FTSE 250 movers: Persimmon update lifts housebuilders
7th Jan 2010 12:58
Housebuilder Persimmon saw a rise in the number of home sales on which it achieved completions in the second half of 2009, but said it remains cautious on mortgage availability and the general economic situation. Peer Taylor Wimpey is leading the way, with Barratt Developments, Berkeley Holdings a
Read moreLondon close: Oils and pharmas shine
22nd Dec 2009 17:09
London equities added to the previous day's gains although a late pull-back ensured that rises were not as extensive as yesterday. Oil stocks and pharmaceuticals led the way higher. Cairn Energy enjoyed another strong day after it announced yesterday that it would start its drilling programme in G
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares off the top
22nd Dec 2009 14:28
Leading shares came off the top over the lunch time period but most are still sporting reasonable gains, leaving the Footsie still within striking distance of its high for the year. Oil stocks are driving the index higher, particularly Cairn Energy and Royal Dutch Shell. Cairn Energy is enjoying
Read moreBroker tips: Housebuilders, Hunting
22nd Dec 2009 12:12
Goldman Sachs has turned bullish on two of the UK's biggest housebuilders, even though it sees little prospect of growth in house prices in 2010. The housebuilding sector has underperformed the market by around a quarter in the last three months, leaving the likes of Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Developm
Read moreLondon midday: Shell leads advance
22nd Dec 2009 11:50
With two of its five most heavily weighted constituents notching up rises in excess of 2%, the FTSE 100 had a good morning session. Royal Dutch Shell and GlaxoSmithKline are the two heavy hitters boosting the blue-chip index's performance. Oil giant Shell gets a boost from firmer oil prices while d
Read moreBroker snap: Housebuilders set to write up land values
22nd Dec 2009 11:35
Goldman Sachs has turned bullish on two of the UK's biggest housebuilders, even though it sees little prospect of growth in house prices in 2010. The housebuilding sector has underperformed the market by around a quarter in the last three months, leaving the likes of Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Developm
Read moreBroker tips: AMEC, Berkeley, HMV
7th Dec 2009 13:06
Contractor Amec unveiled plans last week to more than double its earnings to over 100p per share by 2015, a feat which UBS thinks is well within reach. 'The new target is inclusive of acquisitions and organic growth, and on realistic assumptions on acquisitions we believe the 100p target is likely
Read moreBroker snap: Berkeley in different class, says Citi
7th Dec 2009 13:03
The continued absence of land value write-downs at Berkeley Group underlines the reputation of the housebuilder as a shrewd purchaser of land, Citigroup believes. The company announced a slide in interim profits to £52m from £80m a year earlier, with the average selling price tumbling to £299,000 f
Read moreWeekend tips round-up: Amec, Petropavlovsk, Berkeley
6th Dec 2009 10:45
On Friday, Amec revealed its strategy for the next five years. The group will continue its transformation into a specialist energy and mining services company, with an increased focus on the sub-sea engineering, underground mining, renewables and water sectors. Management aims to more than double
Read moreLondon close: Rate rise fears fuel late slide
4th Dec 2009 17:17
Euphoria over the better than expected US jobless figures proved short-lived as week-end profit taking took hold and miners headed underground. Metal prices weakened in the afternoon session, taking mining stocks with them, as some pundits suggested that with the better than expected jobless figure
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks bounce into the blue after US jobs
4th Dec 2009 14:20
Share prices have surged higher as the keenly watched US monthly jobs figures showed a big drop in the number losing their jobs and an unexpected drop in the level of US unemployment. Miners are leading the rally with Rio Tinto the best performer. Other gainers include ENRC and oil explorer Cairn E
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Berkeley falls back
4th Dec 2009 13:36
Berkeley is the heaviest faller after fewer sales and lower prices sent profits at the London and south-east focused housebuilder tumbling in the latest six months. Housebuilder Bellway slips even after saying ales volumes for the first six months to 31 January 2010 will be 10% better than the same
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks treading water
4th Dec 2009 12:17
Share prices are stabilising at lower levels as investors wait on the big US jobless announcement due at 1:30pm. Banks are on the back foot after a lukewarm note on the sector from JP Morgan. The US bank is particularly down on part-nationalised bank Royal Bank of Scotland, which it advises its cli
Read moreLondon open: Weak start for blue chips
4th Dec 2009 08:45
Footsie has fallen back in early dealings after a dip in the US last night while the bank bonus row has spread to Lloyds. Shares in Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland are both under pressure. A report in the Times this morning suggested 200 Lloyds executives will get a bonus of 80% of their salary f
Read moreLondon pre-open: Early fall expected
4th Dec 2009 07:37
Footsie is expected to slip back in early dealings after a fall in the US last night and aas traders mull statements from the housebuilding sector. Housebuilder Bellway predicts sales volumes for the first six months to 31 January 2010 will be 10% better than the same time last year, with an operat
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