Centrica signs LNG export contract with Cheniere
25th Mar 2013 07:03
FTSE 100-listed Centrica has entered into an agreement with Cheniere Energy Partners L.P, to purchase 91,250,000m British thermal units (89bn cubic feet) of annual liquefied natural gas (LNG) volumes for export from the Sabine Pass liquefaction plant in Louisiana in the US. This amounts to approxi
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
20th Mar 2013 08:53
Abcam: Canaccord Genuity moves target price from 344p to 358p, but still recommends selling. Antofagasta: Jefferies cuts target price from 1350p to 1100p, while keeping a hold recommendation. ASOS: Cantor Fitzgerald raises target price from 2500p to 2900p reiterating a hold recommendation. Panmure
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners continue to decline on Eurozone fears
19th Mar 2013 14:50
Mining stocks were dominating the fallers list today as risk appetite waned, with Evraz leading the way and Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton both hit by a downgrade by Goldman Sachs. Precious metals group Fresnillo dropped after Deutsche Bank cut its rating from 'hold' to 'sell', saying that the current
Read moreLondon close: US retail sales lift markets off lows
13th Mar 2013 17:01
Disappointing production data from the Eurozone dampened stocks on Wednesday morning in London, but a better-than-expected reading of US retail sales saw markets rally off their lows in afternoon trade. The monthly measure of American retail sales increased by 1.1% in February, an acceleration from
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Prudential gains on strong profit rise
13th Mar 2013 15:13
Prudential was the strongest riser after posting a 25 per cent increase in its annual operating profits, saying its performance was largely driven by its "sweet-spot" markets including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Food retailer Sainsbury was up on the back of comme
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
13th Mar 2013 08:28
Afren: UBS raises target price from 160p to 200p and reiterates a buy recommendation. African Barrick Gold: Westhouse Securities reduces target price from 255p to 195p and keeps a sell recommendation. Antofagasta: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 1260p to 1150p, while staying with its hold r
Read moreLondon close: Markets cement gains after strong US jobs data
8th Mar 2013 16:56
The FTSE 100 registered its highest closing price in over five years on Friday after a key indicator of the US labour market smashed expectations. However, the figures failed to give stocks a boost in afternoon trade as investors pondered whether the data is strong enough to prompt the Federal Rese
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Evraz rises on hopes of greater demand from Asia
8th Mar 2013 15:15
Evraz rose into the top spot as the prospects of greater demand from Asia looked up, boosted by the release of a sharp upwards revision to Japanese growth estimates for the last three months of 2012. Shares in financial companies were also making decent gains in early trading as risk appetite incr
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise as market prices in strong US jobs data
8th Mar 2013 11:36
Markets maintained their positive bias on Friday morning as traders showed confidence ahead of a key reading of labour-market strength in the US later on, the February employment report. Increased risk appetite in London meant that financial stocks were leading the way higher today. Expectations r
Read moreBroker tips: HSBC, Schroders, Centrica
8th Mar 2013 11:12
Nomura has retained its 'buy' rating and 900p target price for global banking giant HSBC after its full-year results earlier this week, highlighting the company's strong cost-control momentum, improving revenue outlook and strong capital position. On current valuations, the broker said that the imp
Read moreBroker snap: JPMorgan downgrades Centrica after recent re-rating
8th Mar 2013 09:07
Shares in British Gas owner Centrica were under pressure on Friday after JPMorgan Cazenove downgraded its rating on the stock from 'overweight' to 'neutral'. While the broker still sees Centrica as its top pick in the UK utilities sector, it has lowered its recommendation given the shares' re-ratin
Read moreLondon open: Risk appetite increases ahead of US jobs report
8th Mar 2013 08:25
The FTSE 100 was firmly in positive territory on Friday morning ahead of the crucial US employment report due out this afternoon, with traders hoping that jobs figures could beat forecasts given the solid economic data seen as of late. The US jobs report, out at 13:30 London time, is expected to gi
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
8th Mar 2013 07:42
Advanced Computer Software Group: Canaccord Genuity raises target price from 80p to 108p and reiterates a buy recommendation. Aggreko: Jefferies raises target price from 2000p to 2200p keeping its buy recommendation. Cantor Fitzgerald takes target price from 2020p to 2200p and stays with its buy re
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 hits a new high for the year
5th Mar 2013 16:11
UK equity markets charged higher on Tuesday, driven by comments from the US Federal Reserve, Services data, and a raft of upbeat company reports. Janet Yellen, the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, said on Monday that she believed the Fed needs to continue with its month
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Serco in top spot
5th Mar 2013 14:20
British outsourcing group Serco was the strongest riser after revealing that full year revenue rose 5.7 per cent to 4.9bn pounds, underpinned by a strong performance in international markets. International energy services company Wood Group rose after it posted a 20% rise in revenue from continuin
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