London pre-open: Stocks set to fall as UK election voting kicks off
7th May 2015 07:32
Stocks are set for a lower open on Thursday as UK voters head to the polls in one of the most unpredictable elections in decades. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 25 points lower than Wednesday's close of 6,933.74 with UK markets expected to track losses in the US and Asia overnight. Ana
Read moreBT hits full year earnings target thanks to cost cutting in fourth quarter
7th May 2015 07:08
Annual results from BT Group beat City forecasts as the UK telecoms giant added a record number of new broadband customers in the fourth quarter. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 7% in the fourth quarter to £1.79%, ahead of forecasts and producing EBITDA of
Read moreBT Group "ideally placed" says Barclays of its new teclo top pick
5th May 2015 15:31
Barclays reinstated its coverage on BT Group with an 'overweight' rating and 600p price target. "We see BT as ideally placed to drive positive revenue growth in a consolidating and converging telco market, monetizing data by exploiting its investments in fibre and long term evolution," said Barclays
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
5th May 2015 14:59
Lloyds: Exane, UBS and Jefferies reiterated their buy recommendation, with the latter bumping up its price target to 201p from 88p. BT Group: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform and Barclays its overweight stance, with price targets of 495p and 600p, respectively. Aviva: Barclays ups target to 632p
Read moreCredit Suisse's names its top European stock picks
5th May 2015 13:44
Credit Suisse published it latest list of top European investment ideas on Tuesday. Here's a pick of one from each sector. In the consumer space, CS highlighted Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli, saying that from a fundamental perspective, the €15 share price and €0.367 dividend do not reflect the c
Read morePhone-in charges for TV and radio shows to be simplified by regulator Ofcom
27th Apr 2015 11:47
The cost of calling TV and radio programmes will be simplified from July, according to new rules from UK communications regulator Ofcom. The regulator said on Monday the costs of calling numbers starting 084, 09 and 087 will be made of two different parts: an 'access charge' going to the caller's ph
Read moreBT confirms £12.5bn offer for EE
27th Apr 2015 10:35
Telecoms company BT has confirmed its cash and shares offer of £12.5bn for Britain's largest mobile operator EE. According to BT, the acquisition will create the largest communications company in UK as EE has 24.5m direct mobile customers. BT will finance it partly by a £1bn share issue with EE's cu
Read moreNew Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East steps down from BT board
22nd Apr 2015 15:43
Warren East, the newly-appointed boss of engine maker Rolls-Royce, is to step down from his position on BT's board after just 14 months, the telecoms group announced. East, the former ARM chief executive officer (CEO) who was unveiled as John Rishton's replacement at Rolls-Royce on Wednesday, joined
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Rolls-Royce surges on new management, Tesco hit by worst losses in 97 years
22nd Apr 2015 13:27
Engine maker Rolls-Royce topped the risers after chief executive John Rishton announced plans to retire this summer. He will be succeeded by former ARM Holdings boss Warren East. UK timber and builders merchant Travis Perkins also gained after saying group sales were up 7.2% in the first quarter des
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE falls as Tesco erases gains and financial stocks weaken
22nd Apr 2015 12:11
Following a temporary foray into positive territory, UK stocks were firmly lower by Wednesday lunchtime as supermarket giant Tesco erased earlier gains after reporting an eye-watering £6.4bn annual loss. London's FTSE 100 was down 0.66% at 7,016.59 by midday, pulling back quickly after a brief stint
Read moreBroker tips: Tesco, StanChart, BT Group, Tate & Lyle
22nd Apr 2015 11:44
Record annual losses from Tesco were widely attacked by financial analysts and City traders but there was optimism that the results showed several hints of a turnaround. Deutsche Bank took an optimistic view: "While there are arguably a few more downward pressures than upward pressures, we don't exp
Read moreEE deal strengthens BT's network position, says Nomura
22nd Apr 2015 10:53
BT Group was dialling the right numbers with investors on Wednesday after Nomura lifted its target price on the stock from 520p to 550p and kept a 'buy' rating. The broker said that the telecoms group has a "structurally robust platform for growth" now it has acquired mobile network EE. "Following
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Chancellor, General election, Kellogg
6th Apr 2015 15:10
The Chancellor has promised a "revolution" in home ownership if the Conservatives win the general election, the Sunday Telegraph reported. George Osborne said he wanted to help more than a million people buy a first home. He proposed expanding the existing Help to Buy programme, in which the Governm
Read moreBT returns to mobile phone market
25th Mar 2015 14:32
Telecom giant BT will re-enter the UK's mobile phone market, after unveiling a range of 4G subscriptions. The group confirmed the new service will utilise its spectrum as well as a spectrum provided in partnership with EE, Britain's largest mobile network operator, which BT is in the process of taki
Read moreMonday broker round-up
23rd Mar 2015 13:51
RBS: Nomura reiterates buy and lowers target to 350p from 370p. WPP: Westhouse Securities reiterates add lifts target to 1732p from 1577p. HSBC: Nomura reiterates neutral and shaves target to 590p. StanChart: JP Morgan upgrades to overweight. Citi reiterates buy and lifts target to 1300p from 1250
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