FTSE 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 more

London 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 more

London 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 more

Monday 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 more

London 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 more

Broker 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 more

HSBC 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

Read more

London midday: Euro manufacturing data lifts sentiment

1st Feb 2013 11:58

A better-than-expected reading of Eurozone manufacturing data helped cement gains for equity markets on Friday morning, as investors await the all-important jobs data due out in the US this afternoon. Expectations are for a 165,000 rise in US non-farm payrolls in January when numbers are released a

Read more

London open: Stocks extend gains after strong performance in January

1st Feb 2013 08:29

Markets were performing well in early trading on Friday, extending gains made last month, ahead of the all-important jobs report in the US this afternoon. The FTSE 100 rose a total of 6.4% in January alone, the best January performance since 1989. However, as Joe Rundle, head of trading at ETX Cap

Read more

Friday broker round-up UPDATE

1st Feb 2013 07:55

Afren: HSBC shifts target price from 190p to 200p, while reiterating an overweight rating. Antofagasta: Exane BNP reduces target price from 1500p to 1350p maintaining an outperform rating. Antrim Energy: Westhouse Securities lowers target price from 70p to 65p and reiterates a buy recommendation.

Read more

Friday newspaper round-up: Barclays, Chinese manufacturing, Jessops...

1st Feb 2013 06:55

UK authorities are probing an allegation that Barclays loaned Qatar money to invest in the bank as part of its cash call at the height of the financial crisis in 2008, which enabled the bank to avoid a UK government bailout. While the terms of Barclays' emergency fundraising have been under the scru

Read more

Thursday newspaper round-up: Barclays, Shell, Great Western...

31st Jan 2013 06:55

The man responsible for setting boardroom pay at Barclays was hammered by MPs and peers yesterday and warned not to pay a one million-pound bonus to the new chief executive. Sir John Sunderland, one of Britain's most eminent industrialists and a for- mer CBI president, was hit by a barrage of hostil

Read more

Sector movers: RBS and Lloyds hit by downgrade

29th Jan 2013 16:45

Banks were taking a hit on Tuesday after Espirito Santo downgraded Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds, saying that the operating environment remains difficult in the face of a weak economic outlook. RBS and Lloyds are now two of the most expensive stocks under Espirito's coverage and the broker fore

Read more

Broker snap: Espirito Santo downgrades RBS and Lloyds to 'sell'

29th Jan 2013 15:33

While shares in Royal Bank of Scotland were being hammered on Tuesday by concerns about alleged LIBOR manipulation in the US, the stock was being weighed down further by a downgrade by Espirito Santo. Lloyds was also taken down a peg by the broker in its review of the UK banking sector. Espirito

Read more

Tuesday broker round-up UPDATE

29th Jan 2013 07:26

Anglo American: JP Morgan takes price target from 1630p to 1680p, while its underweight rating remains unchanged. ARM Holdings: Jefferies raises target price from 693p to 805p keeping a hold recommendation. Astra Zaneca: Barclays ups target price from 3100p to 3200p and retains an equal-weight rat

Read more