Thursday preview: Greene King, Kingfisher
30th Nov 2011 14:42
November was a boozy month with updates from Mitchells and Butlers, Enterprise Inns, Young's, Fuller's and Marston's, and December - not the most teetotal of months - kicks off with Britain's biggest ale brewer, Greene King, updating the market. Investment analysts will be keen to see how well Gre
Read moreWeek Ahead: Pub groups, Kingfisher, US jobs
25th Nov 2011 14:18
We've had updates from Mitchells and Butlers, Enterprise Inns, Young's and Fuller's, and next week it is the turn of big hitters Marston's and Greene King to represent what used to be called the beerage, in jocular reference to the preponderance of toffs in the board rooms of Britain's brewers. Bot
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Greene King, McBride, Johnson Service
7th Sep 2011 06:33
Greene King raised £200m in May 2009 to fund expansion. Greene King has spent £70m to £80m a year out of earnings on doing up its existing estate. Much of the rights issue cash went on premium pubs in London and food-led outlets elsewhere. The shares, not far from where they were a year ago, sell on
Read moreLondon close: Higher finish after late rally, RBS and Barclays lag
6th Sep 2011 16:44
London's leading share index rediscovered its earlier buoyancy to close with good gains after another choppy day. Shares had given up early gains after a weak start on Wall Street, but rallied in late trading, though banks RBS and Barclays were left behind. Company updates were the main cause for
Read moreLondon midday: Lloyds leads banking rally
6th Sep 2011 12:13
The top share index is posting big gains now as banks recover and company updates get the thumbs up. Lloyds Banking leads banks higher after a bad day for the sector yesterday amid talk that ratings agency Moody's is set to downgrade the sector. Company updates are the main cause for excitement th
Read moreLondon open: Whitbread leads the rise
6th Sep 2011 08:29
The Footsie opened moderately higher in early trading, helped by strong gains by coffee shop, restaurant and hotel owner Whitbread. Whitbread was the high riser on the blue chip index, gaining over 5%, after it was able to accelerate revenue growth during the first half, posting a 12.9% improvement
Read moreFood sales fuel Greene King growth
6th Sep 2011 07:46
Brewing and pubs group Greene King saw like-for-like (LFL) year-on-year sales growth in its retail business in the 18 weeks to 4 September, despite going up against tough comparatives that were boosted by last year's World Cup. The Retail division's LFL sales were up 2.6% from last year over the 18
Read moreLondon close: Stocks slide after short-lived rally
10th Aug 2011 16:43
London's leading share index almost closed back below the 5,000 point mark after giving up a short-lived rally. Euphoria over US plans to keep interest rates at their current low levels was soon overshadowed by the reason for the plans: the grim economic outlook. Here, the Bank of England has cut
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 stable for now after gains
10th Aug 2011 12:21
Shares are holding onto most of their gains after rallying on the back of the US Federal Reserve's announcement that rates will stay low for two years. Hopes that this will keep the global economy growing has spurred demand for miners, with big-hitters such as Xstrata and Kazakhmys higher, joined b
Read moreLondon open: Strong start as Footsie climbs back over 5,200
10th Aug 2011 08:32
Just three stocks were in the red early on, as the Footsie attempted to claw its way back after a week of turmoil in global markets. The US Federal Reserve last night pledged to freeze short-term US interest rates for two years and opened the door to more quantitative easing, in an attempt to resto
Read moreLondon midday: IG up, ITE down
19th Jul 2011 12:11
Stocks remain modestly higher but traders have made up their minds about some of this morning's updates, sending stocks in both directions. Investors are taking a punt on IG Group after full year results came in ahead of expectations, with the spread-betting company continuing to bag new clients in
Read moreLondon open: Stocks stage partial recovery
19th Jul 2011 08:30
Stocks are edging higher after a tough day yesterday when concerns over European and US sovereign debt sent traders rushing for the exits. Sales and profits at Johnson Matthey, a top riser in the FTSE 100 today, both registered double-digit percentage gains in the first quarter of the platinum refi
Read moreLondon pre-open: Hesitant rally expected
19th Jul 2011 07:46
Stocks look set to claw back a small proportion of recent losses after yesterday's shake-out, with City traders suggesting the blue-chip index will open around 20 points higher at 5,773. London-based pub group Capital Pub Company has fallen into the arms of rival pub group Greene King, which has ag
Read moreUsurper Greene King snaps up Capital Pub
19th Jul 2011 07:10
After a fractious courtship with Fuller Smith & Turner, London-based pub group Capital Pub Company has fallen into the arms of rival pub group Greene King, which has agreed to pay 235p a share for Capital. The agreed offer, which values Capital Pub at about £70m, is substantially ahead of the 200p
Read moreBroker tips: Int'l Power, Michael Page, Marston's
11th Jul 2011 13:00
Matrix has kept its hold stance on electricity company International Power following the proposal by the Australian government to implement a carbon tax starting at A$23 per tonne. "The long-awaited Australian carbon tax has been a key issue for International Power; however, following the GDF Suez
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