London pre-open: FTSE set to track Asian stocks higher
3rd Jul 2012 07:33
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 17 points from yesterday's close of 5,641, pushed higher by trading in Asia and hopes that the Bank of England will opt to extend its 325 billion pound stimulus programme at Wednesday's policy meeting. House builder Persimmon said it had a good first
Read moreN Brown hit by economics and rain
3rd Jul 2012 07:09
N Brown, the internet and catalogue home shopping firm, said sales were up but price conscious shoppers opting for value ranges had hit margins. In the four months to the end of June the firm said total group revenue increased by 2.5%. Like-for-like revenue growth was 1.9% after excluding sales
Read moreTuesday preview: N Brown to give trading update
2nd Jul 2012 16:44
N Brown, the internet and catalogues home shopping firm, is to release its interim management statement (IMS) on Tuesday, explaining what trading has been like since the start of its financial year in March. When reporting its full-year results in May, the group noted challenging market conditions
Read moreWeek ahead: BoE, ECB, N Brown, Topps Tiles
29th Jun 2012 11:00
The main event of next week will likely be the policy decisions in both the UK and Europe around Thursday lunchtime. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will be revealing its policy decision at midday on Thursday with the majority of economists expecting the Bank of England (BoE) to ramp up its ass
Read moreBroker tips: Petropavlovsk, Ladbrokes, Retailers
6th Jun 2012 11:14
UBS has upgraded its rating for Russia-focused gold group Petropavlovsk from neutral to buy on the back of the recent share-price underperformance and weakness in the rouble. However, UBS has cut its target price from 650p to 630p after lowering its 2012 earnings per share (EPS) forecast by 22% to
Read moreBroker snap: Forecasts for retailers have 'moved from the nadir'
6th Jun 2012 11:04
Peel Hunt has named its top picks and top risks as part of its review of the general retail sector, saying that while the category has enjoyed a strong start to 2012, the recovery is likely to be a long haul. "Outperformance across the retail sector continues to be earnings- driven and stock-specif
Read moreMonday broker round-up
21st May 2012 09:23
Aegis: Macquarie downgrades from neutral to underperform. British Land: Investec keeps buy rating and 540p target. BTG: Jefferies reiterates buy rating and 410p target. Informa: Investec maintains buy recommendation and 495p target. ITE Group: Investec keeps buy rating and 260p target. Kingfish
Read moreN Brown confident for year ahead
1st May 2012 07:52
Internet and catalogue home shopping specialist N. Brown posted higher than expected full year results despite ongoing pressures on disposable incomes. Group revenue increased 4.8% in the year ended 3 March to £753.2m, better than Peel Hunt's expectations of £743.4m. Pre-tax profit climbed 2.5% to
Read moreTuesday preview: BP, Lloyds, IMPs ...
30th Apr 2012 16:01
There are plenty of big names reporting on Tuesday but the two most likely to catch they eye are BP and Lloyds Banking. Starting with integrated oil giant BP, recently returned to the dividend standard, Charles Stanley's Tony Shepard thinks first quarter net income will be flat at $5.4bn compared t
Read moreLondon close: US data, Greek talks weigh on FTSE 100
27th Jan 2012 16:26
With economic growth in the world's largest economy surprising to the downside, miners and oil stocks were sold off on Friday, dragging the Footsie near to its lowest levels of the day by the close. Meanwhile, uncertainty in regards to debt-swap talks in Greece continued to weigh on investors' minds
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: African Barrick Gold shines
27th Jan 2012 15:18
Gold miner African Barrick Gold led the risers on the second-tier index after hiking its previous resource estimate fourfold for the Tusker deposit at the Nyanzaga Project in Tanzania. Shares of Internet and catalogue home shopping specialist N. Brown were also wanted after UBS upgraded its rating
Read moreBroker tips: N. Brown, Aveva, Max Petroleum
27th Jan 2012 11:31
Shares of internet and catalogue home shopping specialist N. Brown were given a lift on Friday morning after UBS upgraded its rating on the stock from neutral to buy. "With almost 50% of sales now generated on the internet, significant exposure to a niche, but rapidly growing, oversize clothing mar
Read moreBroker snap: UBS upgrades N. Brown to buy
27th Jan 2012 10:18
Shares of internet and catalogue home shopping specialist N. Brown were given a lift on Friday morning after UBS upgraded its rating on the stock from neutral to buy. "With almost 50% of sales now generated on the internet, significant exposure to a niche, but rapidly growing, oversize clothing mar
Read moreFriday broker round-up - UPDATE
27th Jan 2012 09:43
CRH: Liberum Capital downgrades to hold from buy. Misys: Espirito Santo downgrades from buy to sell, cuts target to 263p from 275p. Aquarius: Credit Suisse maintains neutral and price target at £2.1. Lonmin: Credit Suisse maintains underperform and price target at £9.8. Imperial Tobacco: Cit
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Fenner leads the way higher
11th Jan 2012 13:57
Leaping into the top spot was Fenner, the polymers company, which has gained 4.5% after announcing that first quarter profitability is significantly better than the comparable period of 2010. Following very close behind, recruitment company Michael Page said fourth quarter gross profit slowed to 13
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