N 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 moreLondon midday: UK stocks pull back from six-week high despite upbeat Eurozone data
14th Nov 2014 11:28
Mining and oil shares were leading the UK stock market lower on Friday as commodity prices weakened, with the FTSE 100 pulling back after hitting its highest level in a month and a half. Nevertheless, losses were only modest in London, with sentiment supported by some reassuring growth figures from
Read moreLondon open: Resource stocks drag FTSE lower, but Eurozone data impresses
14th Nov 2014 08:28
UK stocks pulled back from their highest levels in a month and a half on Friday, though the downside was being limited by some rare positive economic data from the Eurozone. Figures released on Friday morning showed that both Germany and France returned to growth in the third quarter, reassuring the
Read moreLondon midday: UK retailers rise on Morrison results, but markets flat ahead of ECB
6th Nov 2014 11:44
The London stock market was more or less flat by Thursday lunchtime, erasing earlier losses after a well-received update from Morrison's boosted shares in the retail sector. However, upside was being limited ahead of a number of risk events expected before the weekend, including a European Central B
Read moreUK retail sales slow in September, ONS says
23rd Oct 2014 08:37
UK retail sales fell 0.3% last month against August, although they still racked up their 18th month in a row of year-on-year growth, official data showed. Month-on-month sales fell 0.3% but year-on-year sales rose 2.7%, according to the data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The underl
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
21st Oct 2014 08:50
African Barrick Gold: JP Morgan cuts target price from 340p to 300p and stays with its overweight rating. Anglo American: JP Morgan raises target price from 1240p to 1310p, while leaving its underweight rating unchanged. Investec increases target price from 1573p to 1603p and stays with its buy reco
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Synergy Health soars on Steris Corp buy-out
13th Oct 2014 15:27
Synergy Health shares rocketed after it was announced US-based medical technology group Steris Corp. had agreed to buy the UK company for $1.9bn. Synergy shareholders will be paid 439p a share in cash and 0.4308 shares in the newly combined group, valuing shares in the FTSE 250 group at £1.2bn, or 1
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
13th Oct 2014 09:32
Amino Technologies: Northland Capital upgrades to buy with a target price of 100p. Anglo American: Canaccord Genuity initiates with a target price of 1720p and a buy recommendation. Credit Suisse upgrades to outperform with a target price of 1800p. Associated British Foods: Societe Generale upgrade
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