London close: Early gains erased as US economic data disappoints
15th May 2015 16:28
UK stocks finished in the red on Friday after erasing earlier gains following some weaker-than-expected economic data from the States. Wall Street stocks were swinging between gains and losses after the open with both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average wavering near record highs. Investor
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise as UK data, Greek news lift sentiment
15th May 2015 11:22
Upbeat corporate earnings and a calmer session on the bond market helped UK equities rise on Friday morning, with sentiment boosted by a rebound in British construction output and improving newsflow from Greece. The FTSE 100 was up 0.38% at 6,999.56 by midday. Analysts also said that trading volume
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge higher as corporate updates impress
15th May 2015 08:54
UK stocks edged higher on Friday morning ahead of what is expected to be another quiet session, though trading volumes are expected to pick up slightly. The FTSE 100 was up 0.38% at 6,999.81 early on with corporate updates from a number of blue chips being warmly-received by investors. Markets acro
Read moreLondon pre-open: Volumes to pick up but quiet session expected
15th May 2015 07:41
UK stocks are expected to edge higher on Friday morning as trading volumes pick up following a quiet session the previous day. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open five points higher than Thursday's close of 6,973.04. Volumes were lower than usual on Thursday owing to bank holidays in both F
Read moreBovis boosts dividend plans after solid start to 2015
15th May 2015 07:32
Having made a good start to the year, with forward sales 8% of the same time last year, Bovis Homes Group has hiked its dividend plans for the full year. Bovis said it remained on on track to deliver its expected result for 2015 and now planned to pay out 40p per share, up from the 35p it had previo
Read moreBroker tips: Housing stocks, Reckitt Benckiser, Majestic Wine
10th Apr 2015 11:34
Housebuilders were putting in decent gains on Friday as Jefferies upgraded ratings for stocks across the sector after recent data pointed to a stronger pre-election housing market than anticipated. The broker raised Bellway, Bovis Homes, Countrywide, Crest Nicholson, Redrow, Taylor Wimpey and Zoopla
Read moreHousing stocks jump as Jefferies turns more positive on sector
10th Apr 2015 09:28
Housebuilders were putting in decent gains on Friday as Jefferies upgraded ratings for stocks across the sector, saying that companies have "springs in their steps". The broker raised Bellway, Bovis Homes, Countrywide, Crest Nicholson, Redrow, Taylor Wimpey and Zoopla from 'hold' to 'buy'. Barratt D
Read moreSector Movers: Tobacco, housebuilders and engineering stocks lead London market to new highs
9th Apr 2015 12:59
Tobacco, engineering and housebuilders helped FTSE 100 extend gains above the 7,000 mark on a day when the market shrugged off prevailing political uncertainty about a hung parliament as well as weak industrial output. At 16:18 BST, the FTSE 100 was up 0.87% or 61.35 points to 7076.71 with tobacco b
Read moreSector Movers: Real estate and housebuilders in the green, but tobacco takes a hit
19th Mar 2015 14:35
The UK 2015 Budget continues to impact market sentiment as real estate and housebuilding stocks followed oil and gas services companies in posting an uptick in performance. In his final budget before the General Election on May 7, Chancellor George Osborne announced a series of measures considered t
Read moreBovis Homes appoints new finance director
26th Feb 2015 12:37
Bovis Homes Group has appointed Earl Sibley as its new finance director. Sibley, who has worked for the group as financial controller between 2006 and 2008, will take up his new position on 16 April. "We are delighted that Earl is rejoining the group as our new group finance director," said group c
Read moreBroker tips: HSBC, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Bovis Homes, LSE
23rd Feb 2015 11:57
An uncertain outlook at HSBC is likely to keep the market cautious about the global lender, according to Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, after 2014 results on Monday came in below forecasts. Head of equities Richard Hunter said: "Given the wider sectoral issues, HSBC has had a difficult year, with
Read moreBovis Homes fundamentally undervalued, Panmure Gordon says
23rd Feb 2015 11:07
Strong annual results from housebuilder Bovis Homes received a lukewarm reaction from the market on Monday as they broadly met forecasts, though broker Panmure Gordon chose to reiterate its 'buy' rating saying that the shares remain cheap. Analyst Rachel Applegate said: "We maintain our belief that
Read moreLondon open: Weak HSBC results keep FTSE flat early on
23rd Feb 2015 08:54
After briefly testing an all-time high on the back of Greece's bailout extension, the FTSE 100 quickly reversed into the red on Monday morning on the back of disappointing results from banking heavyweight HSBC. HSBC's shares were down as much as 5% early on after the global lender reported a drop in
Read moreBovis Homes hikes dividend by 159% after profit surge in 2014
23rd Feb 2015 07:58
As previously guided, housebuilder Bovis Homes has hiked its full-year dividend by 159% after a surge in profits in 2014, helped by a record year for legal completions. The group also said that current trading was "robust" with private reservations and selling prices improving. Pre-tax profit jumpe
Read moreSector movers: Redrow and Reckitt give household sector a lift
11th Feb 2015 14:51
Well-received results from builder Redrow and consumer products group Reckitt Benckiser meant the household goods and home construction sector was the best performer in London on Wednesday. Redrow's share price had surged over 12% to 333p by the afternoon session after the company impressed with a s
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