Thursday broker round-up - UPDATE
22nd Dec 2011 08:21
Kingfisher: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform rating and 310p target. Next: Credit Suisse maintains outperform rating and 3,000p target. Marks & Spencer: Credit Suisse cuts target from 345p to 334p, neutral rating unchanged. Home Retail: Credit Suisse cuts target from 85p to 70p, keeps underper
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Retailers dive on consumer confidence
21st Dec 2011 14:42
Retailers were the heavy fallers after the GfK NOP UK consumer confidence index fell to its lowest level since February 2009. The index decreased to -33 points in December from -31 the month before. The market consensus had been expecting a small up-tick to -31. A downbeat report by Fitch hasn't d
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes flat on euro concerns
6th Dec 2011 16:53
The Footsie finished flat on Tuesday, as some worrying comments on the Eurozone by ratings agency Standard & Poor's continued to weigh on sentiment. The index traded within a narrow range of just 51 points today, with investors likely to stay cautious ahead of a pivotal EU summit scheduled at the e
Read moreSector movers: Retailers sold off after gloomy data
6th Dec 2011 16:15
Retailers were the worst performers of the day on Tuesday, falling an average 2.4% after some gloomy comments from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Consumers are keeping "a tight rein on their spending, despite Christmas being so near", the BRC said today. Total sales were up 0.7%, against a 2
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Electra soars on NAV rise
6th Dec 2011 14:23
Electra Private Equity, the investment trust that invests in private equity ventures, was the biggest riser after it saw an 8.5% rise in net asset value (NAV) per share after a strong portfolio performance during the year ended 30 September. Vehicle hire firm Northgate was also on the rise after it
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Shaftesbury, Cineworld, Christmas shares
1st Dec 2011 07:06
The Tempus column in The Times ponders which stocks would fit into a share portfolio consisting of stocks exposed to London and the South East only, and suggests that one would be Shaftesbury, the property company whose assets consist almost entirely of shops, restaurants and bars in the West End. I
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes off lows, but still down
16th Nov 2011 16:32
After sinking down to its intraday low of 5,453 in morning trade, the Footsie recovered to 5,509 by the end of trade, despite some negative comments from the Bank of England. Unfortunately, the unemployment report did little to settle investors' nerves as the Footsie still finished in the red. The
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Barratt rises on reservations jump
16th Nov 2011 14:38
Leading the risers north, house builder Barratt Developments has seen reservations jump 25.9% in the period between July and the middle of November, compared to the same period of 2010. The average price it is achieving on sales has increased by 7% on 2010 and now stands at £207,000. Meanwhile, H
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie falls on gloomy economic outlook
16th Nov 2011 12:07
With some gloomy economic data doing the rounds this morning, the Footsie experienced a sharp fall around 11:00, as the Bank of England cut its growth estimates for the UK economy. Unfortunately, the unemployment report did little to settle investors' nerves. Meanwhile, reports attributed to the Fi
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Barclays, Italy, ECB, funds, G4S
30th Oct 2011 15:46
"Investment banking revenues at Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays have taken a significant dive during the third quarter, results this week are expected to show. Keith Bowman, banking specialist at broker Hargreaves Lansdown, believes figures from the two banks' investment banking divisions could
Read moreBroker tips: GKN, Petrofac, Home Retail
20th Oct 2011 12:53
GKN's shares were on the retreat on Thursday, following yesterday's strong rise after its third quarter statement, but Credit Suisse still maintained its outperform recommendation on the stock saying that investment case remains intact. "Our forecasts discount 12% year-on-year organic revenue growt
Read moreBroker snap: Rising costs a concern at Home Retail, says Nomura
20th Oct 2011 12:30
Nomura has kept its reduce rating and cut its target price for Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail, saying that rising costs and the outlook are an ongoing concern. "1H results surprised to the downside, with Homebase reporting a weaker-than-expected outturn driven by higher costs, while Argos bar
Read moreUPDATE: Thursday broker round-up
20th Oct 2011 09:17
Sports Direct: Singer Capital Markets downgrades from buy to fair value, raises target from 232p to 245p. Home Retail: UBS cuts target from 130p to 110p, keeps neutral rating. Home Retail: Nomura cuts target from 130p to 110p, reduce rating maintained. Home Retail: Singer Capital Markets cuts ta
Read moreLondon close: Banks buoyed by bailout beef-up
19th Oct 2011 16:50
Footsie enjoyed a buoyant if unspectacular day, with almost two-thirds of its constituents finishing in the blue. The market shrugged off the news that Spain's credit rating has been cut by two notches by the Moody's rating agency, and preferred to concentrate on a report in The Guardian newspaper
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Home Retail plummets after poor first half
19th Oct 2011 14:38
After reporting that its sales and profits are significantly down, Home Retail Group can now add its share price to the list. The company behind Homebase and Argos saw its overall sales fall 6% to £2,568m in the half year to the end of August while profit before tax fell 70% to £28m and operating
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