London open: Potential strike on Syria worries investors early on
4th Sep 2013 08:32
Stocks declined on Wednesday morning on concerns over an imminent Western military intervention in Syria, with investors also choosing to scale back positions ahead of a number of 'risk events' later on in the week. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee last night gave the green light on a US atta
Read moreLondon close: Economists nudge GDP forecasts higher
23rd Aug 2013 16:26
Equities moved moderately higher on the second to last Friday of the summer despite economic figures out in the afternoon which revealed a far larger than expected fall in new US home sales. Somewhat ironically, at least for now that won equity markets a small reprieve from the recent incessant cl
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Croda International, WPP, Aggreko
23rd Aug 2013 14:03
Specialty chemical maker Croda International surged after Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock to 'buy' from 'hold' on expectations that top-line growth will pick up. WPP rallied after the advertising agency said its data investment business Kantar acquired The Benenson Strategy Group, a research and c
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise after UK GDP revision
23rd Aug 2013 12:00
Upwards revisions to UK economic growth in the second quarter gave stocks a bit of a boost on Friday morning, though gains were limited as investors scaled back risk appetite ahead of a long three-day weekend. UK gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter is now said to have been 0.7
Read moreLondon open: Markets pause after strong rise
23rd Aug 2013 08:39
It was a subdued start for equity markets in London on Friday with the FTSE 100 opening broadly flat as investors adopted a cautious approach going into the long weekend. Stocks were pausing for breath early on after a strong rise the day before on the back of improving economic data from across th
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
23rd Aug 2013 08:04
Afren: Canaccord Genuity cuts target price from 220p to 190p, while leaving its buy recommendation unaltered. AVEVA Group: Liberum Capital initiates with a target price of 2350p and a hold recommendation. Carillion: Numis reduces target price from 350p to 315p, while its hold recommendation remain
Read moreSector movers: Synthomer lifts chemical stocks higher
13th Aug 2013 15:10
The chemicals sector was the best performing sector on Tuesday with results from FTSE 250 firm Synthomer Synthomer, the materials group involved in a number of industries including paper, construction and health, received a positive reaction to its first-half report today despite registering a fall
Read moreWife of DS Smith CEO sells 5.6m-pound stake
24th Jul 2013 15:53
The wife of DS Smith frontman Miles Roberts sold a substantial sum of shares in the packaging and office supplies firm on the same day it was revealed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) received a big pay increase last year. The move came on Tuesday, the same day DS Smith released its annual report
Read moreLondon close: Gains erased after US data misses forecasts
23rd Jul 2013 16:28
Worse-than-expected economic data from the US saw markets across Europe erase their earlier gains on Tuesday, as the FTSE 100 fell into the red despite a strong performance in the mining sector.. Home prices in the States continued to increase in May but at a worse-than-expected rate: the Federal H
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners jump; Tullow sinks after well update
23rd Jul 2013 14:44
Mining stocks were among the best performing stocks on Tuesday as concerns over a 'hard landing' in China were eased by comments from the Premier and his second in command. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is reported to have stood by the government target for economic growth of 7.5% in 2013 and assured
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 lifted by Sage, mining stocks
23rd Jul 2013 11:38
A well-received trading update from Sage Group and strong gains in the mining sector lifted the FTSE 100 into positive territory on Tuesday morning, with sentiment lifted by reassuring comments about Chinese economic growth. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is reported to have stood by the government ta
Read moreBroker tips: Croda, Ladbrokes, Premier Foods
23rd Jul 2013 11:30
Interim results from Croda International may have just about met consensus forecasts, but Canaccord Genuity said it was slightly disappointed, leaving its 'sell' rating for the stock. "The stock commands a premium that the fundamentals no longer justify. This is now the fourth straight quarter of b
Read moreBroker snap: Canaccord says Croda is a 'clear sell'
23rd Jul 2013 10:25
Interim results from Croda International may have just about met consensus forecasts, but Canaccord Genuity said it was slightly disappointed, leaving its 'sell' rating for the stock. Sales rose 1.3% to £562.7m while pre-tax profit rose 6.3% to £133.1m. However, second-quarter earnings before inte
Read moreLondon open: Miners jump on hopes over Chinese growth
23rd Jul 2013 08:17
Fading hopes of a 'hard landing' in China lifted stocks in the heavyweight mining sector on Tuesday, meaning that the FTSE 100 opened with solid gains early on. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang assured that economic growth would not fall below the bottom line this year of 7.0%. He called for the governme
Read moreLondon pre-open: Gains expected on hopes over Chinese growth
23rd Jul 2013 07:30
Stocks are expected to advance on Tuesday morning, bouncing strongly after moderate falls the day before, tracking Asian markets higher overnight on hopes over growth in China. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 28 points from yesterday's close of 6,623. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang assu
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