Broker tips: Barclays, IHG, Cable and Wireless Worldwide

17th Feb 2012 10:58

AlphaValue has downgraded its rating for UK lender Barclays from add to reduce, saying it is now "adopting a more cautious stance." The broker says that while underlying profits in the fourth quarter were fully in line wit expectations, "in the current economic context, we have decided to adopt a

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Broker snap: AlphaValue downgrades Barclays to reduce

17th Feb 2012 10:24

AlphaValue has downgraded its rating for UK lender Barclays from add to reduce, saying it is now "adopting a more cautious stance." The broker says that while underlying profits in the fourth quarter were fully in line wit expectations, "in the current economic context, we have decided to adopt a

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Friday broker round-up -UPDATE

17th Feb 2012 09:09

Ashmore: HSBC downgrades to underperform from neutral. Schroders: Citi downgrades to sell from neutral. Barclays: AlphaValue downgrades to reduce from add and lowers target to 243.9p from 283.4p. Tesco: Nomura reduces target from 500p to 430p, buy rating unchanged. InterContinental Hotels: UBS

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London open: Stocks rise on Greek optimism

17th Feb 2012 08:24

- Footsie rises as Greek optimism boosts buying. - Resources stocks track commodities prices higher. - Record underlying earnings for Anglo American. London's blue chips recovered after yesterday's fall with the Footsie rising strongly in early trading on Friday on reports of measures by European l

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London close: Losses pared after US data, Greece still a concern

16th Feb 2012 16:35

- Losses pared after US data. - Miners track metals prices lower. - European leaders weighing up ECB role in Greek aid. London's blue chip index finished in the red on Thursday but well off its intraday lows after US economic data came in stronger than expected in the afternoon. Nonetheless, concer

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FTSE 100 movers: Reed Elsevier leads risers, while banks and miners fall

16th Feb 2012 14:51

Information solutions provider Reed Elsevier jumped into pole position after seeing underlying revenues increase 2% in 2011, with all five business areas contributing to growth except the Exhibitions division, which was held back by biennial cycling. Nomura said today that the group's valuation - wi

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OFT tells banks to play fair

16th Feb 2012 14:23

Do better by personal account customers or you'll be forced - that was the message behind a speech given by head of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). John Fingleton said competition in the banking system has not functioned well for too long, despite a string of investigations into personal banking,

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London midday: Stocks off lows but still firmly in the red

16th Feb 2012 11:40

- Greek bailout hit by more delays. - Moody's reviews ratings on 114 European financial institutions. - Real Eurozone GDP forecasts slashed in ECB survey. The FTSE 100 has come off its intraday low of 5,831 but still remains firmly in the red as delays in Greece, a warning to banks from Moody's an

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London open: Stocks weighed down by Greece, Moody's

16th Feb 2012 08:35

- Greek bailout hit by more delays. - Moody's reviews ratings on 114 European financial institutions. - BAE Systems tumbles after results. London's blue chip index sank in early trading on Thursday, with just five stocks on the rise, as the Greek bailout faces fresh delays. Meanwhile, Moody's warn

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Moody's reviews 114 financial institutions, nine in UK

16th Feb 2012 07:42

Moody's Investors Service has announced rating actions affecting no less than 114 financial institutions in 16 European countries as the sovereign debt crisis continues to take its toll. The credit ratings agency aptly points out that the "adverse and prolonged" impact of the euro area crisis make

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London close: Stocks finish down with Greece in focus

15th Feb 2012 16:38

- Oil rises on supply concerns. - PBOC to keep buying Eurozone debt. - Samaras to honour terms of new package. Despite an earlier rise, the FTSE 100 index slumped in afternoon trade to finish in the red as strong performance by banks was offset by some heavyweight stocks that went ex-dividend. All

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FTSE 100 movers: Ex-dividend stocks provide a drag

15th Feb 2012 14:46

Drugs giant AstraZeneca plunged into bottom spot, followed by sector peer GlaxoSmithKline and big oil players BP and Shell, after all four went ex-dividend today. Shares of ITV took a hit following a downgrade from Peel Hunt. The broker said that with the shares of the broadcaster having gained ste

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London midday: Banks provide a boost

15th Feb 2012 11:45

- Banks lead the risers on the Footsie. - PBOC to keep buying Eurozone debt. - Venizelos foresees bailout resolution. UK stocks were slightly higher by midday after China pledged to continue buying Eurozone bonds, easing concerns of the region's debt crisis. Banks were the best performers of the d

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London open: Stocks rise as China pledges to keep helping Eurozone

15th Feb 2012 08:19

- PBOC to keep buying Eurozone debt. - Eurogroup meeting cancelled. - Essar leads the risers early on. UK stocks rose in early trading on Wednesday, rebounding after yesterday's decline, with European indices following Asian markets higher after China pledged to continue buying Eurozone debt. Spea

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London close: Stocks finish lower on macro concerns

14th Feb 2012 16:24

-Banks, miners weigh on Footsie. -Markets digest sovereign downgrades from Moody's. -Investors await Eurogroup meeting tomorrow. UK stocks finished in the red on Tuesday as concerns over the state of the Eurozone continued to weigh on sentiment. Trade was volatile as mid-morning gains on the back o

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