London midday: FTSE 100 falls but RBS leads banking surge
1st Sep 2011 12:30
London's leading share index has drifted into the red following strong gains earlier in the week, but there are still some notable risers. Wealth manager Hargreaves Lansdown has raced ahead. Assets under administration climbed 41% in the year ended 30 June. The wealth management firm hiked its div
Read moreBroker snap: Buy Hays for the yield, says Merchant Securities
1st Sep 2011 12:30
Merchant Securities has reiterated its positive stance on FTSE 250 recruitment firm Hays, saying "continue to buy for [the] yield". The group reported on Thursday that trading was strong across most regions in the year to 30 June, with pre-tax profit coming in slightly ahead of the broker's forecas
Read moreLondon open: Miners drag Footsie lower
1st Sep 2011 08:30
The FTSE 100 began September trading on a dull note, falling lower in the opening minutes on Thursday, with the mining sector largely to blame. The mining sector dropped as copper, gold and silver prices declined. Fresnillo, Lonmin and Randgold Resources were among the worst performers. Sector pe
Read moreUK still a drag on Hays
1st Sep 2011 07:41
International recruitment firm Hays saw strong growth in profits last year, driven by its overseas interests. Net fees in the year to 30 June rose 21%, or 18% on a like-for-like (LFL) basis, to £672.1m from £557.7m the year before. Fees from temporary placements rose 10% on a LFL basis to £365.4m w
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 stable after calm start
15th Aug 2011 12:21
Shares are holding onto their gains today amid much calmer trading than the volatility seen last week. In company news, international recruitment firm Michael Page is sharply lower. It made a flying start to 2011 but said profit growth in the banking sector has tailed off in the second half of the
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 gives up gains, Michael Page slumps
15th Aug 2011 08:28
It could be another volatile day as stocks have already given up most of their gains. Miners are posting good gains but recruiter Michael Page slumps after its half year results. Kazakh copper miner Kazakhmys is the top riser in the FTSE 100. Prices for the red metal have been rising on the London
Read moreBroker tips: BBA Aviation, Hays, Grainger
11th Aug 2011 12:29
Charles Stanley has highlighted some short-term turbulence at BBA Aviation following the recent share price decline, but has kept its buy rating on the aviation support and aftermarkets services provider expecting long-term structural growth. "Given the downgrade to US [gross domestic product] grow
Read moreBroker snap: UBS impressed with Hays's international presence
11th Aug 2011 10:37
UBS has upgraded FTSE 250 recruitment firm Hays from neutral to buy, saying that while short- and medium-term macro concerns are rising, the group still has good growth prospects in the long-term. The Swiss broker notes that while data points across the sector have been robust in the second quarter
Read moreOverseas demand helps Robert Walters
4th Aug 2011 11:49
Robert Walters reported strong half yearly results and hiked its interim dividend as the white-collar recruitment group's stellar performance in UK, France and Australia offset slight weakness in New York. For the six months ended 30 June, net fee income rose 23% to £89.1m, up from £72.3m in the
Read moreIrish market still challenging, CPL Resources says
8th Jul 2011 12:38
Irish recruitment group CPL Resources expects its profits for the year ended 30 June to be broadly in line with market estimates despite continuing pressure on margins. The company said the demand for its services remains challenging particularly in Ireland but it saw signs of improvement in its va
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Dunelm shines in struggling market
7th Jul 2011 16:42
The FTSE 250 regained its momentum with financial services sector advancing higher after the Bank of England maintained record low interest rates for the 28th consecutive month. Meanwhile, on the earnings front, out-of-town home furninshing retailer Dunelm posted like-for-like sales growth despite o
Read moreHays hammered at home, doing well abroad
7th Jul 2011 08:57
Hays, the FTSE 250 recruitment firm, has announced 11% growth in fees year on year, with an especially strong performance from its international division. New offices have been opened in in Brazil, Ireland, Japan and Poland and New Zealand and Australia saw impressive performances. The picture in
Read moreLondon close: ENRC leads FTSE 100 slide
10th Jun 2011 16:26
The top share index slid below the 5,800 point mark heading into the weekend. ENRC, the Kazakh resources giant, was nursing heavy losses by the close of play. The company is set to lose a third independent board director according to reports in the Financial Times. The loss of Mehmet Dalman would
Read moreAdecco bid talk boosts Hays
10th Jun 2011 13:43
Shares in recruitment group Hays jumped amid rumours that the recruitment firm is in the sights of larger rival Adecco. The Daily Mail's Market Report said that traders were speculating that Switzerland's Adecco could be lining up a £2.2bn or 160p-a-share bid. Responding to the report, a spokesman
Read moreInternational growth boosts Michael Page
11th Apr 2011 07:04
Soaring international revenues helped recruitment group Michael Page post a sharp rise in profits in the first quarter, though growth was more subdued in the UK amid continuing difficult economic conditions. Total gross profit was up by 30% from the same period the previous year at £127.3m. Gross
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