Margins and operating profit improve at Taylor Wimpey
17th Jan 2012 07:21
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said trading conditions have remained robust since its interim update in November 2011 and it expects to post an 80% increase in operating profit for the second half of 2011. While momentum continues Taylor Wimpey has also benefited from restructuring and cost cutting inc
Read moreWednesday broker round-up - UDPATE
21st Dec 2011 08:51
HSBC: Investec reiterates buy with 800p target. Barclays: Investec reiterates buy with 330p target. Tesco: Nomura maintains buy rating and 500p target. AstraZeneca: Nomura keeps reduce recommendation and 2,400p target. Thorntons: Investec puts 35p target under review, hold rating kept; Merchant
Read moreLondon close: Merkel comments weigh, Footsie pares gains
13th Dec 2011 16:21
London's blue chip index experienced a boost on Tuesday afternoon, helped by a strong Spanish bond auction and a better-than-expected German confidence survey. However, stocks began to retreat late on after some worrying comments from Angela Merkel and rumours of disruption to oil exports in the Per
Read moreBroker tips: Petrofac, Carpetright, UK house-builders
13th Dec 2011 12:34
Investec has reiterated its buy rating on oilfield services giant Petrofac, following the group's pre-close trading update in which it said it expects to deliver like-for-like (LFL) profit growth in 2011 of at least 20%. "Petrofac continues to make good progress on all fronts and we maintain our po
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie jumps after Spanish auction, ZEW survey
13th Dec 2011 11:46
The Footsie has bounced back into positive territory after a strong Spanish bond auction and a better-than-expected German confidence survey lifted sentiment across the continent. London's blue chip index was up some 39 points at 5,467 by midday, a big swing from the intraday low of 5,416 it sank to
Read moreBroker snap: UBS warns of macro challenges for UK house-builders
13th Dec 2011 11:35
In its assessment of the UK house-building sector, UBS hails has warned that the upcoming year will be tough on stocks given the more challenging macro-economic outlook. UK house-builders have outperformed the FTSE All-Share index by 25% in 2011 so far, UBS notes, despite a difficult mortgage marke
Read moreBroker tips: BG Group, Bellway, African Barrick Gold
9th Dec 2011 12:25
Nomura has reiterated its buy rating and 1,850p target for oil and gas giant BG Group, as market chatter speculates that it may be putting a stake in its Brazilian business up for sale. While Reuters claims that the disposal could come within weeks, analysts at Nomura expect that a deal will not li
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie extends gains, banks jump
9th Dec 2011 12:02
A strong performance by the banks and the miners lifted the FTSE 100 into positive territory by lunchtime, despite a fall early on, as markets digest last night's developments from the EU summit. Bourses across the Eurozone were all in the blue ahead of the conclusion of the meeting this afternoon.
Read moreBroker snap: Bellway's 'high enough for now', says Prime Markets
9th Dec 2011 11:53
Prime Markets says that Bellway's shares are "high enough for now" after significantly outperformed the broader house-building sector since August. Bellway has continued to deliver its strategy of increasing volumes, raising average selling prices through changes in mix and achieving margin growth
Read moreFriday broker round-up
9th Dec 2011 10:05
Rio Tinto: Investec cuts target from 4,170p to 4,045p, buy rating kept. BG Group: Nomura keeps buy and 1,850p target. Genel Energy: Investec reiterates buy and 1,360p target. Standard Chartered: Nomura reiterates buy and 1,800p target. African Barrick Gold: Investec reduces target from 634p to 6
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat, trading cautious after summit
9th Dec 2011 08:29
It was a flat start for the Footsie as investors digested the details coming from last night's pivotal summit, in which leaders failed to make sweeping changes to treaties which govern all 27 members of the European Union. EU SUMMIT DISAPPOINTS Britain blocked an agreement that would apply to all
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks seen lower after summit disappoints
9th Dec 2011 07:39
The Footsie is predicted to open with a steep fall on Friday morning after European leaders last night failed to agree on a treaty change for all 27 members of the EU. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down 59 points from yesterday's close of 5,484. Following a 10-hour meeting that ran i
Read moreBellway sees margin growth
9th Dec 2011 07:11
Housebuilder Bellway has continued to deliver its strategy of increasing volumes, raising average selling prices through changes in mix and achieving margin growth during the period from 1 August to 30 November 2011. The firm said visitor levels and reservations have been "remarkably resilient", wi
Read moreBroker tips: Centrica, Amlin, House-builders
21st Nov 2011 12:56
Investec has reiterated its buy rating on British Gas owner Centrica after the energy giant's announcement of "major moves in the gas market". "We believe that these are good moves that will underpin Centrica's position on both the Upstream and Downstream side," said Investec analyst Angelos Anasta
Read moreBroker snap: Credit Suisse raises targets on UK house builders
21st Nov 2011 12:14
Analysts at Credit Suisse are quite positive on the ability of UK house-builders to tap their holdings of land to generate cash if necessary. For that reason they have decided to raise their price targets on several of those companies, while maintaining their positive view on the sector. By their
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