Broker tips: Shell, BP, Ashtead, N Brown
10th Dec 2014 11:49
Deutsche Bank has downgraded its rating for Shell (to 'hold') but upgraded BP (to 'buy') as part of its review of the oil sector in light of the recent plunge in crude prices, now trading at their lowest levels in five years. "In a sector where all are under pressure there are no easy calls. Our bia
Read moreDeutsche Bank downgrades Shell, upgrades BP after oil-price plunge
10th Dec 2014 10:46
Deutsche Bank has downgraded its rating for Shell but upgraded BP as part of its review of the oil sector in light of the recent plunge in crude prices, now trading at their lowest levels in five years. "With the commodity down by some 45% and the sector's dividend yield moving towards 6% the tempta
Read moreUS Supreme Court refuses to hear BP challenge to Gulf payments
8th Dec 2014 17:13
The US Supreme Court has decided not to hear the case brought to it by BP over its liability for compensation claims resulting from the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, the oil giant could see the eventual bill for the spill rise significantly above the $9.7bn it had already provis
Read moreSector movers: Oil stocks under pressure as crude continues to slide
8th Dec 2014 15:27
An on-going slide in the price of oil was weighing on the oil and gas sector again on Monday with crude prices falling to their lowest level in five years. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for January delivery were down 2.4% at $64.27 a barrel by the afternoon in London, while Brent for January
Read moreFriday broker round-up
5th Dec 2014 09:48
Amino Technologies: N`+1 Singer ups target price from 107p to 141p and keeps a 'buy' recommendation. Barr (AG): Numis upgrades from 'hold' to 'add' with a target price of 659p. Jefferies reduces target price from 678p to 510p and downgrades to 'sell'. Betfair: JP Morgan increases target price from
Read moreSector movers: Mining and oil stocks drop as ECB holds off on stimulus
4th Dec 2014 15:09
Cyclical sectors such as mining and oil were the worst performers of the day on Thursday as the wider stock market weakened in the absence of stimulus measures from the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB held off from making a move at its meeting, saying instead that it would look at injecting sti
Read moreRepsol, Shell best-placed in low oil price environment, says Barclays
3rd Dec 2014 10:58
Large European oil companies will face a "material squeeze" on cash flows and earnings in 2015 after the recent plunge in Brent crude to below $70 a barrel (bbl), according to analysts at Barclays. Madrid-listed Repsol and London-listed Royal Dutch Shell are the best positioned in the current enviro
Read moreBP and Shell shares surge on merger speculation
2nd Dec 2014 16:27
The share prices of BP and Royal Dutch Shell surged on Tuesday afternoon on the back of market chatter that the two oil majors could be looking to merge. BP, the smaller of the two with a market capitalisation of £79bn, was up 4.6%, while Shell, which is valued at around £211bn, jumped 3.8%. Market
Read moreLondon close: Shares drop amid falling oil prices and economic woe
1st Dec 2014 17:11
Falling oil prices and downbeat manufacturing data in continental Europe sent London shares into reverse on Monday. The price of a barrel of Brent crude leaked more than 10% and US light crude was off 11% just after the close in London as Middle East and US oil chiefs continued their stand-off over
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Black Friday boosts retail, oil prices hit producers
28th Nov 2014 15:23
Retailers including Kingfisher and Sports Direct were performing well on hopes that Black Friday sales will be strong. Investors were also expecting the drop in oil prices to give consumer spending a boost, as falling petrol prices freed up disposable income. Also higher were the share prices of com
Read moreLondon midday: Crude stabilises but oil stocks continue to slide
28th Nov 2014 11:43
The UK stock market dropped on Friday as shares in the energy sector dropped after the recent slump in crude on concerns about a global oversupply of oil. Oil producers and energy services stocks were extending losses made the previous session with crude prices set to register their steepest weekly
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 falls as energy stocks extend losses after OPEC meeting
28th Nov 2014 08:41
Despite already having plunged the previous session, stocks in the energy sector were under further selling pressure on Friday in the aftermath of the OPEC meeting, pushing the FTSE 100 firmly into the red. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided on Thursday not to scale back their
Read moreSector movers: Oil stocks tank as OPEC reportedly maintains target, crude extends losses
27th Nov 2014 14:36
Concerns about falling oil prices hammered stocks in the energy sector on Thursday, with shares extending losses on reports that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OEPC) has held off from scaling back production at its meeting in Vienna. Brent futures for January delivery were down 3
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE flat as energy shares slump ahead of OPEC meeting
27th Nov 2014 11:33
Heavy falls in the energy sector kept a lid on gains for the FTSE 100 on Thursday as investors awaited the outcome of a pivotal meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna. London's benchmark index was up just 0.06% at 6,733 by midday. The index has traded broadly s
Read moreLondon open: Investors await pivotal OPEC meeting, Brent drops
27th Nov 2014 09:12
The UK stock market opened flat on Thursday as investors awaited a jam-packed day full of economic data, policymaker speeches and a pivotal meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). London's FTSE 100 index was down 0.1% at 6,722 in early deals. While US markets will be cl
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