Weekend 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
Read moreBroker tips: Compass, Paragon, Afren
24th Nov 2010 13:03
Charles Stanley expects Compass Group to reinvest in growth and deliver steady margin expansion as it is well placed for significant structural growth opportunities in both food and support services around the world. The contract caterer's organic revenue growth improved from 0.4% in the first half
Read moreBroker snap: Rebased dividend reflects confidence in Compass
24th Nov 2010 12:46
Charles Stanley expects Compass Group to reinvest in growth and deliver steady margin expansion as it is well placed for significant structural growth opportunities in both food and support services around the world. The contract caterer reported a 4.7% increase in revenue to £14.5bn (in constant c
Read moreLondon midday: Shares holding on
24th Nov 2010 12:24
Shares remain in the blue after some well-received company updates this morning, although the euro crisis is still looming in the background. Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has cut its debt rating for Ireland as the Irish government puts the finishing touches to a four-year plan to
Read moreLondon open: Footsie opens higher
24th Nov 2010 08:46
London has opened better than expected thanks to a rebound by the miners and a smattering of good trading updates. There has also been some easing of tension in Korea, though not in Europe where the EU is heaping pressure on Ireland to agree to its bail-out. UK banks are weak again becasue of the
Read moreLondon pre-open: Bad news for Footsie
24th Nov 2010 07:35
A three-figure retreat on Wall Street overnight looks like turning City dealing screens red in opening deals, with tensions in Korea and debt fears in Europe casting a cloud. The Dow Jones fell more than 140 points Tuesday and London is expected to lose 40 points in no time at all, according to fut
Read moreCompass to focus on emerging markets
24th Nov 2010 07:13
A bullish Compass has upped its dividend by a third as cash and new business flowed through the contract caterer's door over the past year. Revenues rose by 7.6% (4.7% in constant currency terms) to £14.5bn in the year to September, with underlying growth of 3.2%. That represents a sharp improveme
Read moreWednesday preview: UU, Compass, Johnson Matthey
23rd Nov 2010 18:30
Like Severn Trent, which posted interim results on Tuesday, United Utilities' interims will be the first set of results under the new price control regime that runs until 2015. Charles Stanley expects profits of £163m and EPS of 17.5p. The dividend is expected to be 12% lower at 9.8p. "UU has head
Read moreWeek ahead: US GDP, Mitchells & Butlers, Severn Trent...
19th Nov 2010 15:22
Pubs group Mitchells & Butlers' recent nine week trading update highlighted a 3.6% like-for-like sales improvement on last year. Food sales were, as usual, the driver of growth but even the "wet" side of the business saw a pick-up. Brokers now expect the All Bar One and Harvester owner to post pro
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