Wednesday preview: HSBC, Sainsbury
8th Nov 2011 18:11
It is another frantically busy day for company results on Wednesday, with Britain's second biggest company by market value, HSBC, keeping the banking results season ticking over while supermarket chain Sainsbury provides another opportunity to take the temperature of the UK high street. Nomura Secu
Read moreBroker tips: Reckitt Benckiser, HSBC, Weir
8th Nov 2011 14:01
Popular perceptions of Reckitt Benckiser's growth model are mistaken and there are other factors which favour the stock going forward relative to its peers, according to Nomura. Whereas many see the household goods maker as excessively exposed to Western Europe and North America, along with too muc
Read moreBroker snap: HSBC no temptation for Credit Suisse
8th Nov 2011 13:37
Britain's biggest bank, HSBC, is valued fairly at around its current 540p level according to analysts at Credit Suisse. The market is readying itself for HSBC third quarter results tomorrow as investors continue to fret about the European banking system. Credit Suisse (CS) is lowering its underlyi
Read moreLondon close: Choppy FTSE 100 closes lower
28th Oct 2011 17:08
Shares finished slightly lower after a quiet day on the company news front, giving traders a chance to sit back and appraise the latest developments in the Eurozone saga. Stock markets across the globe surged higher yesterday, with the three US benchmarks rising by an average 3% last night after le
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: Bank investors loose enthusiasm
28th Oct 2011 13:17
ITV was on the up after RBS reiterated its "buy" hold on the stock. Meanwhile, International Consolidated Airlines dipped following a target price cut from UBS from 260p to 240p. Barclays was also falling despite an upgrade from J.P.Morgan from neutral to overweight and a "buy" reiteration from
Read moreLondon midday: Pause for breath after euro boost
28th Oct 2011 12:01
Shares are still flat amid a quiet day on the company news front, giving traders a chance to sit back and appraise the latest developments in the Eurozone saga. SUBDUED START AFTER YESTERDAY'S SURGE Stock markets across the globe surged higher yesterday, with the three US benchmarks rising by an a
Read moreUPDATE: Friday broker round-up
28th Oct 2011 09:13
HSBC/Standard Chartered: Citi chief economist William Buiter argues today that: "World trade is set for a prolonged boom and a marked transformation. Transaction banking and trade finance should track the direction of trade and economic growth in the long term. (...) Standard Chartered and HSBC shou
Read moreLondon open: Flat start for the Footsie
28th Oct 2011 08:40
The FTSE 100 opened flat on Friday morning following yesterday's massive 2.9% gain on the back of strong US economic data and the pivotal Eurozone agreements announced yesterday. SUBDUED START AFTER STRONG DAY ON THURSDAY Stock markets across the globe surged higher yesterday, with the three US b
Read moreLondon close: Higher finish amid euro optimism
14th Oct 2011 16:46
The top share index closed off earlier highs but still buoyant ahead of the weekend amid optimism after Thursday's vote by Slovakia to expand the Eurozone' rescue fund lifted sentiment. After the close last night, the expansion of Eurozone's rescue fund, the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise after Slovak vote
14th Oct 2011 12:18
The top share index is buoyant after Thursday's vote by Slovakia to expand the Eurozone' rescue fund lifted sentiment. After the close last night, the expansion of Eurozone's rescue fund, the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), was approved by Slovak MPs, two days after they voted against the
Read moreLondon open: Footsie flat early on
14th Oct 2011 08:35
The Footsie has opened flat despite expectations that Thursday's vote by Slovakia to expand the Eurozone' rescue fund would give a boost to equities early on. After the close last night, the expansion of Eurozone's rescue fund, the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), was approved by Slovak MP
Read moreUPDATE: Fitch could downgrade UK banks today, says Sky News
13th Oct 2011 11:17
The banks tumbled lower late Thursday morning - despite rising earlier on - on the back of reports that Fitch could cut ratings across sector. Barclays was the heaviest faller, losing over 4% as of 11:48, while HSBC and Lloyds were also under the cosh. "The credit ratings agency Fitch is poised to
Read moreKDB Financial to buy HSBC assets
10th Oct 2011 15:41
South Korean government-owned KDB Financial Group is in talks to buy HSBC´s South Korean retail banking operations, people familiar with the situation said Monday, in the latest move in the U.K. bank's retreat from retail businesses that lack scale, according to Dow Jones Newswires. As of 3:40PM sh
Read moreRBS and 11 other banks hit by downgrade
7th Oct 2011 08:24
UK bank stocks have been hit following a downgrade to 12 financial institutions by the credit ratings agency Moody's. Lloyds TSB, Santander UK and the Co-Operative Bank were downgraded one notch, while Nationwide and RBS went down two levels. Smaller institutions, including Clydesdale Bank were al
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie up 2% as BoE injects more money
6th Oct 2011 12:07
The Footsie has held onto gains following the Bank of England's surprise move to increase its asset purchase programme by a bigger-than-expected £75bn. In an announcement at midday, the central bank revealed that it has maintained its key Bank Rate at the historically low level of 0.5%, but raised
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