Thursday tips round-up: Smiths Group, Gooch & Housego, SThree...
9th Jun 2011 07:15
Smiths shares, down 24p at £11.76½p after yesterday's trading statement, are now back to about where they were before the bid speculation began. The statement is short on detail, but underlying sales at the end of May, ten months into the financial year, were ahead of a year before. John Crane, abou
Read moreGooch & Housego more than doubles profit
8th Jun 2011 08:19
Half year profit more than doubled at optical components maker Gooch & Housego after robust demand for lasers used in manufacturing. Adjusted profit before tax rose to £5m for the six months ended 31 March 2011 from £2.2m before. Revenue increased to £27.2m from £20.4m previously after strong growt
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 soars past 6,000
1st Apr 2011 16:38
Shares have moved back above the 6,000 point mark as economic data from the US stoked optimism. Private non-farm payrolls rose by 216,000 in March, versus consensus expectations for a 190,000 person increase. Also, the unemployment rate fell unexpectedly, to 8.8% (Consensus: 8.9%). Average hourly e
Read moreLondon afternoon: US jobs data provides fresh impetus
1st Apr 2011 14:28
The release of generally favourable US non-farm payrolls data has given London shares fresh impetus. Some disappointing factory data here has failed to dull investor appetite. The March UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index PMI fell unexpectedly to 57.1 points, against consensus expectations f
Read moreGooch & Housego buys Crystal Technology
1st Apr 2011 07:29
Optical components maker Gooch & Housego announced its has bought California based acousto-optic manufacturer Crystal Technology for $13.75m. The deal comprises of $9.625m for the business and $4.125m in respect of near cash equivalents being left in the business upon sale, Gooch & Housego confirme
Read moreLondon close: Shares slump as Libya worries linger
23rd Feb 2011 16:52
More weakness in the US helped send shares in London sharply lower, with the Libyan crisis and the consequent higher oil price weighing on sentiment. Brent crude for April delivery surged to more than $109 per barrel shortly after 2pm, though it has dipped down below $109 again since then. The $3+
Read moreLondon afternoon: Oil lubricates slippery slope
23rd Feb 2011 14:22
An attempted rally in the morning was already fizzling out as the afternoon started, and prices continued to drift lower over the lunchtime trading session, as investors continue to fret about the higher oil price. Brent crude for April delivery surged to more than $109 per barrel shortly after 2pm
Read moreLondon midday: Shares stuck lower amid Libya worries
23rd Feb 2011 12:02
The higher oil price amid continuing turmoil in Libya is helping to keep shares in the red, though company updates have been given a mixed reception. Brent crude hit over $107 per barrel, up 1% today, as the violence and rhetoric in Libya increased. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi vowed to fight a gr
Read moreLondon open: Libya casts pall over blue chips
23rd Feb 2011 08:51
London has opened with Libya on its mind amid fears that the unrest sweeping through the country and the Middle East could destabilise Bahrain as well. Brent crude hit over $107 per barrel, up 1% today, as the violence and rhetoric in Libya increased. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi vowed to fight a
Read moreGooch & Housego trading ahead of expectations
23rd Feb 2011 08:04
Optical components maker Gooch & Housego said its financial year has started positively with trading ahead of management expectations in the first four months. The group said it had experienced strong demand for its products across all of its sectors. "Against a background of favourable market con
Read moreGooch & Housego finance boss sells stake
28th Jan 2011 17:01
Gooch & Housego's finance director Andrew Boteler has sold nearly half of his holding in the optical components and systems supplier. Boteler sold 13,000 shares and his wife another 2,000 shares. They were all sold at 515p each, raising a total of £77,250. Boteler still owns 16,065 shares. Botel
Read moreGooch & Housego recommences dividends
30th Nov 2010 16:06
Strong recovery in the industrial market has helped photonic components supplier Gooch & Housego almost double its underlying profit in the year to September 2010 and announce a dividend. AIM-quoted G&H's products go into lasers and other capital equipment and it is demand for this equipment from
Read moreLondon close: Five month high for FTSE 100
5th Oct 2010 16:37
An uncertain start to the day was a distant memory by trading's close as shares surged following a strong start in the US, helping Footsie hit its highest levels in five months. US stocks were boosted by better than expected growth in service companies in the world's biggest economy in September. T
Read moreLondon afternoon: Sunny side up for London
5th Oct 2010 14:10
Winners outnumber losers by about three to one among FTSE 100 constituents as London participates in the advance of global stock markets following the Bank of Japan's decision to cut its benchmark interest rate. Sentiment has also been given a boost by reports of growth in activity in the services
Read moreLondon midday: Kazakhmys chairman sells 11%
5th Oct 2010 12:10
Footsie clung on to modest gains throughout the morning session but trading volumes have been light, with investors keeping their powder dry ahead of Thursday's announcement from the Bank of England about quantitative easing. Sentiment was given a boost by reports of growth in activity in the servi
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