Sector movers: Banks rise as Lloyds impresses with first-quarter profits
1st May 2014 14:05
Well-received results from Lloyds gave the UK-listed banking sector a boost, as the domestic lender reported that underlying profits jumped by over a fifth in the first quarter. Underlying profits rose by 22% in the first three months of the year to £1.8bn, helped by a 10% rise in net interest inco
Read moreSector movers: HSBC leads banking stocks lower
25th Apr 2014 15:31
Banking stocks were under pressure on Friday with global lender HSBC leading the decline after a broker downgrade. HSBC was trading 2% lower at 600.5p in the afternoon session after Morgan Stanley analysts lowered their recommendation on the stock from 'equal weight' to 'underweight'. The US bank
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall as Ukraine crisis offsets UK retail sales
25th Apr 2014 11:44
- Ukraine tensions prompt profit taking - S&P downgrades Russia - UK retail sales beat forecasts - Pearson and William Hill gain after updates, Tullow falls techMARK 2,754.20 -0.20% FTSE 100 6,679.08 -0.36% FTSE 250 15,950.90 -0.26% UK stocks were trading with small losses on Friday, pulling back
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays leads banks higher on shake-up speculation
17th Apr 2014 14:07
The share price of Barclays rose strongly on Thursday amid speculation the bank could announce thousands of further job cuts in its investment banking division as part of a corporate shake-up. Barclays released a statement today which announced that it would update shareholders next month on its s
Read moreHSBC subsidiary to sell stake in Indian banking business
16th Apr 2014 12:05
HSBC Bank Oman, which is an indirect 51 per cent-owned subsidiary of the FTSE 100 banking group HSBC, on Wednesday said it has agreed to sell its banking business in India to Doha Bank QSC. HSBC said all the employees at the business are expected to transfer to Doha as part of the deal. At the 2
Read moreFCA ponders changes to bank overdrafts
10th Apr 2014 14:20
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed working with the competition regulator to ensure banks' overdraft mechanisms and fees are fairer. As overdraft fees generate a third of the revenue from personal account banking in Britain, the prospect of the financial watchdog imposing changes c
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks at two-week low as Sports Direct and grocers fall
8th Apr 2014 11:52
- FTSE 100 at lowest since March 24th - Ukraine tensions flare up - US stocks fall ahead of Q1 earnings season - Sports Direct sinks on Ashley share sale, grocers fall techMARK 2,697.79 -1.18% FTSE 100 6,559.14 -0.96% FTSE 250 16,015.95 -1.52% UK stocks fell one per cent by Tuesday lunchtime, tra
Read moreUK banks pay out 600m pounds for mis-selling, FCA says
8th Apr 2014 10:43
Britain's biggest banks have so far paid around 600m pounds for mis-selling interest rate hedging products, according to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The banks have set aside £4bn to compensate small firms. Banks including Barclays, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Gr
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
8th Apr 2014 09:18
API Group: Numis lowers target price from 90p to 84p, while upgrading from add to buy. Cranswick: Investec increases target price from 1315p to 1390p retaining its buy recommendation. Daisy Group: FinnCap moves target price from 175p to 185p and retains a hold recommendation. DP World: Nomura rai
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Insurance, Sports Direct, Tesco
6th Apr 2014 08:57
The Financial Conduct Authority ignored Bank of England warnings that it had created a false market in insurance shares for more than five hours, the Sunday Times writes. A newspaper report that the FCA planned a clampdown on insurance policies going back up to 30 years caused shares of Legal & Gene
Read moreBroker tips: BSkyB, BHP Billiton, HSBC...
3rd Apr 2014 13:52
British Sky Broadcasting's share price took a knock on Thursday after analysts at HBSC said that the recent rally suggests that 'significant risks' are being overlooked. HSBC said that fears about the upcoming auction of Premier League rights are likely to resurface following the stock's recent ral
Read moreInvestec downgrades HSBC, sees better value elsewhere
3rd Apr 2014 10:00
Investec has downgraded global banking giant HSBC from 'buy' to 'hold', saying that investors should seek 'better value elsewhere' in the sector after the stock's recent outperformance. "Curiously, HSBC outperformed the UK bank sector in the first quarter of 2014. Although its valuation metrics may
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
3rd Apr 2014 09:05
Associated British Foods: Citi increases target price from 2350p to 3000p, while its neutral rating remains unchanged. Booker Group: Investec shifts target price from 172p to 178p retaining a buy recommendation. BSkyB: HSBC Holdings moves target price from 600p to 610p, while keeping its underweig
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to move higher early on
3rd Apr 2014 07:39
UK stocks are set to start today's session on a positive note, tracking gains seen in the US ahead of the ECB's latest policy meeting and following positive Chinese services data as per the latest Services Markit/HSBC services purchasing managers index (PMI). City sources predict the FTSE 100 will
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
28th Mar 2014 12:35
888 Holdings: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 166p to 160p retaining its hold recommendation. Aberdeen Asset Management: JP Morgan cuts target price from 529p to 509p and stays with its overweight rating. Advanced Medical Solutions: Investec shifts target price from 121p to 129p, while down
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