London afternoon: Experian provides isolated cheer
19th May 2010 14:13
Leading shares trimmed their losses over the lunchtime session but the predominant colour on the Footsie leaderboard remains red. Mining companies lead the retreat on fears that Germany's decision to impose an immediate ban on "naked short selling" of euro-denominated government bonds and also cred
Read moreBroker tips: Experian, Mitchells & Butlers, Spectris
19th May 2010 12:39
Preliminary results from credit checker Experian were ahead of expectations on the profits front but Charles Stanley says the key feature of the figures is the delivery of cash, with net debt tumbling from $2.1bn at the end of March 2009 to $1.6bn at the end of Mach 2010. "The reduction in debt and
Read moreBroker snap: Experian's own credit rating checks out
19th May 2010 11:39
Preliminary results from credit checker Experian were ahead of expectations on the profits front but Charles Stanley says the key feature of the figures is the delivery of cash, with net debt tumbling from $2.1bn at the end of March 2009 to $1.6bn at the end of Mach 2010. "The reduction in debt and
Read moreExperian to lift divi, launch $300m buyback
19th May 2010 07:41
Credit checking firm Experian will increase its interim dividend and launch a $300m share buyback programme as it sees signs of 'gradual recovery' in some of its key markets. For the year ended 31 March 2010 Experian reported pre-tax profit from continuing operations of $661m compared to $578m in 2
Read moreWednesday preview: Mitchells & Butlers, Speedy Hire, ICAP
18th May 2010 16:14
Pub group Mitchells & Butlers recently decided to concentrate on its core food brands after a strategic review. Broker KBC upgraded its FY2010E pre-tax to £155m and EPS to 27p, and FY2011E to £180m/31p on the back of the review. Plant hire specialist Speedy Hire's will report its year-end figures o
Read moreExperian, Sky form database marketing business
12th May 2010 09:09
Credit checking firm Experian has agreed to divest part of its UK database marketing activities to a newly formed business venture with satellite broadcaster BSkyB. The new company, in which Sky will hold a majority stake, will provide consumer and media insight services and customer management cap
Read moreExperian to exit FARES JV
23rd Apr 2010 07:43
Credit checking firm Experian is completely exiting its First American Real Estate Solutions (FARES) joint venture with The First American Corporation. First American is exercising its option to buy up Experian's remaining stake in FARES for around $314m, payable by the end of this year. Following
Read moreSunday tips round-up: Standard Chartered, Experian, Primary Health
18th Apr 2010 11:51
The Sunday Telegraph's Questor column says banking group Standard Chartered is well placed for growth thanks to its focus on emerging markets, where the demographics are most favourable. It is in these areas where most of the population growth that is estimated to happen over the next few decades
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Experian, WPP, Uniq
16th Apr 2010 06:16
There is no need to check on Experian's credit. At yesterday's 616½p, the shares trade at 14 times current-year earnings. This is not stretched given Experian's strong market position, high operating margins and the gearing of profits to an improvement in bank lending. Hold on, says the Times. Sir
Read moreLondon close: Footsie at 22-month high
15th Apr 2010 17:12
The afternoon saw many leading shares consolidate or extend the morning's gains, solidifying the Footsie's position above 5800. Banks led the advance after better than expected results from US investment bank JP Morgan yesterday. Barclays received a boost from Execution Noble, which raised its targ
Read moreLondon afternoon: Brokers boost banks
15th Apr 2010 14:25
Footsie is keeping its head above 5800, climbing a bit further over the lunch time session despite expectations of a soft start on Wall Street. After better than expected results from US investment bank JP Morgan yesterday investors are keen on UK banks such as Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and
Read moreBroker tips: Experian, Atkins, Hasgrove
15th Apr 2010 12:46
The improvement in the fourth quarter organic growth rate at credit checker Experian 'bodes well for the new financial year' but Charles Stanley says it is probably still too early to uncork the champagne. The broker notes that 'there was a large swing in the performance of Decision Analytics which
Read moreLondon midday: Flat Footsie
15th Apr 2010 11:50
Leading shares remain mixed , with laggards among FTSE 100 constituents now marginally outnumbering leaders. Experian is the worst performing blue-chip. The credit checking firm saw revenues from continuing operations rise for the six months to March but revenues at its UK operations fell in the pe
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks keep Footsie up
15th Apr 2010 11:45
London's leading shares are just above flat as good gains from banks are being offset by weak defensives. Investors are keen on the likes of Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC Holdings but defensives are proving a drag. Reckitt Benckiser, Unilever are lower while G4S, Centrica and Thomas Coo
Read moreBroker snap: More potential for growth at Experian
15th Apr 2010 10:24
The improvement in the fourth quarter organic growth rate at credit checker Experian 'bodes well for the new financial year' but Charles Stanley says it is probably still too early to uncork the champagne. The broker notes that 'there was a large swing in the performance of Decision Analytics which
Read more