Thursday broker round-up - UPDATE
19th Apr 2012 09:44
Afren: UBS raises target from 150p to 160p, buy rating unchanged. African Barrick Gold: Investec cuts target from 562p to 404p, hold kept. APR Energy: UBS downgrades from neutral to sell, target slashed from 1,110p to 860p. BHP Billiton: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform recommendation and 2,46
Read moreLondon close: Shell rallies as it denies oil slick blame
12th Apr 2012 17:11
After a mixed morning session, London's top shares kicked on in the afternoon, buoyed by Wall Street's strength. Bulls seized upon comments by New York Fed President William Dudley who opined that the US economy is not yet firing on enough cylinders to make a serious dent in the jobless numbers.
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Hays leads the index higher
12th Apr 2012 15:15
Recruitment firm Hays leapt into the top spot after it posted a 12 per cent actual increase in group net fees for the quarter ended March 31st. As a result the firm expects full-year operating profit to be towards the top of the current market estimates. Egyptian gold miner Centamin rose strongly
Read moreLondon midday: Mid-caps set the pace
12th Apr 2012 11:49
The top share index spent the morning spinning its wheels with most of the excitement taking place among the mid-cap stocks. Last night, the Federal Reserve's April Beige Book survey encouraged the maintenance of the status quo. The Fed's survey revealed that overall activity "continued to expand a
Read moreBroker tips: Aggreko, Hays, Mondi
12th Apr 2012 11:06
Prime Markets has reiterated its buy recommendation for temporary power and temperature control solutions group Aggreko, impressed by the firm's strong start the year. "The sheer momentum currently behind Aggreko is so strong, that the trials and tribulations of the Eurozone and subsequent market c
Read moreBroker snap: Jefferies ups target for Hays
12th Apr 2012 10:38
Jefferies has raised its earnings per share (EPS) forecast for recruitment firm Hays after better-than-expected results in the third quarter. Third-quarter net fee growth accelerated to 10% from the 8% rate in the second quarter. Jefferies and consensus estimates were for a 6% increase. As such, th
Read moreThursday broker round-up
12th Apr 2012 09:30
African Minerals: Jefferies keeps buy rating and 1,100p target. Aggreko: Investec maintains buy rating. Cairn Energy: Nomura cuts target from 500p to 434p, buy rating kept. Faroe Petroleum: Nomura cuts target from 213p to 209p, buy rating kept. FirstGroup: Jefferies downgrades from buy to hold,
Read moreLondon open: Shell weighs on the Footsie
12th Apr 2012 08:19
- Shell drops on oil sheen reports - GKN up after upgrade - World Bank cuts Chinese GDP forecast Despite an initial rise, the FTSE 100 index had fallen into the red within the opening hour with oil giant Shell providing a drag on reports of an oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico. Eurozone peripheral
Read moreHays raises profits guidance
12th Apr 2012 07:57
Recruitment firm Hays has posted a 12 per cent actual increase in group net fees for the quarter ended March 31st. As a result the firm expects full-year operating profit to be towards the top of the current market estimates. The firm's international business delivered strong growth of 18% and r
Read moreLondon midday: Whitbread blows froth off Costa speculation
3rd Apr 2012 11:47
The Footsie moved sideways in the morning session, prompting the suspicion that many traders have made an early start to the Easter break. Food - and drink - for thought Whitbread's Chief Executive Officer, Andy Harrison, moved to damp down speculation about the possibility of the Premier Inn and
Read moreTuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
13th Mar 2012 09:59
AstraZeneca: Panmure Gordon keeps buy rating and 3,600p target. Bellway: Credit Suisse maintains outperform rating. BG Group: Nomura raises target from 1,865p to 1,950p, buy rating kept. Computacenter: Panmure Gordon ups target from 490p to 501p, buy rating unchanged. Hays: Credit Suisse ups tar
Read moreLondon close: Bernanke comments fuel late sell-off
29th Feb 2012 16:27
- Stocks tumble on Bernanke comments. - Higher-than-expected LTRO take-up. - ITV surges on 'exceptional turnaround'. After trading within a narrow 20-point range for the majority of the day, the FTSE 100 plummeted late on as US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave some gloomy comments the e
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks settle after ECB refinancing
29th Feb 2012 11:38
- Higher-than-expected LTRO take-up. - ITV surges on 'exceptional turnaround'. - Ludowici issues overshadow impressive 2011 for Weir. The initial celebration of the results of the European Central Bank's (ECB's) refinancing operation quickly faded in late morning trade, with the Footsie broadly fl
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat ahead of ECB refinancing operation
29th Feb 2012 08:31
- Investors await ECB's LTRO. - ITV jumps 7% after strong 2011. - Ludowici issues overshadow impressive 2011 for Weir. The Footsie lacked direction in the opening hour on Wednesday as investors hold out for the result of the European Central Bank's (ECB's) second longer term refinancing operation,
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Hays, Filtrona, Logica...
23rd Feb 2012 06:47
In the Times, Tempus looks at the CV of recruitment firm Hays which yesterday announced a 55% cut in its interim dividend. The UK and Ireland division made a £3m loss and has been forced to close offices to cut costs. The other divisions covering the Continent and Asia Pacific did well. Currently
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