Broker snap: BT now has scope to increase divi, says Jefferies
23rd Mar 2012 11:05
Jefferies has maintained its positive view on telecoms giant BT, saying that the group's agreement with its pension scheme trustee 'crystallises' dividend upside. BT announced this morning that it would make a payment of £2bn to reduce it pension deficit (currently valued at £4.1bn) followed by nin
Read moreLondon open: BT leads the risers early on
23rd Mar 2012 08:38
The Footsie rose in the opening hour of Friday's session, helped by a strong performance by financial stocks. Company news was thin on the ground early on but BT was the best performer after announcing plans to eliminate its pension deficit within 10 years. The blue chip index remains nearly 100 po
Read moreBT to pay-off pension deficit within 10 years
23rd Mar 2012 07:19
Telecoms titan BT is to make a lump sum payment worth nearly half the amount of its pension deficit before the end of the month, followed by further smaller amounts that will see the shortfall eliminated within 10 years. The company announced on Friday morning that it had reached agreement with the
Read moreMonday broker round-up - UPDATE
19th Mar 2012 09:37
Antofagasta: Exane BNP Paribas upgrades from neutral to outperform, target lifted from 1,200p to 1,450p; Nomura cuts target to 1,500p from 1,650p, buy rating unchanged. AstraZeneca: Goldman Sachs cuts target from 3,350p to 3,306p, neutral rating kept. Barclays: UBS raises target from 240p to 272p,
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall, Misys jumps after Vista offer
19th Mar 2012 08:25
- Misys up seven per cent after 350p-a-share Vista offer - Burberry weighed down by French tax reports - Markets looking ahead to Wednesday's Budget The Footsie fell into the red in early trading on Monday, with the market looking ahead to Wednesday's Budget. "We have entered the doldrums of marke
Read moreFriday broker round-up
9th Mar 2012 10:00
ITV: Goldman Sachs raises price target to 137p from 102p, keeps at buy. Admiral: UBS hikes target from 890p to 1,085p, neutral rating unchanged. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch downgrades to underperform from neutral. AGA Rangemaster: Merchant Securities reiterates buy rating and 102p target. Ca
Read moreLondon midday: Eurozone concerns continue to weigh on stock
2nd Mar 2012 11:50
- Eurogroup releases 58bn euros but delays full Greek bailout. - Banks park record amount in ECB overnight. - International Power rises on Indonesian deal. - Goldman upgrades banks, utilities. The FTSE 100 was still trading slightly lower by lunchtime, with all eyes on the Eurozone. European leade
Read moreRM boss shows his faith with one million shares
9th Feb 2012 13:40
Martyn Ratcliffe, Executive Chairman of educational software supplier RM, has bumped up his stake in the firm with the purchase of one million shares. Ratcliffe bought the shares, which cost him 75.00p each for a total of £750,000, just three days after the company reported falling revenue and pro
Read moreBT director boosts stake
7th Feb 2012 15:20
Jasmine Whitbread, a non-executive at BT, the FTSE 100 telecoms giant, has phoned up for a stack of shares just days after the firm unveiled a surprise 48% leap in third quarter profits, and announced that it would hit its 2013 earnings target a year early. Whitbread, who has been on the board at
Read moreMonday broker round-up - UPDATE
6th Feb 2012 09:12
Supergroup: Oriel Securities upgrades to buy from hold. Glencore: Jefferies ups target from 525p to 575p, confirms buy rating; Credit Suisse maintains outperform rating and 550p target. Royal Dutch Shell: Credit Suisse downgrades from outperform to neutral, cuts target from 2,750p to 2,600p. Xst
Read moreLondon close: Footsie breaks 5,900 as US jobs data excites
3rd Feb 2012 16:58
The much-anticipated January employment report from the US Labor Department didn't disappoint, with a better-than-expected increase in non-farm payrolls sending the FTSE 100 vertical in afternoon trading to break through the 5,900 level. The world's largest economy created 243,000 new jobs last mon
Read moreSector movers: BT lifts telecoms higher
3rd Feb 2012 16:19
Telecoms giant BT Group was lifting the fixed line telecommunications sector on Friday afternoon following its well-received third quarter results announced this morning. BT saw pre-tax profits rise from £441m last year to £652m in the three months to December 31st. Over the first three quarters, p
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Admiral leads the way higher
3rd Feb 2012 13:17
Insurance group Admiral jumped into the top spot after extending its existing UK car insurance reinsurance partnerships with Hannover Re, Mapfre Re, New Re and Swiss Re until 2014. "Reinsurance has been at the core of Admiral's successful business model since 2000 and we look forward to continuing o
Read moreLondon midday: Admiral leads the rise ahead of US data
3rd Feb 2012 12:03
Stocks were up at the day's best levels by lunchtime following a subdued start, with insurance outfit Admiral leading the charge. Miners on the other hand, are providing a drag, pulling back from their strong showing yesterday on the back of heightened M&A speculation in the sector. Markets were gi
Read moreBroker tips: BT, Misys, GAME
3rd Feb 2012 11:27
Nomura has maintained its buy rating on BT, saying that the telecom titan's trading momentum is building nicely for 2012. BT now expects to achieve its EBITDA target of above £6,000m this year, rather than in 2013. "With consensus already sitting at £6.01bn for FY 12, we expect marginal upgrades t
Read more