Sunday newspaper round-up: Sainsbury-Home Retail, RBS, IHG, Ladbrokes
31st Jan 2016 16:24
(ShareCast News) - As Tuesday's takeover deadline approaches, Sainsbury's has made a bid of 150p per share for Argos owner Home Retail Group, which is shy of the 170p apparently being demanded. The Sunday Telegraph cited sources that suggested a middle-ground 160p bid would be enough to announce the
Read moreLondon close: Equities close higher as oil prices rise, BoJ loosens policy
29th Jan 2016 16:11
(ShareCast News) - The UK equity market closed higher on Friday as oil prices rose and the Bank of Japan's latest policy decision was well received. Oil prices gained on hopes of a deal by major exporters to cut production to address the global supply glut. At 1640 GMT, Brent crude rose 1.4% to $34.
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Tullett Prebon leads market to higher weekly close
29th Jan 2016 14:55
(ShareCast News) - The FTSE 250 was set to end the week on a high, with the second tier market up 226.12 points (1.40%) to 16,422.67 by mid-afternoon on Friday. Shares in Tullett Prebon surged after it said market activity in the last two months of 2015 was higher than experienced in the same period
Read moreHome Retail acquisition hits the skids, report claims
29th Jan 2016 11:33
(ShareCast News) - Sainsbury's acquisition of Home Retail has stalled, according to the Financial Times. A wide gap in the two sides' valuation of Home Retail shares was said to be the divisive issue. Nonetheless, the FT cited sources who said talks were still ongoing and a break-through was still
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: HMRC's new tax deals, Tesco's debt, Sainsbury's
24th Jan 2016 16:11
(ShareCast News) - In the wake of Google's £130m tax settlement with the UK taxman, other giant US corporations are close to shaking hands on their own deals. HM Revenue & Customs officials have confirmed to the Sunday Times that Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and McDonald's are all close to agreements
Read moreExane ups Home Retail, downgrades Marks & Spencer
22nd Jan 2016 09:15
(ShareCast News) - Exane BNP Paribas took a look at general retailers, upping its stance on Home Retail but cutting its rating on Marks & Spencer. The bank lifted Home Retail to 'neutral' from 'underperform', bring the price target up to 150 from 80p, given the likelihood of a bid from Sainsbury's,
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Ocado leads market after Amazon bid rumours
19th Jan 2016 14:44
(ShareCast News) - The FTSE 250 was firmly in the black on Tuesday, rising 152.56 points (0.96%) to 16,111.37 by mid-afternoon. Shares in Ocado were flying as rumours of a bid from Amazon resurfaced. The US internet retail giant was reported to be working on a potential approach for the FTSE 250 on
Read moreBunnings brand to replace Homebase as Home Retail agrees Australian sale
18th Jan 2016 07:27
(ShareCast News) - Home Retail Group has agreed to sell its Homebase division to Australia's Wesfarmers in a move which will see the well-known brand disappear. The FTSE 250 company announced the £340m sale to one of Australia's biggest retailing groups on Monday, following confirmation last week it
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Iran worries, bank start-ups, National Grid, Argos
17th Jan 2016 16:32
(ShareCast News) - Tumbling Middle East stock markets in the wake of the lifting of Iran's economic sanctions have set the scene for another white-knuckle ride on the FTSE 100 in the coming week. The possibility of a new wave of oil flowing from Iran oil onto an already saturated markets sent all se
Read moreBroker tips: Home Retail, AB Foods, Tate & Lyle
15th Jan 2016 12:48
(ShareCast News) - Home Retail has made it "difficult to mount a convincing defence against any bid from Sainsbury" after reporting disappointing sales over the Christmas period, Numis said on Friday. Sales at its Argos brand for the 18 weeks to 2 January dropped 2.2% compared to consensus for a 0.3
Read moreNumis says 'hold' on Home Retail amid Sainsbury takeover talks
15th Jan 2016 10:20
(ShareCast News) - Home Retail has made it "difficult to mount a convincing defence against any bid from Sainsbury" after reporting disappointing sales over the Christmas period, Numis said on Friday. Sales at its Argos brand for the 18 weeks to 2 January dropped 2.2% compared to consensus for a 0.3
Read moreBroker tips: Home Retail, Dechra Pharma, StanChar
14th Jan 2016 14:06
(ShareCast News) - Dechra Pharmaceuticals remains a strong stock with plenty in the pipeline, according to Investec on Thursday. In a trading update for the first half, the company reported revenue growth of 15% at a constant exchange rate (CER), including the integration of Genera which was bought
Read moreHome Retail downgraded to 'sell' by Canaccord
14th Jan 2016 13:20
(ShareCast News) - Home Retail was under the cosh on Thursday as Canaccord Genuity downgraded its rating on the stock to 'sell' from 'hold' after the owner of Argos guided lower on profits. The company said its full year profit was forecast to come in at the lower end of expectations after Argos sal
Read moreLondon open: MPC may surprise with dovish tone, analysts say
14th Jan 2016 08:41
(ShareCast News) - London's top flight index dropped sharply early on Thursday morning, following a bruising session on Wall Street and with investors and traders focused on the Monetary Policy Committee announcement at noon. As of 08:38GMT the Footsie was down by 89.76 points to 5,871.21. To take
Read moreHome Retail profit to be at lower end of expectations
14th Jan 2016 07:12
(ShareCast News) - Home Retail Group's full year profit is expected to come it at the lower end of expectations after Argos sales over the festive period dipped. Sales at the retailer for the 18 weeks to 2 January have dropped 2.2%, but a 5% increase in sales at Homebase has limited the damage to th
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