UBS cuts Barclays target price but re-rating still expected
4th Mar 2015 10:41
UBS has trimmed its target price for Barclays from 305p to 295p following the bank's results this week, but kept a 'buy' stance on the stock telling investors to expect a "continued re-rating". The stock's current valuation remains "unchallenging", according to UBS. It said Barclays delivered a mix
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
4th Mar 2015 10:16
Electrocomponents: Peel Hunt takes up to a buy. Pearson: Morgan Stanley keeps at overweight, target reiterated at 1,500p. StanChart: Shore Capital stays at buy. Moneysupermarket: UBS lifts to buy, raises target to 260p from 240p. Rightmove: Citi raises to neutral. Barclays: Deutsche keeps at buy
Read moreLondon close: Mixed data, weak earnings pull FTSE below 6,900
3rd Mar 2015 16:33
A mixed batch of economic data and weak corporate earnings gave investors the excuse to take profits on Tuesday, as markets continued to retreat from their recent record highs. London's FTSE 100, which had started the day in positive territory, swung sharply into the red by mid-morning and extended
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays and Glencore fall after annual results, Taylor Wimpey higher
3rd Mar 2015 13:44
Shares in Barclays fell after the bank set aside a total of £1.25bn for provisions to cover litigation costs related to ongoing probes into mis-selling PPI and rigging foreign exchange rates. The news came as Barclays reported a pre-tax loss of £532m for the fourth quarter. Commodities trader and mi
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pull back as corporate earnings disappoint
3rd Mar 2015 12:08
After coming close to another record high early on, UK stocks flatlined by Tuesday lunchtime as corporate earnings received a cool reaction from investors. The FTSE 100 was down 0.1% at 6,934.70 by midday, pulling back after reaching a high of 6,963.55 early on as Barclays, Glencore, Ashtead and Tra
Read moreBroker tips: Barclays, Travis Perkins, Intertek, Kingfisher, Consumer staples
3rd Mar 2015 11:51
A handful of brokerages continue to rate Barclays stock as 'buy' despite Tuesday's results from the bank that contain a huge increase in provisions to cover the costs of legal fees relating to scandals. Despite concerns in the market that rising litigation costs could dent the group's profitability
Read moreLondon open: Taylor Wimpey and Ashtead drive markets higher, Barclays falls
3rd Mar 2015 09:11
The FTSE 100 was closing in on another record high on Tuesday morning as impressive German data and gains from Taylor Wimpey and Ashtead helped markets higher. However, upside was limited as Barclays and Travis Perkins underwhelmed with their annual results, while the heavyweight mining sector inche
Read moreLondon pre-open: Positive start expected after record close on Wall Street
3rd Mar 2015 07:50
UK stocks are expected to open with modest gains on Tuesday following a decent performance on Wall Street the night before, as investors watch corporate earnings on a quiet day for economic data. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 10 points higher than Monday's close of 6,940.64. Both the
Read moreBarclays raises provisions to cover legal costs for scandals
3rd Mar 2015 07:10
Barclays has set aside a total of £1.25bn for provisions to cover litigation costs related to ongoing probes into mis-selling PPI and rigging foreign exchange rates. The bank announced a fresh £750m provision to cover any costs in settling with regulators following a probe into foreign exchange rate
Read moreLondon close: FTSE pulls back from record as miners dip into the red
2nd Mar 2015 16:37
UK stocks inched lower on Monday after hitting a new intraday record high during the session as markets were underwhelmed by a raft of positive manufacturing data and a rate cut in China. London's FTSE 100, which rose to a new all-time peak of 6,974.26 early on, finished 6.02 points lower (-0.09%) a
Read moreTuesday preview: Barclays reports full-year results
2nd Mar 2015 15:54
Barclays will hog the spotlight on Tuesday as it reports its full-year results. Analysts forecast the lender will report a pre-tax profit of £5.3bn, compared to a restated £4.9bn in 2013. The bank is expected to set aside more money for potential fines for foreign exchange fines and to add to its c
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks rebound, British Land boosted by acquisition
2nd Mar 2015 13:18
Banking stocks such as Barclays and RBS topped the risers as share prices rebounded after a weak outing last week following some poorly-received annual results. 2014 figures from Barclays, the last UK lender to report, are due out on Tuesday. Intertek, the product testing and certification outfit, w
Read moreLondon midday: Investors take profits after FTSE hits fresh intraday record
2nd Mar 2015 11:41
After a bright start, UK stocks dropped into the red by Monday lunchtime as investors assessed a raft of economic data and took profits after markets reached new record highs. The FTSE 100 was down 0.01% at 6,945.68 by midday, erasing gains after rising to a new intraday all-time high of 6,974.26 in
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks hit new record high on China rate cut
2nd Mar 2015 08:52
UK stocks rose modestly to a new record high on Monday morning on the back of gains in the banking and mining sectors, tracking a strong performance on Asian markets overnight after a rate cut in China. The FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 6,969.46 within the opening hour, having risen as high as 6,972.01 in
Read moreSector movers: Lloyds and StanChart gain but banking sector edges lower
27th Feb 2015 15:14
The UK banking sector was slightly lower on Friday as well-received results from Lloyds and decent gains from Standard Chartered were offset by falls in the share prices of RBS, HSBC and Barclays. The sector was down around 0.5% on average. UK lender Lloyds was trading 1.1% higher despite 2014 resu
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