London midday: Mixed reception for company updates
3rd Feb 2011 12:31
Stocks have moved in both directions following updates this morning, but fallers hold sway, helping to keep the top share index in the red. Royal Dutch Shell is a faller even though the oil titan more than quadrupled fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production a
Read moreLondon open: Mixed reception for company updates
3rd Feb 2011 08:27
Stocks are moving in both directions after updating the market and the top share index is currently in the red by about a dozen points. Royal Dutch Shell is a faller even though the oil titan more than quadrupled fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production and c
Read moreCompass Q1 sales up 5%
3rd Feb 2011 07:47
Contract caterer Compass Group said revenue growth seen in the second half of 2010 continued into the first quarter of the new financial year, with organic revenue growth of around 5.5%. "This reflects strong growth both in foodservice and in our fast growing support services business and we are en
Read moreBroker tips: BP, Vodafone, Compass
2nd Feb 2011 13:44
While BP still remains in transition mode in 2011, Credit Suisse says the shares continue to offer good valuation upside despite the uncertainty surrounding its Macondo well liabilities. The oil giant gave its first strategy update since the oil spill in April, in which it unveiled a "solid strateg
Read moreBroker snap: Renewed quest for growth for Compass
2nd Feb 2011 13:13
Even though Compass has underperformed the FTSE 100 in the past six months, Panmure Gordon predicts ongoing upside potential for the contract caterer. The broker notes that over the 2006-10 period, shares appreciated 150% (versus a 5% increase in the FTSE 100) after the group exited loss-making con
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Another discovery for BG
26th Jan 2011 12:47
BG Group has been boosted by yet another discovery in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil. The latest strike is at Carioca North-East, located in a water depth of 2,151m, approximately 275km off the coast of São Paulo state. BG has a 30% stake. Mining companies are rising again today. Anglo American
Read moreBroker tips: Compass, Wolseley, Daisy
7th Dec 2010 13:09
Nomura foresees further medium-term growth from Compass Group as the contract caterer is set to benefit from its 2010 acquisitions. Nomura's forecast for 2011 earnings before interest and tax has been increased by 1-2% as Nomura incorporates the annualised contribution, equating to £10m, from Compa
Read moreBroker snap: Compass to see growth in the medium-term
7th Dec 2010 11:05
Nomura foresees further medium-term growth from Compass Group as the contract caterer is set to benefit from its 2010 acquisitions. Nomura's forecast for 2011 earnings before interest and tax has been increased by 1-2% as Nomura incorporates the annualised contribution, equating to £10m, from Compa
Read moreWeekend tips round-up: Davis Service, Compass, Berkeley...
5th Dec 2010 10:56
Davis Service operates a broad-based British and Continental business, renting out work uniforms, sheets, towels and even surgeons' operating gowns as well as doormats. The starategy is to concentrate on areas where it is doing well, such as uniform and mat rental, and spend less time and money on
Read moreLife's A Party for Compass
30th Nov 2010 15:55
Contract caterer Compass Group is to buy an Aussie food service business based in Victoria. Compass is paying up to A$22.5m (£14.1m) in cash for Life's A Party Group (LAPG), which primarily operates in the education and leisure sectors. LAPG provides an excellent opportunity for Compass Group Aust
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Jitters for financials
30th Nov 2010 14:42
Financials continue to be weak on eurozone debt worries. Banks, such as Barclays and RBS, are vulnerable to further problems in the eurozone but other financials, such as Standard Life, are also lower. Vedanta Resources has decided to put off the flotation of Konkola Resources until 2011. Brit
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Afren, Pennon, PayPoint...
26th Nov 2010 06:43
Oil explorer Afren's Okwok appraisal well in Nigeria established that there was a minimum economic field size of 25m barrels of oil equivalent (boe), confirming that the find is commercial. The field may be a standalone operation or it may be a satellite to the company's nearby Ebok field, which is
Read moreLondon close: US jobs data lifts sentiment
24th Nov 2010 16:44
Footsie put its early uncertainty behind it to close with good gains, helped by strong jobs figures from the US which cheered global markets following the jitteriness of the last couple of days. First-time jobless claims fell by a bigger than expected 34,000 to 407,000 in the week ended 20 November
Read moreSector movers: Leisure stocks in demand
24th Nov 2010 15:42
Leisure stocks are going well today after well-received updates. Caterer Compass is wanted after upping its dividend by a third as cash and new business flowed through the contract caterer's door over the past year. A rather different kind of leisure stock, Sportingbet, the online bookie, is wante
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rolls celebrates another big order
24th Nov 2010 14:36
Barely a dozen or so FTSE 100 constituents are in the red today as the blue-chip index sets about clawing back some of the losses of the last two days, despite continued concerns about the Irish debt crisis and the military tensions in Korea. Better than expected jobs data from the US put investors
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