Broker tips: Astra, ITV, Next
2nd Mar 2011 13:14
UBS has downgraded pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca as broker believes the scope for outperformance over a 12-month time frame has been reduced. UBS has shifted from a "buy" rating to "neutral", now that the market has taken account of higher expected returns from Crestor, Astra's cholesterol treat
Read moreBroker snap: Glaxo preferred to Astra
2nd Mar 2011 12:30
UBS has downgraded pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca as the broker believes the scope for outperformance over a 12-month time frame has been reduced. UBS has shifted from a "buy" rating to "neutral", now that the market has taken account of higher expected returns from Crestor, Astra's cholesterol t
Read moreNon-execs show confidence in Devro
22nd Feb 2011 16:53
Buying by Devro directors has kept the share price rising after yesterday's annual results from the sausage casings manufacturer. The shares rose a further 9% to 265.1p each. Chairman Steve Hannam bought 16,616 shares at 240p each, taking his stake to 149,306. The total investment was nearly £39
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Ex-dividends dominate
9th Feb 2011 13:07
Footsie is down today but the fallers are dominated by shares going ex-dividend. They include International Power, GlaxoSmithkline, Royal Dutch Shell and Sage. International Power is paying a 92p a share special dividend as part of the merger with GDF Suez. The share price has fallen less than t
Read moreTechMARK movers: CSR pleases market
9th Feb 2011 13:06
Chip supplier CSR reported better than expected fourth quarter figures and a strong outlook for the first quarter of this year. Revenues of $184.8m were right at the top end of the guidance figures and gross margins were better than consensus. First quarter revenues of $155m-$170m are expected.
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: LSE, National Express, GlaxoSmithKline...
9th Feb 2011 06:42
The London Stock Exchange is in late-stage merger talks with the group behind the Toronto stock exchange. A deal is expected to be announced as early as this week. An agreement to merge with Canada's TMX Group would create the seventh-biggest trading platform in the world, valued at about £4.3 bn.
Read moreARM directors cash-in
4th Feb 2011 16:08
The chief executive and finance director of chip designer ARM have taken advantage of the strong share price to sell a large portion of their respective shareholdings. The ARM share price has risen by 185% in the past year. In the past month it has increased by 24%. Strong demand for smartphones a
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Unilever, Compass, GlaxoSmithKline...
4th Feb 2011 06:48
Views on consumer giant Unilever vary. The bulls say that the company's strong brands offer an ideal way into emerging markets. The bears yesterday were worrying about margins. The markets that Unilever occupies are fiercely competitive, and the cost of the commodities it needs are rocketing. As o
Read moreLondon close: Shell continues to provide a drag
3rd Feb 2011 17:05
Footsie failed to hang on to yesterday's 6,000 level and finished 0.28% lower despite Wall Street beginning to recover from its early morning lows towards the end of the London trading session. Royal Dutch Shell stayed the heaviest faller in London despite more than quadrupling fourth quarter profi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Losses grow
3rd Feb 2011 15:26
London is back near intraday lows after an early sell-off on Wall Street. Royal Dutch Shell is still down despite more than quadrupling fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production and cost-cutting. Earnings for the last three months of 2010 on a current cost of
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Royal Dutch Shell fails to impress
3rd Feb 2011 13:54
Royal Dutch Shell did not impress the market with more than quadrupled fourth quarter profits. Higher energy prices, an increase in production and cost-cutting provided the positive momentum. Earnings for the last three months of 2010 on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis surged to $5.7bn from
Read moreTechMARK movers: Positive reaction to GlaxoSmithKline figures
3rd Feb 2011 13:53
Shares in GlaxoSmithKline have reacted favourably to the drug developer's 2010 figures. Generic competition hit revenues, which were down 1% to £28.4bn. Pre-tax profits were down to £4.5bn from £8.7bn. The full-year dividend was raised by 7% to 65p a share. Drive technology developer Torotrak
Read moreLondon midday: Mixed reception for company updates
3rd Feb 2011 12:31
Stocks have moved in both directions following updates this morning, but fallers hold sway, helping to keep the top share index in the red. Royal Dutch Shell is a faller even though the oil titan more than quadrupled fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production a
Read moreGlaxoSmithKline revenues slip
3rd Feb 2011 12:04
Drug group GlaxoSmithKline saw revenues fall in 2010 as it felt the pinch of generic competition and the end of a boost from sales of pandemic-related products. Turnover for the year to 31 December was down to £28.4bn a 1% decline from the previous year. Pre-tax profits were down to £4.5bn from £8.
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 back at 6,000
2nd Feb 2011 16:39
Strength in the mining sector on the back of higher metals prices and well-received updates drove the FTSE 100 back to 6,000 points. Both factors benefited miner Eurasian National Resources (ENRC). Production matched estimates in the fourth quarter of 2010, while the ferroalloys unit produced a bit
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