FTSE 250 movers: Afren leaps on resource update
19th Jul 2012 14:50
Digging deeper at the Simrit-2 exploration well in the Kurdistan region of Iraq has paid off for oil exploration firm Afren as the well's total net oil pay has increased to 460 metres. Halfords advanced after saying that Chief Executive David Wild is on his bike leaving the non-executive Chairman
Read moreHalfords climbs after abrupt exit of CEO -UPDATE
19th Jul 2012 14:49
Investors of Halfords shrugged off some disappointing profit guidance on Thursday, as the market seemed to celebrate the abrupt departure of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Wild. Non-executive Chairman Dennis Millard is now in charge of the shop while the struggling seller of bikes and car
Read moreLondon midday: Markets celebrate global corporate earnings
19th Jul 2012 11:45
- Corporate earnings lift sentiment - UK June retail sales meet forecasts as prices drop - Kingfisher falls after rain dampens sales European stock markets were firmly in the blue on Thursday morning on the back a barrage of upbeat quarterly earnings reports from blue chips across the globe. "A co
Read moreBroker tips: BG Group, Next, Halfords
19th Jul 2012 11:22
Credit Suisse has downgraded its rating for natural gas giant BG Group from 'outperform' to 'neutral', saying that the market has yet to full appreciate the transitional challenges that the group faces in the upstream cycle. "We are particularly concerned about the key area of growth - Brazil - giv
Read moreBroker snap: Investec trims targets for Halfords but stays a buyer
19th Jul 2012 11:13
While shares of car and bike parts retailer Halfords jumped on Thursday morning, Investec has slashed its target price by over a quarter. Halfords Retail sales fell by 7.5% on a like-for-like (LFL) basis in the first quarter, which Investec labelled as "in line, albeit weak". The uncertain backdrop
Read moreThursday broker round-up
19th Jul 2012 09:43
Afren: JP Morgan Cazenove reiterates overweight. Avocet: Westhouse Securities upgrades to buy. Barclays: Goldman Sachs upgrades to neutral, target cut from 250p to 220p. BG Group: Credit Suisse downgrades from outperform to neutral, target cut from 1,660p to 1,500p. British American Tobacco: Inv
Read moreLondon open: Footsie edges higher, but Kingfisher falls
19th Jul 2012 08:23
- Kingfisher leads fallers on the Footsie - Upbeat European earnings lift sentiment - Fed says US expanding at 'modest to moderate' rate UK stocks edged higher in early trading on Thursday on the back of some upbeat earnings reports from heavyweight European stocks AkzoNobel, Sandvik and Novartis.
Read moreHalfords CEO on his bike despite revival in LFL sales
19th Jul 2012 07:51
Halfords Chief Executive David Wild is on his bike leaving the non-executive Chairman Dennis Millard in charge of the shop while the struggling seller of bikes and car parts looks for a replacement. The abrupt departure followed a series of profit warnings from the retailer, which has again lowered
Read moreThursday preview: Bad weather a ready excuse for retailers
18th Jul 2012 15:53
Thursday has a retail theme with Kingfisher, Halfords, Sports Direct and Mothercare all set to update the market. Do-it-yourself retailer Kingfisher is expected by broker Jefferies to give a solid second quarter update, despite the lousy weather recently. "A c.1% LFL [like-for-like] gain in both F
Read moreMonday broker round-up
9th Jul 2012 08:13
BAE Systems: Jefferies reiterates buy recommendation and 350p target. Britvic: Societe General cuts target from 450p to 400p, buy rating unchanged. Filtrona: Citigroup downgrades to neutral, target lifted from 470p to 515p. Genel Energy: Oriel Securities initiates with buy recommendation. Halfor
Read moreLondon close: Stocks flat, attention turns to Barclays late on
4th Jul 2012 16:48
- Former Barclays CEO quizzed by MPs over LIBOR fixing - Market subdued as Wall Street closed - Tomorrow's policy decisions eyed After a brief foray into positive territory, gains for the Footsie were pared in the final hour of trade with the focus shifting to Barclays as its former boss was being
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie edges lower on weak PMI data
4th Jul 2012 11:34
- PMI data from China and Europe disappoints - US markets closed for July 4th - Investors await policy decisions tomorrow The Footsie was trading within a narrow range of just 17 points on Wednesday as volumes were seen to be light given that Wall Street is closed for Independence Day. Disappointin
Read moreLondon open: Markets cautious ahead of policy decisions
4th Jul 2012 08:38
- Ex-div stocks provide a drag in London - Chinese economic data dampens the mood - US markets closed for national holiday UK stocks slipped in early trading on Wednesday with volumes expected to be light as US markets remain closed for Independence Day; investors are likely to be cautious ahead of
Read moreMonday broker round-up
2nd Jul 2012 09:28
Amlin: Jefferies keeps hold rating and 350p target. Avocet Mining: Numis downgrades to hold, target slashed from 230p to 130p; Westhouse Securities downgrades to neutral, target cut from 262p to 102p; JP Morgan Cazenove downgrades to neutral, target cut from 240p to 100p. Barclays: Investec mainta
Read moreMonday broker round-up
25th Jun 2012 08:56
African Barrick Gold: Nomura cuts target from 685p to 670p, buy rating unchanged. Aquarius Platinum: UBS cuts target from 110p to 55p, neutral rating kept. Avocet Mining: Nomura downgrades from buy to neutral, cuts target from 310p to 220p. Bovis Homes: UBS upgrades from sell to neutral, 465p tar
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