oct 2012 08:54

Talks with Scottish soft drinks rival AG Barr are still in progress, Britvic said in a trading statement which revealed the impact of the Hertfordshire firm's Fruit Shoot product recall earlier this year. Revenue in the year to the end of September fell 2.6% from the year before to £1,256.4m, altho

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Wednesday broker round-up - UPDATE

3rd Oct 2012 09:06

African Barrick Gold: Westhouse Secuirites raises target from 464p to 495p. AG Barr: Panmure Gordon keeps hold rating and 440p target. AstraZeneca: Panmure Gordon downgrades from buy to hold, target cut from 3,100p to 3,000p. Barclays: UBS downgrades from buy to neutral, 235p target unchanged. B

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Deadline extended in AG Barr/Britvic merger talks

3rd Oct 2012 07:13

Britain's two major independent soft drinks makers, AG Barr and Britvic, have asked the Takeover Panel for more time to discuss their potential merger. The pair had been obliged to make an announcement about whether they will or won't tie the knot by 17:00 on Wednesday, October 3rd, but this deadli

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Wednesday newspaper round-up: First Group, Nuclear Reactors, AG Barr

3rd Oct 2012 06:34

FirstGroup's contract to run the West Coast Mainline has been cancelled by the Government due to "significant technical flaws" in the bidding process, which will be re-run. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said that the flaws "stem from the way the level of risk in the bids was evaluated". "Mi

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London close: Miners hit as no sign of gear-change in China

24th Sep 2012 16:41

After reaching a nadir at midday, equities pared losses in the afternoon session, with defensive stocks enjoying a bit of support. The morning had been characterised by gloom over China's economy and differences of opinion among the heavy hitters in the Eurozone. Chinese central-bank advisor Song

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London open: Bumi battered by concerns at subsidiary

24th Sep 2012 08:39

London has started the week on a dull note, with renewed concerns over the single currency region weighing on sentiment following France and Germany's failure to agree a schedule for initiating shared oversight of the region banking sector. Bumi plummets Mining giant Bumi said it was investigatin

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Second half off to strong start at AG Barr

24th Sep 2012 07:58

Irn-Bru maker AG Barr saw first half profits decline but bucked the market trend in increasing volumes during the period. Profit before tax and exceptional items slipped to £14.9m in the six months ended July 28th, from £16.2m in the corresponding period of last year. Broker Panmure Gordon had fore

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AG Barr's profits lose their fizz

24th Sep 2012 07:09

Scottish soft drinks firm AG Barr turned in half-year pre-tax profits behind some estimates, as it confirmed that merger talks with bigger rival Britvic are still in progress. Profit before tax and exceptional items slipped to £14.9m in the six months ended July 28th, from £16.2m in the correspondi

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Week Ahead: AG Barr, Aberdeen Asset, TUI

21st Sep 2012 08:09

Results from Irn-Bru maker AG Barr are due out on Monday, raising hopes that there may soon be an announcement regarding the Scottish firm's plans to take over its larger Chelmsford-based rival, Britvic. Panmure Gordon reckons the firm's interim results are likely to be overshadowed by the merger

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Sector movers: Miners man the barricades

20th Sep 2012 16:33

Mining stocks were under the cosh after data released overnight in China revealed that manufacturing activity in the People's Republic had contracted for the eleventh month in succession. China´s manufacturing sector Purchasing Manufacturers' Index (PMI) for the month of September came in at 47.8 o

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London close: Markets celebrate ECB bond-buying plan

6th Sep 2012 16:41

- ECB unveils bond-buying details - Stocks surge in afternoon trade, helped by US data - BoE maintains rates and QE Global stocks markets rocketed higher on Thursday afternoon after European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi revealed details of the bank's bond-buying plan. London's Footsie

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FTSE 250 movers: Lonmin leads miners higher

6th Sep 2012 15:51

South Africa-focused platinum miner Lonmin rose strongly on Thursday on reports that it has reached a 'peace accord' with its striking miners following a wave of protests over the last few weeks. ?? The mining sector as a whole was firmly higher today on hopes over the global economy after the Euro

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