Broker tips: HSBC, Compass, Foxtons, Standard Life
30th Jun 2015 10:37
Goldman Sachs has removed banking giant HSBC from its 'conviction buy' list and cut its recommendation on the stock to 'neutral', slashing its target price from 760p to 690p. Goldman said its investment case on HSBC was predicated on a strategic shift towards geographic streamlining and meaningful i
Read moreSocGen cuts Compass to 'sell' as least well positioned in catering sector
30th Jun 2015 09:22
With several trends set to benefit the European economy, Societe Generale's scrutiny of the contract catering sector picked out Elior as its preferred stock and saw Compass downgraded to a 'sell'. "Given its high sensitivity to the economy, the contract catering industry should benefit from a declin
Read moreLondon open: FTSE drops to January lows on Grexit fears
30th Jun 2015 08:48
UK stocks were trading at levels not seen since the start of the year on Tuesday morning as fears about a Greek exit from the Eurozone intensified. With Greece's current bailout set to expire on the same day that Athens faces a debt repayment to the IMF, investors were once again scaling back their
Read moreLondon close: Stocks snap five-day winning streak as Greek hopes fade
25th Jun 2015 17:12
UK stock markets finished in the red for the first time in six days on Thursday after another Eurogroup meeting failed to result in a deal for Greece, leaving Athens one step closer to defaulting on its debts. The FTSE 100, which had hit a high of 6,869.04 in morning trade, settled 36.98 points lowe
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Admiral hit by downgrade, Tesco higher on bid speculation
25th Jun 2015 13:29
UK stocks inched lower on Thursday as investors continued to fret over the Greek debt crisis, with creditors issuing an ultimatum to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. As of 14:00, the FTSE 100 was trading 0.3% lower at 6,825. Insurer Admiral declined after Citigroup downgraded the stock to 'sell' from
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks inch higher as Greek crisis comes down to the wire
25th Jun 2015 11:30
UK stock markets swung into positive territory on Thursday though gains were only modest as investors awaited further news on the Greek debt crisis, after creditors issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. As negotiations over the next tranche of bailout aid come down to the wire, lende
Read moreLondon open: Stocks snap winning streak as Greek hopes fade
25th Jun 2015 08:36
UK stocks snapped a five-day winning streak on Thursday morning as hopes for an overnight Greek debt deal were dashed, with Athens and its creditors failing to come to an agreement. The FTSE 100 was trading 0.21% lower at 6,830.50 early on. Greece remained "firm on its position", according to a Gre
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Greece, RBS, Altice/Bouygoes Telecom
22nd Jun 2015 06:43
Greek creditors are hoping to secure a deal to stop Athens defaulting and leaving the euro by extending its bailout by six months and supplying up to €18n in rescue funds, writes The Guardian. However, officials stressed that progress hinged on a positive response from Greek PM Alexis Tsipras. RBS i
Read moreLondon close: Stocks end on back foot on Greek debt woes
12th Jun 2015 17:09
The UK stock market ended on the back foot on Friday as concerns about ongoing Greek debt talks continued to weigh on investor sentiment. The FTSE 100 was down 0.90% at 6,786 at the close after the International Monetary Fund's technical team quit discussions due to a lack of progress from Athens.
Read moreBroker tips: Whitbread, Compass Group, Infinis Energy
12th Jun 2015 11:45
Canaccord Genuity has lifted its recommendation on Costa and Premier Inn owner Whitbread from 'hold' to 'buy', saying it sees upside with the group on track to hit its medium-term targets. Analyst Nigel Parson said Whitbread's market-leading positions via Premier Inn and Costa mean the company is "w
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks drop as Greek negotiations hit rough patch
12th Jun 2015 11:44
The UK stock market was firmly in the red on Friday as jitters about ongoing Greek debt talks continued to weigh on sentiment. The FTSE 100 was down 0.61% at 6,805.13 by midday after the International Monetary Fund's technical team quit discussions due to a lack of progress from Athens. The IMF on
Read moreCompass Group cut to 'neutral' by Exane BNP Paribas
12th Jun 2015 09:23
Exane BNP Paribas downgraded Compass Group to 'neutral' from 'outperform' and cut the price target to 1,240p from 1,330p. "After years of outperformance, we believe Compass may no longer be the best choice in the sector," it said, noting a preference for Sodexo. Exane said that Compass is now worki
Read moreLondon close: Stocks rise but weak US data dampens gains
13th May 2015 16:34
UK stocks rose on Wednesday but upside was only modest after data showed that American retail sales growth slowed to a standstill last month. The FTSE 100 finished 0.23% higher at 6,949.63, but settled firmly below the intraday high of 6,989.91. Shares extended gains in morning trade after the Bank
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Mondi surges on strong profits, Admiral hit by CEO resignation
13th May 2015 13:15
UK stocks rebounded on Wednesday, driven by the Bank of England pushing back rate-hike predictions and a dip in unemployment. Sector-wise, property stocks extended gains, while miners and supermarkets dipped. As of 02:10, the FTSE 100 was trading 9 points, or 0.28% higher at 6,954, with Mondi toppin
Read moreBroker tips: Easyjet, Compass Group, Burberry
13th May 2015 11:16
Numis Securities has lowered its recommendation for budget airline Easyjet from 'buy' to 'add' on the back of "near-term uncertainty". The broker said the "underlying investment case remains intact" but cut earnings estimates, saying that revenue per seat growth expectations are being tempered. Ber
Read more