Broker tips: UK banks, Experian
3rd Feb 2011 14:08
According to Credit Suisse, there is "little to excite" investors in UK banking: Barclays remains the broker's top pick in the sector, while target prices are reduced for Lloyds, RBS, HSBC and Standard Chartered. In regards to the sector as a whole, "our advice is unchanged", says analyst John Pier
Read moreBroker snap: Little to excite at UK banks
3rd Feb 2011 13:06
According to Credit Suisse, there is "little to excite" investors in UK banking: Barclays remains the broker's top pick in the sector, while target prices are reduced for Lloyds, RBS, HSBC and Standard Chartered. In regards to the sector as a whole, "our advice is unchanged", says analyst John Pier
Read moreHSBC has $2bn pay pot
1st Feb 2011 12:08
HSBC has more than $2bn (£1.3bn) in extra pay and bonuses to share out among its investment bankers, it admitted today. Some staff had already received pay rises worth $150m (£93m) ahead of the bonus season, chairman Douglas Flint told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee. "The point is to reduce
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: LSE, BP, Dividends...
31st Jan 2011 06:44
Stock exchanges in Britain and the US have turned to the security services for help after discovering they were the victims of terrorist plots and attempted cyber attacks that aimed to spread panic in leading global financial markets. The London Stock Exchange has been working with the Cabinet Offi
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Cameron, HSBC, Japan...
28th Jan 2011 06:37
David Cameron and George Osborne will insist today there can be no turning back from their economic strategy and deep spending cuts despite growing fears of a double-dip recession. In separate speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor will admit there is a
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Banks, HSBC, Ocado...
25th Jan 2011 06:38
Banks are planning to offer to make it much easier for customers to switch accounts in an attempt to head off more draconian measures from the Government to boost competition. The big lenders are considering investing hundreds of millions of pounds each to bring in measures that would cut the time
Read moreProject Merlin progress stalls
23rd Jan 2011 14:29
Talks between the UK's big banks and the government over the amount they will lend to small businesses have stalled, according to reports over the weekend. Project Merlin, as the plan is known, had been tipped to be unveiled possibly as early as Monday, but last minute hitches mean an agreement may
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: BP, Smith & Nephew, Interest rates...
16th Jan 2011 10:58
Russia's Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has promised to give BP "the most favourable tax treatment" in the Arctic as its £10bn deal with the Kremlin was greeted with cautious optimism by investors yesterday. Late on Friday night, BP agreed to issue £5bn of shares to Russian state-backed oil compa
Read moreLondon close: More gains for FTSE 100
12th Jan 2011 16:43
Strong financial and mining stocks helped to drive the top share index higher Wednesday, while M&A activity and company updates had some FTSE 250 constituents soaring. HSBC went well, helped by a "buy" recommendation from Barclays Capital, but fellow banks Standard Chartered and Barclays were also
Read moreSector movers: Banks wanted as eurozone fears ease
12th Jan 2011 15:25
The banking sector is performing well Wednesday as eurozone debt contagion fears recede. HSBC is the best performing financial, helped by a "buy" recommendation from Barclays Capital, but fellow banks Standard Chartered and Barclays are also wanted. The sector responded positively to the outcome o
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners and banks lead the advance
12th Jan 2011 14:35
Footsie is continuing to keep its head above water, not to mention 6,000, but it is largely thanks to the strength of miners and financial stocks, with the latter in demand after Portugal's bond auction proved relatively successful. HSBC is the best performing financial, helped by a "buy" recommend
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Vedanta deal could get clearance
12th Jan 2011 13:14
Miners and financials dominate the risers. The Indian oil minister says that he does not see a problem with Vedanta's acquisition of assets from Cairn Energy. It could be cleared by the end of the month. HSBC appears to still be benefiting from Citigroup raising it from hold to buy yesterday.
Read moreLondon afternoon: Good day for bankers
11th Jan 2011 14:11
Share prices levelled out over the lunch time session, but investors remain in good heart as fears over European sovereign debt contagion recede in the wake of a show of support for eurozone bond issues from Japan. It has been a good day for banks, with Societe Generale issuing a bullish note on th
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 adds more gains
11th Jan 2011 12:07
The top share index is now well clear of the 6,000 point mark after building on earlier gains. Banks move higher after the government back-tracked on the question of bonuses. As a trade-off for no additional taxes on the expected £7bn of UK bonuses this year, the banks are in talks to raise their b
Read moreLondon open: Footsie back above 6,000
11th Jan 2011 08:50
UK blue chips have raced away this morning led by the banks as the government caved in on the issue of bonuses. As a trade-off for no additional taxes on the expected £7bn of UK bonuses this year, the banks are in talks to raise their business lending by 10%, or £20bn, to £200bn. Shares in Barclays
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