London midday: Stocks extend gains as inflation falls sharply
21st May 2013 11:38
Stocks held on to 12-year highs on Tuesday morning as a sharp drop in consumer-price inflation lifted the outlook for the UK economy. Helping to keep markets in positive territory this morning was falling inflation in the UK. The rise in consumer prices slowed sharply from an annual rate of 2.8% to
Read moreBroker snap: Jefferies highlights 'substantial opportunity' at Capita
21st May 2013 10:45
Jefferies has kept its 'buy' rating and 1,010p target price for outsourcing giant Capita after a 'significant contract win' announced on Tuesday with O2. The company has been selected as the preferred bidder for a 10-year strategic partnership for customer management services with the network provi
Read moreLondon open: Markets hold on to 12-year highs
21st May 2013 08:30
Markets were trading within a narrow range on Tuesday morning after finishing at 12-year highs the day before, as traders consider how much further the impressive year-to-date rally has to go. The FTSE 100 finished at 6,755.63 on Monday afternoon, a level not seen since September 2000, while other
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small retreat expected in early trade
21st May 2013 07:24
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down seven points from yesterday's close of 6,756, having hit a 13-year high on Monday. US equities retreated Monday as investors sat tight ahead of the release of economic data and the Federal Reserve's minutes of its last policy meeting. The Fed will
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
21st May 2013 07:12
Antofagasta: Canaccord Genuity reduces target price from 1065p to 1040p, while leaving its hold recommendation unchanged. Barratt Developments: Goldman Sachs takes target price from 351p to 371p maintaining a buy recommendation. Big Yellow Group: Investec increases target price from 370p to 430p a
Read moreCapita scores O2 contract and ups full year guidance -UPDATE
21st May 2013 07:02
Outsourcing giant Capita has been selected by O2 as their preferred bidder to form a 10-year strategic partnership for customer management services. The group also announced that following the deal it has now secured over £2.0bn of major new and extended contracts to date in 2013 and as such expec
Read moreCapita selected as preferred bidder for council contract
20th May 2013 11:48
Outsourcing group Capita has been selected as the preferred bidder for a contract with Barnet Council's development and regulatory services. Under the agreement, which is worth around £154m over 10 years, the company will enter into a joint venture with the London Borough of Barnet and deliver serv
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Severn Trent tops index after bid approach is confirmed
14th May 2013 14:57
Severn Trent topped the leaderboard after it confirmed press speculation that it has received a bid approach from a consortium of investors, which is rumoured to value the UK utility company around 5.3bn pounds. In a statement released this morning, Severn Trent said it had received an approach with
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
14th May 2013 08:04
Babcock International: Jefferies increases target price from 1080p to 1250p and maintains a buy recommendation. Barratt Developments: Bank of America takes target price from 265p to 325p, while downgrading to neutral. Belgravium Technologies: WH Ireland places both its target price and its neutral
Read moreCapita seals sextet of deals in first quarter
14th May 2013 07:05
Outsourcing group Capita has secured six new major deals worth a total of 660m pounds since the start of the year. The FTSE 100 group, on the day of its annual general meeting, said it had made good financial progress in the first 19 weeks of the year and that it was "well placed" to grow in line
Read moreLondon close: Markets extend winning streak despite Fed concerns
13th May 2013 17:04
The FTSE 100 finished with slight gains on Monday, extending the recent winning streak into its eighth day, as markets shrugged off concerns over stimulus measures in the US and disappointing economic data in China. Following a strong rise last week, London's benchmark index reached a closing price
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: G4S in top spot after G8 contract win
13th May 2013 15:23
G4S leapt into the top spot after winning a deal to provide security at the two day Northern Ireland G8 Summit in June. It will provide 450 staff members to give support to the police. Antofagasta was another strong riser, erasing some of last week's losses after Nomura said it was one of several m
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
13th May 2013 07:18
Bioquell: Investec shifts target price from 136p to 141p and keeps a hold recommendation. blinkx: Canaccord Genuity moves target price from 125p to 135p reiterating its buy recommendation. Britvic: Panmure Gordon increases target price from 380p to 460p and retains a hold recommendation. BT Group
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners in retreat
26th Apr 2013 14:01
Heavyweight mining stocks were in the red today as risk appetite declined ahead of the US. ENRC, EVRAZ, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Fresnillo, Antofagasta and Glencore were among the worst performers. ENRC was the biggest faller after Business Secretary Vince Cable was called upon to launch an offi
Read moreLondon midday: Miners fall ahead of US growth figures
26th Apr 2013 12:08
Stocks in the UK slipped on Friday morning as traders took profits after a three-day winning streak with markets nervous ahead of economic growth data from the United States this afternoon. The US Commerce Department is expected to reveal that gross domestic product (GDP) in the world's largest eco
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