Broker 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
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: GKN boosted by upgrade
4th Mar 2013 12:45
GKN shares rose into the top spot after Goldman Sachs raised its target price from 195p to 272p and upgraded the stock from sell to neutral. Capita Group followed closed behind after Jefferies raised its target price from 840p to 1,010p and kept a buy recommendation. The business process manager a
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
4th Mar 2013 07:12
Aggreko: JP Morgan takes target price from 1845p to 1870p, while reiterating a neutral rating. Anglo American: Nomura reduces target price from 1800p to 1700p and downgrades from neutral to reduce. ARM Holdings: Deutsche Bank increases target price from 400p to 445p, but still recommends selling.
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Petrofac down on underwhelming results
27th Feb 2013 15:42
Oilfield services group Petrofac was a big faller after underwhelming with a nine per cent rise in revenue and 17 per cent increase in net profit in 2012. The firm´s plans to invest around $1bn in capital outlays over the next five years displeased some analysts. Eurasian Natural Resources Corpora
Read moreLondon midday: Sentiment still fragile after inconclusive Italian elections
27th Feb 2013 11:28
Markets across Europe were staging a slight rebound on Wednesday but sentiment was still fragile as political instability in Italy spread fears that the Eurozone crisis could drag on for some time yet. Stocks sank yesterday (FTSE 100 down 1.3%, Cac 40 down 2.7% and FTSE MIB down 4.9%) in the wake o
Read moreLondon open: Markets claw back after sell-off
27th Feb 2013 08:40
Stock markets rebounded slightly on Wednesday morning following a sell-off the day before after the disappointing outcome to the national elections in Italy. Equities across Europe were sold off yesterday in the wake of the Italian elections which revealed growing support for anti-austerity parties
Read moreLondon pre-open: Modest gains expected on FTSE in early trading
27th Feb 2013 07:29
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 16 points from yesterday's close of 6,270, tracking US stocks which finished in positive territory on Tuesday, bucking the trend seen across Europe, as investors shrugged off the political instability in Italy and focused on comments from Federal Reserv
Read moreCentrica earnings heat up
27th Feb 2013 07:02
Energy company Centrica said 2012 earnings rose as cold weather during the year pushed up gas consumption. Adjusted earnings climbed 5.0% to £1.4bn, or 27.1p per share, for the year to December 31st, 2012 as domestic gas consumption increased 12%. Revenues also grew 5.0% to £23.9bn while total ad
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: UK rating, RBS, Centrica...
25th Feb 2013 06:54
Britain will take 'several years' to get back its AAA credit rating, Kenneth Clarke warned yesterday as the Tory Right called on George Osborne to change direction. Backbenchers said that the Chancellor should cut spending further, and reduce taxes and fuel duty in the wake of the ratings agency Moo
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Sterling, BoE, Centrica
18th Feb 2013 06:57
Hedge funds and investment managers are dumping sterling as disappointing economic growth in the UK, the threat of a downgrade of its debt and an upcoming change of guard at the Bank of England have fuelled concerns about a drop in the country's asset values. More speculators are shorting the pound
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