Broker tips HSBC, Shell, BP, Morrisons, Tullow, Aberdeen

14th Apr 2015 11:34

Investec has recommended investors to 'sell' shares of global banking giant HSBC, downgrading the stock from 'hold' after a "very disappointing" set of annual results last month. In spite of the weak results, which were some 33% below consensus, HSBC's UK shares have rebounded 10% over the past mont

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Oil major BP's rating lowered to 'neutral' over at Citigroup

14th Apr 2015 08:48

Oil major BP had its rating dropped to 'neutral' from 'buy' over at Citigroup on Tuesday as it believes 'value' is now reflected in the share price. "We think the market now better reflects the inherent value in BP. A good-news story around a self-help agenda, narrowing Russian discount rates and a

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London midday: Miners fall as investors take profits after recent record

13th Apr 2015 11:41

Hopes for further stimulus in China weren't enough to lift stocks in the mining sector on Monday, as risk appetite was scaled back in the aftermath of another record high for the Footsie. With both UBS and Citigroup making downwards revisions to their iron ore forecasts, mining stocks were sold off

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Monday broker round-up

13th Apr 2015 10:02

BP: Bank of America downgrades to neutral. BG Group: Investec upgrades to hold, Deutsche reiterates buy and 1,460p target. HSBC: Morgan Stanley upgrades to equalweight. IMI: Investec downgrades to hold. Fresnillo: Bank of America upgrades to buy. Anglo American: Citi downgrades to sell and decre

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London open: FTSE pulls back from all-time high as mining stocks decline

13th Apr 2015 08:22

London's FTSE 100 retreated from a fresh record on Monday morning as investors took profits ahead of a busy week for global financial markets, with shares in the mining sector in particular under pressure. The Footsie was trading 0.24% lower at 7,072.78 early on after settling at a new all-time clos

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Sector Movers: M&A chatter perks up oil and gas, tech stocks

8th Apr 2015 13:21

M&A chatter dominated trading in London, with oil and gas shares rising on the back of blue chip Royal Dutch Shell's successful bid for smaller FTSE 100 rival BG Group. At 15:40 BST on Wednesday, the FTSE 100 was marginally down 7.35 points or 0.11% at 6954.42 as the market soaked in news of BG Grou

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London midday: Stocks rise as BG Group takeover sparks M&A hopes

8th Apr 2015 11:54

London's FTSE 100 was fluctuating around the 7,000 level by Wednesday lunchtime as M&A activity gave sentiment a lift, with BG Group soaring as much as 40% after a takeover offer from Shell. Stocks across the oil and gas sector were rising strongly on speculation that Shell's move may spark a fresh

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Shell-BG Group takeover expected to spark M&A fever in oil sector

8th Apr 2015 09:37

Shell's £47bn takeover offer for BG Group not only sent shares in the natural gas outfit soaring on Wednesday, but gave other stocks in the sector a big boost. The deal sparked speculation that it may mark the start of a new round of industry consolidation, not seen since the late 1990s, as business

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London open: M&A hopes boost UK stocks as BG Group soars on Shell takeover

8th Apr 2015 09:02

A takeover offer for BG Group and hopes for more M&A activity were giving UK stocks a big lift on Wednesday morning, with the FTSE 100 retesting the key 7,000 level. BG Group had soared by nearly 40% in early deals after oil major Shell offered £47bn in cash and shares for the natural gas outfit, sp

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Oil and gas companies likely to reveal weaker first quarter data, Moody's says

8th Apr 2015 08:37

As oil and gas companies position themselves to publish trading data for the first three months of the year, Moody's says not many will come out with a strong set of figures. In a note to clients on Wednesday, the ratings agency stated that lower crude oil prices in the January to March quarter this

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Asco wins £100m contract with BP

23rd Mar 2015 10:44

Aberdeen-based oilfield services group Asco has won a North Sea support operations tender valued over £100m from BP. Asco will provide services for supply-base and warehouse operations, along with waste management and local freight forwarding services for the oil major. Craig Lennox, chief executiv

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London close: FTSE jumps 1.6% after business-friendly Budget, Fed meeting ahead

18th Mar 2015 16:41

Those expecting little market reaction to the Budget on Wednesday were probably left surprised, with stocks in the energy, financial, housing and consumer staples sectors leading the surge in London following George Osborne's statement. Dovish comments from Bank of England policymakers were also buo

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Sector movers: Oil stocks extend gains as Budget confirms North Sea tax breaks

18th Mar 2015 15:07

Confirmation by chancellor George Osborne of budgetary measures to ease the pain in the struggling oil industry gave energy producers and services stocks another big lift on Wednesday. The 2015 Budget, the last of the current parliament, revealed new tax allowances worth £1.3bn in total to stimulate

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Thursday broker round-up

12th Mar 2015 17:30

Asos: Cannacord Genuity raises target to 3,250p from 2,520p and reiterates hold. Cambian Group: Cannacord Genuity lifts target to 311p from 294p and reiterates buy. BP: JP Morgan raises target to 410p from 400p and reiterates underweight. Royal Dutch Shell: Investec reiterates hold. Supergroup: C

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London close: FTSE plunges 2.5% to seven-week low as commodity stocks tank

10th Mar 2015 16:33

A stronger US dollar and falling commodity prices led to a rout in the heavyweight energy and mining sectors on Tuesday, pushing the FTSE 100 down 2.5% to its lowest level in seven weeks. The Footsie ended the day down 173.63 points at 6,702.84, with ongoing concerns about Greece further weighing on

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