Bunzl keeps buying
21st Mar 2011 07:09
Distribution group Bunzl has announced two acquisitions on opposite sides of the world. The company is to acquire Cannon Consumables from OCS Group UK. The acquired company is mainly engaged in the supply of cleaning and hygiene consumable products to OCS as well as to a number of other customers t
Read moreITV returns to Footsie
9th Mar 2011 19:34
ITV is returning to the FTSE 100 index in the latest quarterly changes. The television broadcaster was dropped from the FTSE 100 in September 2008 has risen by more than 75% over the past year and it promises to pay an interim dividend this year. ITV's underlying profit almost trebled to £321m i
Read moreNorth America boss offloads Pearson shares
2nd Mar 2011 17:47
Will Ethridge, chief executive of Financial Times publisher Pearson's North American education division, has sold a big chunk of shares in the company. He disposed of 33,000 American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) for $16.83 (£1,033p) a time or a total of nearly £350,000. News of the share sale comes
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Provident Financial, GKN, Fresnillo...
2nd Mar 2011 06:43
Long-term sceptics of doorstep lender Provident Financial say the big concern is Provident's capital position. The company again refused to give a figure for its surplus cash position - the concern being that it wouldn't be great news and could be as low as £20m rather than £50m or £60m that is ofte
Read moreLondon close: Shares in late dive as Mideast worries resurface
1st Mar 2011 16:43
The spectre of higher oil prices sent a chill down traders' spines late in the afternoon, sending shares plummeting into the red. The turmoil in the Arab World is behind the spike in crude, with a barrel for April delivery rallying towards $100 in New York. Worries over the possibility of protests
Read moreLondon afternoon: Hard going for Footsie
1st Mar 2011 14:53
It's proving a struggle in London with not long to go until the close, as Wall Street fails to inject much excitement and miners either see gains trimmed or disappear completely. Aerospace and vehicles engineer GKN has few friends. It bounced back into the black last year as all divisions bar aeros
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: HSBC, Senior, Bloomsbury...
1st Mar 2011 06:43
HSBC looks like a good hold with a high dividend yield of 3.9% and a forecast price earnings multiple for 2011 of 11.2. It is true that Asia offers fantastic earnings opportunities, but there are cheaper ways to gain that exposure and with European recovery priced so cheaply at the moment - Lloyds
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 rally falls short
28th Feb 2011 16:51
The top share index failed to sustain a rally that came on the back of strength in the US and closed a few points lower. A slight easing in the oil price lightened the mood. Crude had edged up in the morning session amid continuing turmoil in Libya and the spread of protests to the Gulf state of Om
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds Banking, AB Foods, Bunzl
28th Feb 2011 15:28
Japanese broker Nomura is still bullish on Lloyds Banking Group which tomorrow welcomes on board new chief executive António Horta-Osório. Last week's full-year profit was in line with the analysts' expectations, with lower revenues and slightly higher costs offset by a much lower impairment charg
Read moreBroker snap: Upgrades imminent at Bunzl
28th Feb 2011 15:25
Results for 2010 from Bunzl were better than Panmure Gordon had been expecting and the broker thinks the plastic disposables specialist will enjoy another good year this time round. Profits before tax of £276.2m were comfortably ahead of Panmure Gordon's projection of £268.8m, largely because the b
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie waxes as oil price wanes
28th Feb 2011 14:29
Shares staged a recovery over lunch, boosted by indications of a firmer start on Wall Street and a weakening of the oil price. Oil prices had edged up in the morning session amid continuing turmoil in Libya and the spread of protests to the Gulf state of Oman. Brent crude for April delivery was abo
Read moreLondon midday: Shares stuck lower
28th Feb 2011 12:05
Shares remain under pressure as the turmoil continues in the Arab world. Company updates have also been given a slightly frosty reception. Oil prices have edged up again amid continuing turmoil in Libya and the spread of protests to the Gulf state of Oman. Brent crude for April delivery was above $
Read moreLondon open: Oil worries hit blue chips
28th Feb 2011 09:02
London has opened lower on fears of unrest contagion in the Middle East and the possible impact that will have on global oil supplies. A cautious trading update from AB Foods and poorly received results from HSBC have added to the poor start. HSBC doubled its profits to over $19bn last year as bad
Read moreBunzl looks for more deals
28th Feb 2011 07:21
Plastics disposables giant Bunzl is to continue with its acquisition spree despite some concerns over the health of the global economy. Bunzl made nine acquisitions last year, costing £126m and adding £154m in annualised revenue. Revenue overall increased by 4%, from £4.65bn to £4.83bn, in 2010. Un
Read moreLondon close: Highest finish for FTSE 100 since 2008
14th Dec 2010 16:38
London's leading share index finished at its highest closing level in more than two years as buoyancy in the US helped shake Footsie out of its early sluggishness. Better than expected retail sales in the world's biggest economy in November heartened traders. Here, it was company updates that sen
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