Easyjet praises Ryanair makeover as it posts record annual profits and hikes dividend
18th Nov 2014 07:11
Budget airline Easyjet posted record annual profits for the fourth year in a row, proposed a rise in its dividend of more than a third - and praised rival Ryanair's new customer-friendly image for giving it a lift. The Luton-based carrier said pre-tax profit in the year to 30 September rose 21.5% to
Read moreLondon close: Miners lead shares higher on gold price rise
7th Nov 2014 17:11
Miners and oil stocks led the London market modestly higher on Friday as gold and oil prices jumped on a weaker dollar and German trade data improved. Silver miner Fresnillo gleamed 34.5p to 734p and Randgold Resources glittered 58p to 4132p as gold prices rose about 2% and a barrel of US crude boun
Read moreEasyjet sees passenger traffic rise 5.5% in October
6th Nov 2014 07:32
Low-cost airline Easyjet reported a 5.5% increase in passenger numbers in October, though the annual rate of growth slowed down from previous months. Passenger numbers totalled 5.83m last month, compared with 5.53m in October 2013. Traffic improved by 7.5% year-on-year in September and by 8.4% in A
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Readacross from Ryanair lifts Easyjet and IAG
3rd Nov 2014 16:04
A strong performance by Ryanair helped lift shares in sector peers Easyjet and IAG. Ryanair's first-half net profits flew 32% higher to €795m thanks to a strong summer and the budget airline's customer charm offensive. More bad news out over the weekend didn't stop Tesco's share price rising on Mond
Read moreLondon close: Weak Eurozone manufacturing data drag shares lower
3rd Nov 2014 15:24
Weak European manufacturing data dragged London shares lower on Monday despite a rise in the sector's fortunes in the UK. The Eurozone Markit manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) for October fell to 50.6 from 50.7 previously with both Germany and Italy declining while France improved sligh
Read moreLondon midday: HSBC leads banks lower, as economic data comes in mixed
3rd Nov 2014 11:22
UK stocks pulled back from a four-week high on Monday morning after mixed global economic data and underwhelming results from banking heavyweight HSBC. After a positive start, the FTSE 100 had erased early gains and was trading 0.4% down at 6,521 by midday. The index closed at 6,546.47 on Friday, it
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks fluctuate at four-week high on China data, HSBC results
3rd Nov 2014 08:19
UK stocks opened cautiously on Monday, with upside limited by disappointing economic data from China and poorly-received results from HSBC after the banking group reported a drop in underlying third-quarter profits. The FTSE 100 was 0.1% higher at 6,554 in early deals, after having closed Friday's s
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
28th Oct 2014 09:18
Afren: Credit Suisse lowers target price from 132p to 115p staying with its outperform rating. African Barrick Gold: Westhouse moves target price from 230p to 240p and keeps an add rating. Anglo American: Investec reduces target price from 1603p to 1588p and keeps a buy recommendation. APR Energy:
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, GlaxoSmithKline, Airlines
27th Oct 2014 12:32
Lloyds may have passed the Europe-wide stress tests, but the UK's own bank-health checks may be an issue, according to broker Jefferies which downgraded the stock from 'hold' to 'underperform' on Monday. The broker reckons that Lloyds is now "at risk" ahead of the Prudential Regulation Authority's f
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks drop into the red after German data, ECB stress tests
27th Oct 2014 12:01
UK stocks had erased early gains by Monday lunchtime as ongoing concerns about Germany and the health of the wider Eurozone economy weighed on sentiment. The FTSE 100 was down 0.2% at 6,377 by midday, pulling back sharply after having touched an intraday high of 6,443.76 in early deals. News that G
Read moreMorgan Stanley takes upbeat view on Easyjet, Ryanair and IAG
27th Oct 2014 10:41
Despite ongoing concerns about the spread of Ebola and its effect on tourism, Morgan Stanley has recommended investors to buy shares of UK-listed airline peers Easyjet, Ryanair and IAG, hailing the companies' fundamentals. The bank has reiterated its 'overweight' rating on each stock, and lifted its
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
27th Oct 2014 10:05
Aquarius Platinum: Deutsche Bank shifts target price from 28p to 30p and maintains a buy recommendation. Dechra Pharmaceuticals: FinnCap ups target price from 800p to 840p and reiterates a buy recommendation. easyJet: Morgan Stanley moves target price from 1650p to 1665p leaving its overweight rati
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks hit by Ebola worries, travel stocks fall
24th Oct 2014 11:33
UK stocks fell on Friday morning after the FTSE 100 hit its highest level in two weeks the previous session, with investors treading cautiously after another reported case of Ebola in the States. The Footsie was down 0.3% at 6,397 by midday, but had pared losses after hitting a low of 6,374.24 early
Read moreLondon open: Ebola fears hit UK stocks after NY doctor tests positive for virus
24th Oct 2014 08:35
UK stocks experienced some selling pressure on Friday morning after rising to their highest in two weeks, as renewed concerns about the spread of Ebola weighed on market sentiment. The FTSE 100 was down 0.6% at 6,380 in early deals, after having closed Thursday's session at 6,419.15, its highest fin
Read moreCredit Suisse sees high potential for IAG's short-haul routes
23rd Oct 2014 15:05
International airline carrier IAG is the most attractive play on business model 'convergence' in its sector Credit Suisse wrote on Thursday. The company has the scope to drive returns by tapping into low cost carrier DNA and successfully challenge the conventional wisdom which holds that legacy carr
Read more