Thursday preview: Centrica and BAE Systems report annual results
19th Feb 2014 14:17
British Gas owner Centrica will release its full-year results on Thursday after UBS warned that pressure from the government to lower energy prices would hurt margins. UBS on Tuesday cut its rating of the utility to 'sell' from 'neutral' and target price to 280p from 340p, citing increasing politi
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
19th Feb 2014 08:33
Anite: Panmure Gordon lowers target price from 146p to 139p, while leaving its buy recommendation unaltered. Bank of Georgia: Canaccord Genuity increases target price from 2100p to 2400p, while leaving its hold recommendation unchanged. BHP Billiton: Investec raises target price from 1926p to 1985
Read moreSector movers: Telecoms and oil and gas stocks boost FTSE 100
18th Feb 2014 14:46
Telecommunication stocks were leading for a second day running on Wednesday as BT Group took its campaign for the right to offer the Sky Sports channels on YouView set-top boxes to a competition tribunal. BHP Billiton led oil and gas shares higher after reporting a 31% rise in first-half profit aft
Read moreBroker tips: Wood Group, InterContinental Hotels, Centrica
18th Feb 2014 13:02
Oil services outfit Wood Group's latest full year results were largely in-line, although revenues were about one per cent softer than consensus expectations. At unchanged guidance for modest growth in earnings per share next year might not seem much to write home about. Yet coming as it did on the
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE erases losses as inflation falls below target
18th Feb 2014 11:27
- UK inflation falls to 1.9 per cent - ZEW reports unexpected decline in both Eurozone and German confidence - BRC publishes plans to reform the UK business rates system techMARK 2,861.72 +0.15% FTSE 100 6,745.04 +0.13% FTSE 250 16,232.79 -0.07% The FTSE was marginally higher by lunchtime today
Read moreCentrica to get hit from both sides, UBS says
18th Feb 2014 11:18
Increased regulatory scrutiny, even if unjustified, of Centrica's pricing structure would hit the company's margins, adding to the pressures coming from other fronts, analysts at UBS wrote on Tuesday. In the wake of the UK Energy Secretary's letter to Ofgem, the Swiss broker's analysts wrote that t
Read moreLondon open: Stocks register small decline ahead of inflation data
18th Feb 2014 08:25
- FTSE down 12 points - All eye on CPI inflation figure - InterCo Hotels falls despite posting profit techMARK 2,855.49 -0.06% FTSE 100 6,726.16 -0.15% FTSE 250 16,217.82 -0.17% Stocks surprised with a modest decline this morning as investors geared up for a data-heavy session both at home and acr
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
18th Feb 2014 07:46
Aeorema Communications: Cantor Fitzgerald initiates with a target price of 90p and a buy recommendation. Aquarius Platinum: Investec shifts target price from 36p to 41p upgrading from sell to hold. Barclays: Jefferies shaves target price from 364p to 360p and keeps a buy recommendation. Brammer:
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Essar, Barclays, Rolls-Royce
16th Feb 2014 17:56
The billionaire Indian Ruia family will this week offer to buy back the part of Essar Energy it does not own for less than a fifth of what investors paid for shares four years ago, the Sunday Times said. The Ruias are working on the final touches of an offer that will be a blow to the London market
Read moreWhich? calls for shake-up of 'broken' energy market
14th Feb 2014 13:09
Consumer group Which? has labelled the UK energy market as "broken" and has called for radical reforms after it was found that nearly 5.6m customers complained about the so-called 'Big Six' energy providers last year. Which? has identified six "fixes" to improve the energy market for consumers, cal
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Centrica, Hyder Consulting
11th Feb 2014 07:40
Energy minister, Ed Davey, may have hit on something when he suggested that Centrica's business model should be analysed - although perhaps not exactly what he thought. The company's business model, which in essence piles a gas exploration and production (E&P) business atop a utility may have less m
Read moreLondon close: Stocks gain after quiet session, Barclays rises
10th Feb 2014 16:31
- Stocks at highest level since January 24th - Markets awaiting Yellen, Draghi and Carney - Precious metal producers jump, Barclays gains ahead of FY results tomorrow - Energy companies come under criticism from MPs techMARK 2,806.76 +0.59% FTSE 100 6,591.55 +0.30% FTSE 250 15,910.72 +0.29% The UK
Read moreSector movers: Utilities feeling the heat after criticism from Energy Secretary
10th Feb 2014 13:12
Utilities stocks were under selling pressure on Monday after the UK Energy Secretary raised concerns about profit margins at the country's largest energy companies. Shares in British Gas owner Centrica were the hardest hit after Ed Davey ordered a regulatory probe into high household bills and sugg
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners gain, Barclays leads banks higher
10th Feb 2014 12:43
Mining stocks were among the best performers on the FTSE 100 on Monday with precious metal producers Fresnillo and Randgold rising strongly as gold and silver prices advanced. Barclays was making gains despite claims that confidential details of clients had been stolen and sold. Investors were also
Read moreLondon midday: Barclays gains, Centrica falls as markets hold steady
10th Feb 2014 11:37
- Markets pause at two-week high - Central bankers in focus ahead of speeches - Barclays gains despite data leak, profit guidance - Energy Secretary concerns with energy profit margins techMARK 2,792.81 +0.09% FTSE 100 6,567.75 -0.06% FTSE 250 15,877.62 +0.08% UK markets more or less unchanged by
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