Friday broker round-up UPDATE
22nd Feb 2013 07:12
Antofagasta: RBC upgrades from underperform to outperform. Ashmore Group: Citigroup raises target price from 330p to 355p upgrading to neutral. JP Morgan ups target price from 361p to 413p and maintains a neutral rating. Babcock International: Citigroup revises target price from 965p to 1185p and
Read moreLondon close: Footsie gains one per cent on German ZEW, M&A activity
19th Feb 2013 17:00
The FTSE 100 jumped one per cent on Tuesday after a better-than-expected reading of German confidence and increased M&A activity in the US. The ZEW Institute's index, which measures economic sentiment in the Eurozone's largest economy, surged to 48.2 in February, ahead of last month's reading of 31
Read moreHSBC sells Panama unit to Bancolombia
19th Feb 2013 14:09
HSBC Holdings has agreed to sell its Panama unit to Bancolombia for 2.1bn dollars - three times the net asset value, the bank said in a statement Tuesday. The transaction of HSBC Bank Panama will be subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2013. Unaud
Read moreLondon midday: German sentiment data buoys stocks
19th Feb 2013 11:22
A better-than-expected reading of German confidence pushed stock markets firmly into positive territory by Tuesday lunchtime. The ZEW Institute's index, which measures economic sentiment in the Eurozone's largest economy, surged to 48.2 in February, ahead of last month's reading of 31.5 surpassing
Read moreLondon open: Markets cautious ahead of German ZEW survey
19th Feb 2013 08:22
Stock markets began Tuesday's session in a cautious fashion ahead of a closely-watched reading of German confidence this morning. The ZEW index which measures economic sentiment in Germany is expected to have risen to 35 in February, up from 31.5 last month. An increase this month would be the six
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
19th Feb 2013 07:30
Admiral Group: Investec takes target price from 570p to 582p, but still recommends selling. Advanced Medical Solutions: Investec upgrades from hold to buy with a target price of 68p. African Barrick Gold: Canaccord Genuity reduces target price from 360p to 305p keeping a hold rating. Anglo Americ
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: HSBC, Anglo Irish Bank, UK deficit...
7th Feb 2013 06:54
HSBC's biggest ever restructuring had been necessary to simplify the bank's complex structure which had made it attractive to money-laundering criminals, its chief executive said. Stuart Gulliver said HSBC's structure "was not fit for purpose for a modern world", adding that the restructure he launc
Read moreLondon close: Footsie drops 100 points on political uncertainty in Europe
4th Feb 2013 16:32
Increased political risk in the Eurozone presented a good opportunity for traders to take profits on Monday, as investors made the most of the recent surge on stock markets worldwide. The FTSE 100 dropped 100 points today, a fall of around 1.6%. This follows the impressive 6.4% gain seen last month
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Randgold Resources ahead on profits
4th Feb 2013 14:45
Randgold Resources was leading the FTSE 100 race Monday after the gold exploration and development company posted a 16 per cent rise in profits for the full year. Production levels for the year also climbed 14% to 794,844 ounces of gold, while quarter-on-quarter profit was up 18% and production up
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall on profit-taking after recent surge
4th Feb 2013 11:30
UK stocks were registering moderate losses on Monday morning as traders began to lock in profits following a strong start to the year. The FTSE 100 jumped a whopping 6.4% last month, its best January performance since 1989. "After impressive recent gains, European equities cooled in early trade th
Read moreLondon open: Banks weigh on the Footsie early on
4th Feb 2013 08:19
The FTSE 100 slipped into the red in early trading on Monday morning as investors took a breather after the impressive rally seen so far in 2013. Since the start of the year, the index has risen a whopping 7.62% and is now trading at levels not seen since mid-2008. "We may see a break in the recen
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
4th Feb 2013 07:17
Antofagasta: Nomura lowers target price from 1400p to 1250p and keeps a neutral rating. Aviva Group: Barclays cuts target price from 317p to 302p leaving its underweight rating unaltered. Beazley: Berenberg starts with a target price of 217p and a buy recommendation. Big Yellow Group: UBS reduces
Read moreLondon close: Stocks surge as economic data impresses
1st Feb 2013 16:46
The impressive performance by global stock markets last month continued into the first trading day of February, as a barrage of upbeat economic data lifted sentiment. The FTSE 100 rose a total of 6.4% in January alone, the best January performance since 1989. Eurozone manufacturing beats forecast
Read moreBroker snap: HSBC sale of Ping An a 'mild disappointment'
1st Feb 2013 14:49
HSBC Holdings breathed a sigh of relief Friday after regulators approved the sale of its stake in Ping An Insurance but analysts labelled the deal a 'mild disappointment'. Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont's company Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group snapped up 976.1m Hong Kong-traded shares in the ins
Read moreHSBC Holdings sells stake in Ping An Insurance
1st Feb 2013 13:49
HSBC Holdings received regulatory approval for the 7.4bn-dollar sale of its stake in Ping An Insurance to Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, the bank said in a statement Friday. The China Insurance Regulatory Commission gave the green light for the sale of 976.1m Hong Kong-traded shares in the
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