Sector movers: HSBC leads banking stocks lower
25th Apr 2014 15:31
Banking stocks were under pressure on Friday with global lender HSBC leading the decline after a broker downgrade. HSBC was trading 2% lower at 600.5p in the afternoon session after Morgan Stanley analysts lowered their recommendation on the stock from 'equal weight' to 'underweight'. The US bank
Read moreBroker tips: Barclays, Smith & Nephew, Pearson, Ophir
25th Apr 2014 12:32
Investec has maintained a positive stance on Barclays, recommending investors to 'buy' the stock ahead of the bank's first-quarter results and 'Strategic Update' next month. "For a 'cheap' stock, you don't actually need that much to drive a reasonable share price reaction. We think the 'absence of
Read moreInvestec sees upside at Barclays ahead of Q1 results
25th Apr 2014 12:31
Investec has maintained a positive stance on Barclays, recommending investors to 'buy' the stock ahead of the bank's first-quarter results and 'Strategic Update' next month. The broker kept its 295p target price for the shares. Investec raised its forecasts for the bank on Thursday after an annual
Read moreRBS forced to back down from double fixed-pay plan
25th Apr 2014 08:54
Majority state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland has axed a plan to hand out bonuses worth double fixed-pay after the British government refused to back it. RBS said on Friday that it would not ask investors to back a variable remuneration rate of up to 200% of salaries, or two-for-one ratio, at its ann
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Archbishop of Canterbury, AstraZeneca, Scotland
25th Apr 2014 07:17
The Archbishop of Canterbury joined the prime minister in a staunch defence of Christian Britain yesterday, as Nick Clegg called for an end to the link between church and state. The Most Rev Justin Welby said he had found it "quite baffling" to see the vociferous response to David Cameron's "moving"
Read moreBarclays faces investor outrage over bonuses - UPDATE
24th Apr 2014 13:27
Investors led by Standard Life Investments (SLI) gave banking group Barclays a bloody nose by voting against its controversial bonus policy on Thursday. Shareholders at the bank's annual meeting in London cast 23.99% of votes against its remuneration report in protest at its decision to increase bo
Read moreBarclays investors slam bonuses at AGM - ALERT
24th Apr 2014 13:12
Barclays faces anger at annual general meeting over 2013 bonus pool: - Barclays investor Standard Life Investments says to vote against 2013 remuneration at heated meeting in London - Standard Life says Barclays has not convinced investors that the 2013 bonus pool was in the best interests of inve
Read moreBroker tips: AstraZeneca, Barclays, BSkyB, Hammerson
24th Apr 2014 13:09
Panmure Gordon has kept a 'hold' recommendation for AstraZeneca after a mixed first quarter from the pharmaceutical group, but said there were some 'bright lights' in the results such as its heartburn treatment Nexium. Analyst Savvas Neophytou said that Astra's portfolio performed well overall, "wi
Read moreInvestec expects no litigation charges in Barclays' first quarter results
24th Apr 2014 11:36
Ahead of Barclays' AGM, this afternoon, analyst Ian Gordon at Investec writes that: "As a generality, we regard the Barclays AGM as a circus which can be safely ignored." However, they quickly add that today's first quarter trading update was more detailed than expected and "appears to be a shade ah
Read moreShore Capital rates Barclays as a 'buy' despite capital concerns
24th Apr 2014 10:18
Shore Capital has retained its 'buy' stance on Barclays but has highlighted readacross from reports that German banking peer Deutsche Bank is under pressure from investors to raise more capital. According to the Financial Times, Deutsche Bank may be asked by European regulators to raise fresh equit
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
24th Apr 2014 09:19
AMEC: UBS ups target price from 1145p to 1200p maintaining a neutral rating. ARM Holdings: HSBC raises target price from 1080p to 1120p and keeps an overweight rating. Associated British Foods: HSBC increases target price from 280p to 310p and upgrades from neutral to overweight. Deutsche Bank rai
Read moreBarclays sees challenging conditions in FICC unit - UPDATE
24th Apr 2014 09:18
Barclays expects a 'small reduction' in adjusted profit before tax, the lender said in a brief trading update provided ahead of this morning's Annual General Meeting, which is set to start at 11:00. For Ian Gordon, analyst at Investec, the above amounts to 'a small beat'. On the negative side
Read moreThursday preview: Investors waiting on AstraZeneca and Barclays
23rd Apr 2014 18:52
Thursday will be another big day in capital markets in London. In particular, traders will be braced for the latest first quarter earnings figures out from drugs giant AstraZeneca. Analysts at Credit Suisse are forecasting core (based on their own definition) earnings per share (EPS) of $1.22 for t
Read moreBarclays 'may slash 7,500 investment bank jobs', says broker
23rd Apr 2014 11:59
Barclays could slash 7,500 investment banking jobs as part of an overhaul of its business following various scandals, a broker said on Wednesday. Barclays could cut about 5,000 of the roles at its European fixed-income, currency and commodity business, according to a research note by analysts at Sa
Read moreLondon close: Barclays rises ahead of strategy update
17th Apr 2014 16:57
- Ukraine turmoil continues as clashes turn deadly - Investors cautious ahead of four-day weekend - US corporate earnings in focus - Barclays rises as investors look forward to strategic update Market Movers techMARK 2,679.96 +1.07% FTSE 100 6,625.25 +0.62% FTSE 250 15,907.91 +1.03% UK stocks fini
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