London midday: Stocks gain momentum ahead of ECB and non-farm payrolls
3rd Jul 2014 11:22
- ECB, US jobs data in focus this afternoon - UK and Eurozone services PMIs weaken - Balfour Beatty disappoints as Engineering Services worsens - Antofagasta rises on shake-up plans in Chile techMARK 2,848.70 +0.57% FTSE 100 6,851.75 +0.52% FTSE 250 15,998.50 +0.64% The FTSE 100 was putting in dec
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise ahead of ECB, US jobs data
3rd Jul 2014 09:05
- Draghi in focus at ECB meeting - Non-farm payrolls could surprise - Balfour drops as Engineering Services worsens - Poundland impresses with maiden results techMARK 2,842.92 +0.37% FTSE 100 6,829.17 +0.19% FTSE 250 15,922.27 +0.16% UK stocks edged higher on Thursday morning, though upside was li
Read moreGreene King boosts annual profit but consumers stay cautious
3rd Jul 2014 07:31
A growing appetite among consumers for eating out in pubs helped Greene King to serve up tastier annual profits, although it warned that consumers were still cautious. Greene King, which owns the Hungry Horse pub restaurant chain, said a 5% rise in like-for-like food sales had driven a 4.1% increas
Read moreThursday preview: US non-farm payrolls and ECB in focus
2nd Jul 2014 18:01
The Thursday session will bring with it a torrent of economic data and events. Foremost amongst those will be the monthly US non-farm payrolls report, which may have a large bearing on investors' interest rate expectations. Alongside that report, and also in the US, traders will tune in to the lat
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
19th Jun 2014 08:56
BAE Systems: Westhouse Securities initiates with a target price of 360p and a sell recommendation. Berkeley Group: Deutsche Bank increases target price from 2587p to 2877p retaining a hold recommendation. Jefferies raises target price from 2477p to 2543p and keeps a hold recommendation. BG Group:
Read moreGreene King withdraws from Orchid sale process
23rd May 2014 13:09
Pub and brewing group Greene King on Friday said it had quit the race to buy rival Orchid, which had sparked takeover speculation in recent weeks. The company was one of six rumoured to be bidding for the pub company, which is being sold for around £250m by owner Deutsche Bank. Others said to be
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: James Fisher higher on growth expectations
1st May 2014 15:10
James Fisher and Sons, which provides marine services to a range of industries, jumped after giving an upbeat outlook for 2014, saying it expects 'further growth'. Expectations for the full-year remain unchanged at Go-Ahead Group, prompting the transport group higher. The group said trading in the
Read moreGreene King sells 275 pubs to Hawthorn Leisure
1st May 2014 08:13
Pub, restaurant and hotel operator Greene King has agreed to sell 275 of its tenanted and leased pubs in the UK to Hawthorn Leisure, backed by Avenue Capital Group and May Capital. The company said that the pubs, which were sold for a total £75.6m, were "non-core assets" and the deal is consistent
Read moreMother's Day gives Greene King sales boost in fourth quarter
30th Apr 2014 07:51
Pubs, restaurants and hotels group Greene King said it registered 'continued strong trading momentum' with its 22nd consecutive quarter of like-for-like (LFL) sales growth in the fourth quarter. The company noted "good growth" on key events such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter which all
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Russian sanctions, Reckitt, Kiev
28th Apr 2014 07:08
BP and Shell are facing an extremely delicate situation as the G7 prepares to launch another wave of sanctions against Russia. They may be forced to reduce their operations or freeze certain commercial ties with the country. Those new measures may come as soon as Monday unless the Kremlin takes imme
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks erase early gains, BoE holds rates
10th Apr 2014 11:50
- BoE holds rates, US jobless claims ahead - FOMC minutes reveal dovish stance - M&S erases gains after trading update - RBS pays to cancel dividend access share techMARK 2,733.65 +0.13% FTSE 100 6,640.82 +0.08% FTSE 250 16,217.66 +0.33% UK stocks mostly erased gains by Thursday lunchtime after th
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise strongly after Fed minutes
10th Apr 2014 08:32
- FOMC minutes reveal dovish stance - BoE, economic data in focus today - M&S, Hays and 888 gain after trading updates - RBS pays to cancel dividend access share techMARK 2,751.14 +0.77% FTSE 100 6,683.98 +0.73% FTSE 250 16,298.45 +0.83% UK stocks advanced on Thursday, following a strong performan
Read moreGreene King CFO takes medical leave of absence
10th Apr 2014 07:25
Pubs group Greene King has announced that its Chief Financial Officer Matthew Fearn has taken a temporary leave of absence to undergo urgent medical treatment. Fearn joined Greene King in September 2011, having previously worked at Brakes group, De Vere Group and Whitbread. "Our thoughts are with
Read moreJPMorgan more optmistic on UK pubs, upgrades Mitchells & Butlers
3rd Apr 2014 11:29
JPMorgan Cazenove has lifted its recommendation for Mitchells & Butlers from 'neutral' to 'overweight', saying that it is taking a more positive view on the UK pubs and restaurants sector. The Asda tracker of UK discretionary income was up 3% in February, representing the strongest growth for over
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
3rd Apr 2014 09:05
Associated British Foods: Citi increases target price from 2350p to 3000p, while its neutral rating remains unchanged. Booker Group: Investec shifts target price from 172p to 178p retaining a buy recommendation. BSkyB: HSBC Holdings moves target price from 600p to 610p, while keeping its underweig
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