Go-Ahead profits slide
25th Feb 2010 18:08
A lower rail subsidy hit Go-Ahead's interim figures, though sales also dipped. Revenue in the half year to December fell to £1.1bn from £1.15bn with operating profits at £54.2m (H1'09: £65.6m), about £3m ahead of expectations. Changes in the way network rail charges affected the figures and withou
Read moreBroker tips: Int'l Power, Severn Trent, Stagecoach
20th Jan 2010 13:10
Hopes of a bid for International Power (IPR) were dashed earlier this week when it said talks with GDF Suez were over, but there's more to the energy giant than that, says Credit Suisse. The Swiss bank thinks earnings 'have already troughed' and suggests using any pullback and return to fundamental
Read moreBroker snap: Stagecoach has ticket for rail success
20th Jan 2010 09:02
Stagecoach is most likely to win a new rail contract, says Morgan Stanley (MS), which upgrades the bus and trains firm to 'overweight' from 'equalweight'. 'UK Rail will be front and centre again this year, but this time lower employment declines and a restructuring of the franchising system should
Read moreOFT refers bus market to Competition Commission
7th Jan 2010 08:22
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has referred local bus services to the Competition Commission (CC) after concluding that low levels of competition in many bus markets may be resulting in poor outcomes for bus users and taxpayers. The decision comes after a market study and public consultation car
Read moreLondon close: Losses narrow
15th Dec 2009 16:33
Top shares fought back late afternoon to halve losses, but most financial issues stayed lower, while oil plays also ended friendless. Turmoil in the Greek banking sector since credit ratings agency Fitch downgraded the country's sovereign debt last week continued to hurt. Barclays and HSBC were am
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks continue to weigh
15th Dec 2009 14:51
London is off its worst levels of the day, but remains deep in the red as finance plays suffer on fears about the strength of European peers. Barclays and HSBC are among the worst performers as Greek rivals slump on worries about their country's budget deficit. Reports, later denied, that Austria'
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie drifts back
15th Dec 2009 12:12
Footsie has drifted slightly lower as banks and miners join British Airways among the heaviest fallers. The airline is in focus amid expectations of a 12-day strike over Christmas. BA said it is mulling "all options" to cope with the planned action by cabin crew over the Christmas period. BA is
Read moreLondon open: Dull start as BA suffers
15th Dec 2009 09:02
London's top stocks have turned lower as investors take a breather following recent gains. British Airways has generated most headlines this morning. The embattled airline is drawing up contingency plans to cope if the planned 12-day strike by cabin crew goes ahead. An injunction is one option, but
Read moreLondon pre-open: Flat start ahead
15th Dec 2009 07:34
London's top stocks are expected to open largely flat as investors take a breather following the previous sessions gains. Costa Coffee owner Whitbread has offered to buy Eastern European coffee shop operator CoffeeHeaven for about £36m. The recommended offer of 24 pence in cash represents a premium
Read moreGo-Ahead rail arm under pressure
15th Dec 2009 07:19
Bus and train group Go-Ahead expects interim profits from its rail business to halve though its bus business is doing better. Rail profits are expected to slide as growth in passenger numbers across its three franchises will not be sufficient to offset the reductions in net franchise subsidies from
Read moreTuesday preview: Carpetright, Informa, Go-Ahead
14th Dec 2009 16:30
KBC Peel Hunt notes that Carpetright has been benefiting from the demise of fellow carpet retailer Allied Carpets and thinks it is in a strong position to 'deliver record UK sales this year.' The company's interim results should offer some clues as to whether this will be achieved. Citigroup is not
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Go-Ahead, Halma, Marston's
4th Dec 2009 06:40
Bus and train group Go-Ahead is retaining some legacy contracts at Heathrow that are scheduled to run until 2011, and it is holding on to the Meteor car parking business, but the focus is firmly on public transport. Cue the acquisition of Plymouth CityBus, which has a fleet of more than 170 buses
Read moreLondon close: Miners eclipse banks to send index lower
3rd Dec 2009 16:35
London closed on a low note as a good day for bank shares was offset by dips for the miners and oil groups. Banking shares marched forward despite an assertion by influential US bank Goldman Sachs that commodity prices are set to rise in 2010. Goldman Sachs also seems to be out of step in its view
Read moreLondon midday: Shares lack direction
3rd Dec 2009 12:11
Banking shares are still marching forward but gains are countered by weakness among miners, despite an assertion by influential US bank Goldman Sachs that commodity prices are set to rise in 2010. Goldman Sachs also seems to be out of step in its view of banks today, having downgraded the sector to
Read moreLondon open: Banks lead risers, RBS down
3rd Dec 2009 08:21
Barclays and Lloyds are leading London's top stocks higher in early dealings on Thursday, though Royal Bank of Scotland is an exception. RBS has dropped on news that that the bank's board is threatening to resign en masse if Alistair Darling will veto the group's £1.5bn bonus pot. On the positive
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