Greene King delivers solid interims but remains cautious
4th Dec 2012 07:15
Pub operator Greene King has delivered solid interim results driven by a good performance from its retail division, although warned that trading conditions are likely to remain challenging for the rest of the year. For the 24 weeks ended October 14th, revenues grew 7.3% to £566.2m (H1 2012: £527.5m
Read moreTuesday preview: Interim profits to rise at Greene King
3rd Dec 2012 16:30
First-half results from pubs giant Greene King will be released on Tuesday morning with the market expecting a slight improvement in profits. The company had reported a strong start to the year in September with like-for-like (LFL) sales up 5.1% in the first 18 weeks despite the poor summer weather
Read moreLondon close: Growth concerns sink stocks for second straight day
9th Oct 2012 16:35
- Miners gain, but Footsie finishes firmly lower - IMF cuts forecasts; investors nervous ahead of Alcoa - UK economic data paints gloomy picture - Crude rises on Mid-East tensions With the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cutting its growth forecasts and Wall Street starting on the back foot ahead
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Hays tops risers as quarter beats expectations
9th Oct 2012 15:56
After first quarter results came in ahead of expectations, recruitment firm Hays jumped early on and remained a high riser through the session. The company said that markets were overall stable through the first quarter though group net fees fell by one per cent year-on-year. Seymour Pierce upgrad
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
9th Oct 2012 09:05
3i Group: Morgan Stanley raises target from 221p to 233p, equal weight rating kept. Aberdeen Asset Management: Morgan Stanley raises target from 315p to 365p, overweigh rating kept. Aggreko: HSBC downgrades to neutral. Alternative Networks: Westhouse upgrades to strong buy. ASOS: Panmure Gordon
Read moreMonday broker round-up
10th Sep 2012 09:13
Barclays: UBS raises target from 205p to 235p, buy rating unchanged. Chariot Oil & Gas: Peel Hunt downgrades to sell, target cut from 150p to 40p; Merchant Securities downgrades to sell, target cut from 232p to 29p. Debenhams: Seymour Pierce raises target from 80p to 100p, hold rating kept. Euras
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Ashtead jumps after bullish guidance
4th Sep 2012 14:43
While the miners were dominating the downward trend on the second-tier FTSE 250 index on Tuesday afternoon, there were a handful of outperformers, most notably high-flying plant hire firm Ashtead. Ashtead saw shares jump after saying this morning that full-year results will be "materially ahead of
Read moreLondon midday: Evraz leads fallers on the FTSE 100
4th Sep 2012 11:53
- Investors in 'wait and see mode' ahead of ECB - Markets await pivotal US ISM data - Moody's lower EU outlook to 'negative' The FTSE 100 had slumped to its lowest levels of the day by Tuesday lunchtime as investors were cautious about building positions ahead of some pivotal US economic data this
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
4th Sep 2012 09:31
Ashtead: Jefferies lifts target from 360p to 320p, buy rating kept. Barclays: JP Morgan downgrades to neutral from overweight, target cut from 265p to 250p. British Land: UBS downgrades to neutral, target cut from 575p to 560p. Capital Shopping Centres Group: UBS upgrades to buy, target lifted fr
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip before US data
4th Sep 2012 08:30
- Moody's lower EU rating to 'negative' - Markets await US ISM data - Investors keep eyes pinned on ECB UK stocks pulled back on Tuesday morning following a strong performance the day before as some gloomy comments from Moody's and caution ahead of some US economic data dampened sentiment. Yesterd
Read moreGreene King gets them in despite poor summer
4th Sep 2012 07:07
Old Speckled Hen brewer Greene King shrugged off the Olympics and the poor weather to make a robust start to the financial year. The firm, which operates around 2,300 pubs, restaurants and hotels across Great Britain, reported like-for-like sales up 5.1% in its retail business. It said the Olympic
Read moreTuesday preview: Genus, Dechra, Greene King
3rd Sep 2012 16:34
Tuesday has a bit of an agricultural feel to it, with animal genetics company Genus and veterinary health-care company Dechra Pharmaceuticals set to update the market. Peel Hunt says emerging markets growth should be offsetting higher feed prices at Genus. It is forecasting a 15% improvement in pr
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish higher after late rally
8th Aug 2012 16:45
After an early fall, London's benchmark index rallied in afternoon trade to finish a few points higher, extending gains from the previous three sessions. The last time the FTSE 100 finished higher was on April 2nd when it hit 5,875. "Stocks and other risky assets have traded higher since Friday. C
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Ex-divi Greene King is biggest faller
8th Aug 2012 15:53
Greene King was a big faller after going ex-dividend, meaning investors no longer have the right to the group's latest dividend. Recent updates from Aquarius Platinum have been increasingly gloomy about the difficulties of operating in South Africa so it was no surprise when the platinum miner ann
Read moreLondon midday: Sentiment dampened by BoE and Greece
8th Aug 2012 11:46
- ECB optimism fades - S and P cuts Greek outlook to 'negative' - BoE slashes growth forecast The Footsie remained firmly in the red on Wednesday morning as optimism earlier this week about the situation in Europe began to fade, particularly as Greece's credit rating outlook was lowered by Standard
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