Broker tips: TUI, Greggs, blinkx
10th Aug 2010 13:10
KBC Peel Hunt was not surprised by Tuesday morning's profits warning from travel firm TUI Travel and thinks the shares have little appeal beyond the yield and the hope of a bid from major shareholder TUI AG. The broker notes that the margin pressures are building up. Current UK summer 2010 sales ar
Read moreBroker snap: Margins a concern at Greggs
10th Aug 2010 12:38
There is still the prospect of 'jam tomorrow' from Greggs even though the doughnut seller was cautious in its outlook for the second half of 2010. FinnCap notes that the snack food seller has partial cover on wheat and other ingredients for the latter part of the year and expects raw material price
Read moreLondon midday: Consumer spending fears sink Footsie
10th Aug 2010 12:02
Concern about consumer spending has pulled the rug from under Footsie after a profit warning from tour operator TUI and weak retail sales figures. TUI Travel warned profits this year will be at the low end of forecasts after UK bookings faltered. Bookings by Britons are down by 2% over the past 12
Read moreLondon open: Poor start for Footsie
10th Aug 2010 08:54
London shares are lower in early dealings as comments from hotel and travel firms suggest consumers are starting to feel the pinch. Worries over the economy have certainly caught up with travel group TUI Travel, which warned profits this year will be at the low end of forecasts after UK bookings fa
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie set for retreat
10th Aug 2010 07:34
London's blue chips are seen opening around 20 points lower as investors consider a tie-up between International Power and GDF-Suez and earnings from hotel and travel firms. International Power shareholders will own 30% of the new company to be formed by the merger of the UK power company with Fren
Read moreGreggs serves up 2.9% sales rise, ups divi
10th Aug 2010 07:15
Bakery and sandwich chain Greggs delivered a 2.9% rise in half year sales and said it remains confident for the full year despite the surge in wheat prices. Pre-tax profit rose to £18.6m in the 26 weeks to 3 July from £16.5m the same time a year earlier. Sales for the period rose to £321m from £31
Read moreNew Serco chairman opens account
12th May 2010 17:27
The wife of Serco's new chairman Alastair Lyons has opened the couple's account in the firm with the purchase of nearly £100,000 worth of shares. Shauneen Lyons bought 15,000 shares in the company, paying 632.97p a time. The purchase comes the day after Serco, whose activities include operating Lo
Read moreSmall caps round-up: Aurelian, Cineworld, Greggs...
12th May 2010 12:36
Eastern Europe focused oil and gas explorer and producer Aurelian today reconfirmed "steady" progress against all targets set out in October's strategy document. "We are on track to spud our first two high impact wells in line with our milestones; in June we commence the drilling of the first multi
Read moreGreggs directors swap half of their bonuses for shares
14th Apr 2010 16:58
The chief executive and retail director of bakery and sandwich chain Greggs have foregone half of their bonuses in return for shares that will be held in trust for three years. Chief executive Kennedy McMeikan has invested £33,696 in 6,821 shares at 494p each. This takes McMeikan's shareholding in
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Chips down for Imagination
19th Mar 2010 11:45
Investors have failed to warm to a trading update from Imagination Technologies. The chip designer said it has continued to see growing interest in its technologies across many partners and markets in the period from 1 November 2009 to 19 March 2010. Shares in Sports Direct fall back after outdoor
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Investec, Savills, Aegis
19th Mar 2010 06:45
Shares in Investec, the South African lender with a dual listing in London, have gained 26% since the start of the year ? a performance that will see it promoted to the FTSE 100 index for the first time next week. Overall, Investec has risen more than threefold in value since floating over here in 2
Read moreLondon close: Weak finish as banks retreat
18th Mar 2010 16:35
London closed in the red after a mixed opening on Wall Street as banks and miners ran into profit taking. Among the big caps, GlaxoSmithKline was the best performer, after rival drug group, Switzerland's Novartis, had to hand back US rights of a drug widely considered a generic copy of Glaxo's top
Read moreLondon afternoon: Back to square one
18th Mar 2010 15:19
A mixed opening on Wall Street has provided no guidance for a similarly rudderless London market. Among the big caps, GlaxoSmithKline is the best performer, after rival drug group, Switzerland's Novartis, had to hand back US rights of a drug widely considered a generic copy of Glaxo's top selling
Read moreLondon midday: Second liners hog the limelight
18th Mar 2010 11:54
While the FTSE 100 is becalmed most of the action is taking place in the FTSE 250 today, where a mixed bag of announcements has prompted varied share price reactions. Electronic components distributor Premier Farnell powered ahead after reporting full year sales and underlying profits for fiscal 20
Read moreLondon open: Banks lead decline
18th Mar 2010 08:26
London's top stocks have slipped back in early dealings on Thursday, with banks leading the index lower. Lloyds Banking, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland are the three worst performers on the Footsie, closely followed by HSBC. Bakery and sandwich chain Greggs saw full-year profits come in sligh
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