Broker tips: Retailers, Pennon, Informa
24th Nov 2009 12:52
Nomura Securities has been casting an eye over the general retail sector where it reckons almost all data indicators point to an improvement. The broker has picked four stocks it likes in the sector: Marks & Spencer, KESA Electricals, Home Retail Group and HMV. Marks & Spencer is set to 'benefit f
Read moreLondon midday: Leading shares mixed
24th Nov 2009 12:10
Footsie has fought its way into positive territory after a dull opening, helped by a recovery by some mining stocks. Anglo American, ENRC and Lonmin are the brightest features of a mining sector that initially opened lower on softer copper prices. Lloyds Banking Group is firmer after it priced i
Read moreBroker snap: Nomura picks four retailers
24th Nov 2009 11:24
Nomura Securities has been casting an eye over the general retail sector where it reckons almost all data indicators point to an improvement, including prospects for electricals and high price items. The broker has picked four stocks it likes in the sector: Marks & Spencer, KESA Electricals, Home R
Read moreSector movers: Mark Bolland move shakes up retail stocks
18th Nov 2009 13:15
It's a tale of two retail sectors after Marks & Spencer announced the appointment of supermarket Morrisons' boss Mark Bolland as its new chief executive. He will take up the position in the new year. Bolland joined Morrisons in September 2006, helping the Bradford-based supermarket recover from i
Read moreLondon close: Footsie gleams on commodity strength
4th Nov 2009 16:18
A rush into miners, triple-digit rally on Wall Street and welcome numbers from two of Britain's largest retailers catapulted London higher Wednesday. Fresnillo took the blue chip risers' crown, up sharply as renewed dollar weakness benefited commodity prices. Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto also
Read moreLondon afternoon: Gains extended
4th Nov 2009 14:19
Expectations of a firmer start on Wall Street encouraged UK blue-chip prices to kick on over the lunch-time session, with miners and stores still leading the way, In the head to head battle between M&S and Next, shares in the latter are performing slightly better after the fashion chain upped its g
Read moreLondon close: Late swoon by Footsie
30th Oct 2009 16:52
Mining stocks proved a major millstone around Footsie's neck today while end of the month position closing also contributed to a fall of almost 2% on the blue-chip index, a decline that was mirrored on Wall Street. The US market gave back most of yesterday's gains in the morning session after US co
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shire provides some cheer
30th Oct 2009 14:19
Footsie dipped into the red over the lunch-time session, as Wall Street opened lower. Metal prices are in retreat, prompting investors to bail out of mining stocks, including precious metals miners such as Fresnillo and Randgold. Among base metal miners, Kazakhmys and Lonmin are the worst perform
Read moreLondon midday: Retailers lifted by consumer confidence
30th Oct 2009 12:12
Insurers and miners are hampering the Footsie's progress today, but outside of these two sectors most blue-chips are on an upward trajectory, helped by some decent news on the economy. Economic data released Friday shows that UK consumers are more confident now than at any time in the last 21 mont
Read moreXstrata boss bags £8m profit on options
23rd Oct 2009 16:26
Xstrata chief executive Mick Davis has sold 1m shares in the mining giant. Davis acquired these shares by exercising options - 877,955 shares at 217.32p a share and 122,045 at 239.11p a share. The total cost of these shares was £2.2m and they were sold for a profit of nearly £8m. Davis retains 1.3
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Home Retail, Drax, Carillion
22nd Oct 2009 06:00
Home Retail Group, the owner of Argos and Homebase, is well placed to benefit from a sustained upturn in consumer spending. When this comes, it represents a safe pair of retail hands in the long-term. The valuation remains a concern, but given that Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, is be
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes firmer
21st Oct 2009 16:57
After an up and down day, London's blue-chip index finished the day as it started it, in positive territory. Stocks needed the help of a firm start on Wall Street, however, to state a late rally. US shares opened higher after investment bank reported its first quarterly profit in a year after three
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners a drag
21st Oct 2009 14:38
Mining stocks and a couple of blue-chips going ex-dividend today pushed the Footsie below 5200 in the morning session though the index showed some signs of recovery over the lunch-time session. Smiths Group and BSkyB are the highest profile stocks in the red as a result of trading in ex-dividend st
Read moreBroker tips: Tesco, Home Retail, Shire
21st Oct 2009 13:12
The international business of Tesco is undervalued, according to Nomura Securities, which reckons the UK-based retailer has the potential to effectively create a 'new company' over the next five years. Nomura believes 'Tesco will effectively create "a new company" with sales of £27.3bn, EBITDA of £
Read moreBroker snap: Home Retail feeling the heat
21st Oct 2009 13:09
Results from Argos and Homebase operator Home Retail were slightly ahead of expectations, but that has not stopped Seymour Pierce from issuing a recommendation to sell the shares. Adjusted profit before tax of £123m was £2m above market consensus, though earnings per share at 9.6p were below marke
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