N Brown makes "encouraging start" as first-quarter sales rise
19th Jun 2015 07:13
N Brown, the home shopping group with brands such as Simply Be and Jacamo, said its full-year guidance remains unchanged after an "encouraging start to the year". The Manchester-based business said group turnover was up 2.5% in the first quarter ended 29 May, following a 0.1% decline over the full p
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: NMC Health surges on acquisitions, Ophir Energy reverses
29th Apr 2015 13:20
Healthcare provider NMC Health topped the risers after completing the acquisition of two sector peers based in the United Arab Emirates for a combined £65m. Following the deal, analysts at Numis raised the target price on the stock for the second time in six weeks. Greggs surged after first-quarter
Read moreN Brown final results beat recently lowered expectations
29th Apr 2015 09:48
Shares in N Brown bounced back after final results from the internet and home shopping business were not as bad as been feared. Having in March issued a "slight" profit warning, results for the year to the end of February were slightly better than expected, with revenues almost flat at £818m and pro
Read moreThursday broker round-up
12th Mar 2015 17:30
Asos: Cannacord Genuity raises target to 3,250p from 2,520p and reiterates hold. Cambian Group: Cannacord Genuity lifts target to 311p from 294p and reiterates buy. BP: JP Morgan raises target to 410p from 400p and reiterates underweight. Royal Dutch Shell: Investec reiterates hold. Supergroup: C
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Domino Printing up on Japanese acquisition
11th Mar 2015 13:42
Japan-based office equipment supplier Brother Industries has agreed to acquire British printing technology company Domino Printing Sciences for £1.03bn, unleashing a 32% surge in the share price. Domino, which has operations in the UK, China, Germany, India, Sweden and the US, will continue to opera
Read moreLondon midday: Rebound falters as stocks pare gains after weak economic data
11th Mar 2015 11:57
London's stocks rose on Wednesday after plunging to a seven-week low, though any hopes for a full reversal of the prior day's sell-off were shattered by gloomy data from China and weak production figures from the UK. London's FTSE 100 was up just 0.08% at 6,708.24 by midday, having quickly erased ga
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rebound slightly after sell-off, Domino Printing soars
11th Mar 2015 08:26
UK stocks advanced on Wednesday morning but only partly reversed the prior day's heavy sell-off as a raft of weak economic data from China added to concerns about a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.4% at 6,731.82 in early trading. The index sunk 2.5% on Tue
Read moreN Brown issues 'slight' profit warning after tactical investing in price and product
11th Mar 2015 07:50
N Brown has warned of a lower-than-expected product gross margin percentage for the full year, the retailer's second profit warning in six months. The FTSE 250-listed company cited substantial price investments in the fourth quarter as the reason for this decline. Fourth quarter revenue was also im
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Betfair surges on higher price target, gold miners lower
9th Mar 2015 14:05
Betfair topped the risers after analysts at Morgan Stanley raised their price target on the stock from 1550p to 2030p, in a research note e-mailed to clients. "The fourth quarter saw strong revenue growth of 20%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of 20%+ growth. This is despite tough sports res
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Food retailers take a hit while energy stocks soar
23rd Dec 2014 09:41
Retail stocks were mixed on the day before Christmas Eve. Home Retail Group, N Brown Group and Supergroup were advancing as last-minute shoppers headed online and hit the high street. Shares in Workspace Group were rising after the company agreed a cash payment of £30m to terminate the proceeds sha
Read moreLondon close: UK stocks drop to five-week low as oil sinks further
10th Dec 2014 16:40
UK stocks dropped to their lowest levels in five weeks on Wednesday as turmoil in the oil prices intensified with crude prices sinking to a fresh five-year low. The FTSE 100 erased earlier gains to finish down 0.45% at 6,500. It has not closed below this level since 4 November when it settled at 6,4
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks rise, but gains only modest after sell-off
10th Dec 2014 12:12
Stimulus hopes in China gave UK stocks a small boost on Wednesday though sentiment was still fragile after a global equity rout sent London's stock market to a one-month low the previous session. The FTSE 100 was up just 0.1% at 6,539. The index dropped over 2% to settle at 6,529.47 on Tuesday, its
Read moreBroker 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 moreN Brown's sales trends improve but more needed, says Peel Hunt
10th Dec 2014 11:19
A pick-up in trading towards the end of the third quarter at N Brown should please the market, according to Peel Hunt, though a 'hold' recommendation was maintained for the stock. However, the broker said there could be an "opportunity for investors" if management at the home-shopping fashion retail
Read moreN Brown sees trading improve in third quarter
10th Dec 2014 08:45
Home-shopping fashion retailer N Brown Group said that trading performance had improved since September following a reported decline in revenues. In its previous update, the group warned of lower full-year profit after a drop in revenue in September. At the time of the announcement in October, N Bro
Read more