Trains companies will face fines for delays of even one minute
21st Jun 2016 10:46
(ShareCast News) - Train companies will be fined if their services run even one minute later than scheduled in a government effort to restore confidence in the rail network, according to reports on Tuesday. Future rail franchises will include rules that will impose penalties or dock funding from ope
Read moreFirstGroup to partner with MTR on South Western bid
16th Jun 2016 07:57
(ShareCast News) - Transport operator FirstGroup said on Thursday that Hong Kong metro operator MTR Corporation will join the company in a joint venture bid for the South Western rail franchise. FirstGroup noted that MTR, which will take a 30% stake in the JV, has run successful suburban and commute
Read moreWednesday newspaper share tips: Premier Farnell and FirstGroup
15th Jun 2016 13:50
(ShareCast News) - Premier Farnell shareholders should accept a decent price for a fading business, opines the Financial Times' Lex column after yesterday's recommended bid by Daetwyler. The Leeds-based outfit made most of its money by distributing electronic components and rivalry in the market has
Read moreFirstGroup posts rise in FY profit despite drop in revenue
14th Jun 2016 08:01
(ShareCast News) - FirstGroup reported a rise in full-year profit despite a drop in revenue following the loss of rail franchises. In its preliminary results for the year to the end of March, the transport operator said statutory pre-tax profit rose 7.3% from 2015 to £113.5m, despite a 13.8% decline
Read moreStagecoach and FirstGroup to battle on East Coast
12th May 2016 08:06
(ShareCast News) - Passengers on the East Coast Main Line were being promised more choice on Thursday, with the Office of Rail and Road granting both Virgin Trains East Coast and FirstGroup rights to operate new services on the London-to-Edinburgh railway. FTSE 250 firm Stagecoach - which owns 90% o
Read moreStagecoach-Virgin face open access competition on East Coast train line
9th May 2016 07:59
(ShareCast News) - Bad news for Stagecoach and Virgin Trains emerged as a report commission by the Office of Rail and Road backed proposals to introduce 'open access' competition to the east coast main line between London and Edinburgh. A report by engineering consultants CH2M Hill commissioned by t
Read moreFirstGroup fourth quarter in line; to cut number of trading updates
7th Apr 2016 07:43
(ShareCast News) - FirstGroup confirmed its overall results for the fourth quarter were in line with management's expectations as it announced a reduction in the number of trading updates it publishes in light of changes in regulatory requirements and market practice. The FTSE 250 transport operator
Read moreStagecoach, FirstGroup dash hopes of early start to new London Overground
4th Feb 2016 08:14
(ShareCast News) - Londoners' hopes for an early start to the new Overground operation were dashed by the Department for Transport on Thursday, with the announcement two private operators had been pre-qualified to run the next South Western franchise. Incumbent operator of South West Trains, Stageco
Read moreFriday broker round-up
29th Jan 2016 16:47
(ShareCast News) - Experian: Exane BNP Paribas upgrades to outperform with a 1350p target. Mitchells & Butlers: JP Morgan downgrades to neutral with 370p target, down from 420p Dcc: Exane BNP Paribas promotes to outperform with 6200p target. Lonmin: HSBC upgrades to buy, target 76p; Deutsche reite
Read moreBroker tips: Lonmin, FirstGroup, Sky
29th Jan 2016 12:13
(ShareCast News) - After a poor share price performance, HSBC has upgraded Lonmin from 'hold' to 'buy' but has cut its target price from 135p to 76p. The company's first quarter production report out on Thursday was mixed, according to the investment bank. "Safety stoppages impeded production momen
Read moreRBC downgrades FirstGroup after profit warning
29th Jan 2016 09:53
(ShareCast News) - RBC Capital Markets cut FirstGroup to 'underperform' from 'sector perform' and downgraded the price target to 85p from 110p following the company's profit warning on Thursday. It noted the group delivered another profit miss for full year 2015/16 from its third quarter update, add
Read moreLondon close: Stocks end lower on lacklustre UK GDP
28th Jan 2016 16:07
(ShareCast News) - London stocks ended lower on Thursday after uninspiring UK fourth quarter economic growth data. The Office for National Statistics said UK gross domestic product rose 0.5% quarter-on-quarter in the final three months of 2015, up from 0.4% in the third quarter, as expected by analy
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Oil stocks surge as crude prices rise
28th Jan 2016 14:43
(ShareCast News) - The FTSE 250 was back in the red by mid-afternoon on Thursday, down 12.76 points (0.08%) to 16,268.22. Melrose Industries was the biggest faller after it returned around £2.4bn in cash back to shareholders. The company gave 240p for each share held after the £3.3bn disposal of its
Read moreFirstGroup cuts profit outlook due to "challenging" environment
28th Jan 2016 07:57
(ShareCast News) - Shares in transport operator FirstGroup slid on Thursday after it lowered its operating profit guidance for the current financial year amid a challenging trading environment. In the three months to 26 December, revenue dropped 9.5% at constant currency. The company said this refle
Read moreCMA backs travel cards for further government exemption
10th Dec 2015 11:15
(ShareCast News) - UK competition regulators have recommended extending the exemption of multi-operator travelcard ticketing schemes from competition law. Although the Competition and Markets Authority was concerned that agreements between transport operators can sometimes raise competition concerns
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