Monday broker round-up - UPDATE
27th Feb 2012 09:44
BP: Nomura maintains neutral rating and 500p target. HSBC: Seymour Pierce confirms buy rating and 800p target. Vedanta Resources: Credit Suisse reiterates neutral recommendation and 1,400p target. Marks & Spencer: UBS upgrades from neutral to buy, target lifted from 325p to 410p. Lloyds Banking
Read moreHBSC beats expectations with a little help
27th Feb 2012 09:11
Global banking colossus HSBC saw strong profits growth in 2011 despite its investment banking arm's profits taking a dive. Reported profit before tax at $21,872m was ahead of expectations and up from $19,037m the year before. It was, however, boosted by favourable fair value movements of HSBC's ow
Read moreLondon open: Stocks sink early on, Essar leads the fall
27th Feb 2012 08:55
- Essar drops after full-year results. - Vedanta confirms merger of Indian subsidiaries. - HSBC beats expectations in 2011. London's blue chip index fell sharply in early trading on Monday after a G20 meeting failed to alleviate concerns over the economic crisis in Europe. Essar Energy and the mine
Read moreWeek Ahead: Asia-focused banks under the spotlight
24th Feb 2012 13:56
Banks are likely to be once again in focus next week, with the focus shifting from UK government-owned operators to two firms with strong presences in Asia: HSBC and Standard Chartered. On Monday, HSBC will update the market on its fourth quarter performance and also publish its full year numbers.
Read moreWednesday broker round-up - UPDATE
22nd Feb 2012 09:32
Vodafone: Credit Suisse cuts target from 175p to 170p, outperform rating kept. Vedanta Resources: Credit Suisse maintains neutral rating and 1,400p target. AMEC: UBS raises target from 1,225p to 1,325p, buy rating unchanged; Nomura raises target from 1,130p to 1,240p, buy rating unchanged. HSBC:
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Lehman, Tax cuts, North Sea, Iran
19th Feb 2012 16:12
George Osborne came under pressure from three sides today to put tax cuts at the heart of next month's Budget. Nick Clegg sought to sharpen dividing lines with the Tories as the Liberal Democrats pressed for more help for low earners. Labour called for an emergency VAT cut while senior Tories urged
Read moreLondon close: Optimistic mood ahead of Eurogroup, but risks remain
17th Feb 2012 17:10
-Merkel optimistic about Eurogroup meeting. -Miners lead gains on Footsie. -Retailer rise on economic data. London's benchmark index finished the week strongly - up 53 points on last Friday's close of 5,852 - as markets expressed confidence that the next Greek bailout can be secured on Monday. Af
Read moreLondon close: Losses pared after US data, Greece still a concern
16th Feb 2012 16:35
- Losses pared after US data. - Miners track metals prices lower. - European leaders weighing up ECB role in Greek aid. London's blue chip index finished in the red on Thursday but well off its intraday lows after US economic data came in stronger than expected in the afternoon. Nonetheless, concer
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Reed Elsevier leads risers, while banks and miners fall
16th Feb 2012 14:51
Information solutions provider Reed Elsevier jumped into pole position after seeing underlying revenues increase 2% in 2011, with all five business areas contributing to growth except the Exhibitions division, which was held back by biennial cycling. Nomura said today that the group's valuation - wi
Read moreOFT tells banks to play fair
16th Feb 2012 14:23
Do better by personal account customers or you'll be forced - that was the message behind a speech given by head of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). John Fingleton said competition in the banking system has not functioned well for too long, despite a string of investigations into personal banking,
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks off lows but still firmly in the red
16th Feb 2012 11:40
- Greek bailout hit by more delays. - Moody's reviews ratings on 114 European financial institutions. - Real Eurozone GDP forecasts slashed in ECB survey. The FTSE 100 has come off its intraday low of 5,831 but still remains firmly in the red as delays in Greece, a warning to banks from Moody's an
Read moreLondon open: Stocks weighed down by Greece, Moody's
16th Feb 2012 08:35
- Greek bailout hit by more delays. - Moody's reviews ratings on 114 European financial institutions. - BAE Systems tumbles after results. London's blue chip index sank in early trading on Thursday, with just five stocks on the rise, as the Greek bailout faces fresh delays. Meanwhile, Moody's warn
Read moreMoody's reviews 114 financial institutions, nine in UK
16th Feb 2012 07:42
Moody's Investors Service has announced rating actions affecting no less than 114 financial institutions in 16 European countries as the sovereign debt crisis continues to take its toll. The credit ratings agency aptly points out that the "adverse and prolonged" impact of the euro area crisis make
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish down with Greece in focus
15th Feb 2012 16:38
- Oil rises on supply concerns. - PBOC to keep buying Eurozone debt. - Samaras to honour terms of new package. Despite an earlier rise, the FTSE 100 index slumped in afternoon trade to finish in the red as strong performance by banks was offset by some heavyweight stocks that went ex-dividend. All
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Ex-dividend stocks provide a drag
15th Feb 2012 14:46
Drugs giant AstraZeneca plunged into bottom spot, followed by sector peer GlaxoSmithKline and big oil players BP and Shell, after all four went ex-dividend today. Shares of ITV took a hit following a downgrade from Peel Hunt. The broker said that with the shares of the broadcaster having gained ste
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