Tuesday preview: Whitbread, Bellway, Booker
12th Oct 2009 15:16
It's been a bad year for hotel operators but last week's better than expected third quarter figures from US group Marriott Hotels suggested things are starting to pick up. The share price of Whitbread, which owns the Premier Inn hotel chain, got a lift from its US peer's results, adding to the sha
Read moreLondon close: Buoyant US lifts FTSE 100
28th Sep 2009 16:37
Footsie put a sluggish start to the day behind it to post strong gains, helped by buoyant showing on Wall Street. There were contrasting fortunes for two stocks dependent on the health of the housing market, with Wolseley on the rise and Home Retail on the slide. Earlier today property research fi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Market cements morning's gains
28th Sep 2009 14:15
London made further headway over the lunchtime session, boosted by expectations of a firm opening on Wall Street. There are contrasting fortunes for two stocks dependent on the health of the housing market, with Wolseley on the rise and Home Retail on the slide. Earlier today property research firm
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Media stocks in demand
25th Sep 2009 09:42
An upgrade from Cazenove has given shares in the newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror a lift. Pointing to encouraging advertising trends, the broker upgraded its rating on Trinity, which publishes the Mirror and a host of local titles to 'outperform' from 'in-line'. Elsewhere in media, business publ
Read moreBroker tips: Pub groups, Barratt, Atkins
23rd Sep 2009 11:03
Swiss bank UBS has called time on a gaggle of big pub groups, claiming the share prices have risen too far on a heady cocktail of improving consumer sentiment, England's qualification for the World Cup and changes to the rules on pub gaming machine stakes and prizes. UBS reckons the share prices of
Read moreLondon close: US confidence sours sentiment
14th Aug 2009 16:28
Weaker than expected US consumer sentiment data upset the apple cart Friday, giving investors an excuse to bank profits ahead of the weekend. Stockmarkets on both sides of the Atlantic have risen 15% in the past month, so no wonder investors were keen to trim their portfolios. Wall Street headed s
Read moreLondon afternoon: US sentiment data disappoints
14th Aug 2009 15:30
London's stockmarket overcame a technical glitch Friday afternoon only for equities to turn lower following a surprise plunge in US consumer confidence. Wall Street tumbled three figures shortly after the University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index for August fell to 63.2 rather than t
Read moreLondon midday: Equities still on the REIT track
14th Aug 2009 11:59
Properties, miners and housebuilders were the sectors making the running this morning as London's blue-chip index strives to make it three days of rises in a row. Reports this morning suggested a consortium of some of the world's richest families is plotting a bid for British Land. Liberty Internat
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Housebuilders on the up
14th Aug 2009 11:57
Housebuilders and real estate stocks are among the mid-cap index's top performers. An upgrade to 'buy' from 'hold' by RBS has helped put housebuilder Taylor Wimpey among the top 10 risers. RBS, which lifts its target price on Taylor Wimpey to 47p from 37p, said the firm's recent results continued
Read moreUpdate: Bellway raises £44.8m through placing
6th Aug 2009 11:44
Housebuilder Bellway raised £44.8m through an accelerated bookbuild process to help fund the acquisition of more land and said it sees no further asset write downs, providing current conditions continue. The group also said today that despite seeing the traditional decline in visitor numbers durin
Read moreBellway sees no further writedowns
6th Aug 2009 07:41
Housebuilder Bellway said no further asset write down is envisaged in the year provided current market conditions continue. The group also said despite seeing the traditional decline in visitor numbers during the summer season, current sales rate being achieved is ahead of management's expectations
Read moreLondon close: Footsie equals winning streak
27th Jul 2009 16:59
Though it was a close run thing the Footsie ended the day in the blue, equalling its record run of 11 successive days of rises. The blue-chip index was supported by a strong performance from miners and the part-nationalised banks. Lonmin was wanted after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to "neutr
Read moreLondon afternoon: Winning streak in danger
27th Jul 2009 14:34
Footsie has dipped back into the red, with sentiment taking a knock from Wall Street's soft opening. Were the Footsie to finish higher today it would equal a record streak of 11 successive days of gains. Pearson remains the best performer on a much better than expected trading update. The publishin
Read moreLondon midday: Pearson beats expectations
27th Jul 2009 12:07
Strong mining stocks are supporting the Footsie's quest to achieve a record breaking 12th successive day of gains today. Lonmin leads the mining sector higher after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to "neutral" from "sell". Kazakhmys and Antofagasta are the next best performers. Pearson remains th
Read moreBroker tips: Vodafone, Compass, Housebuilders
24th Jul 2009 11:55
Friday's quarterly trading update from telecoms giant Vodafone contained nothing worrying enough to persuade Morgan Stanley to changes its favourable stance on the stock. The US bank has maintained its "overweight" recommendation for Vodafone, saying the "valuation thesis remains compelling." "Und
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