Broker tips: Admiral, Experian, HomeServe
10th Nov 2011 12:53
UBS has downgraded insurance titan Admiral from buy to neutral and slashed the target price by a whopping 45%, from 1,610p to 890p, following the group's statement yesterday which resulted in over a quarter of its market value being lost. "Although we believe that Admiral remains among the best man
Read moreLondon midday: Italian yields fall, Experian leads recovery
10th Nov 2011 12:16
London's blue chip index has erased earlier losses to trade flat around lunchtime as Italian 10-year bond yields fell back below the critical 7% after the country's debt auction. Meanwhile, the Bank of England revealed at midday that it had kept interest rates at the record low level of 0.5%. ITALY
Read moreBroker snap: Panmure still cautious about HomeServe issues
10th Nov 2011 12:13
Panmure Gordon has kept its sell rating on repair services firm HomeServe, despite the firm revealing today that it has restarted its sales activity following the mis-selling scandal exposed on 31 October. The stock jumped by nearly a quarter on Thursday after the group said it would recommence tak
Read moreDigital Look broker talk - UPDATE
10th Nov 2011 11:44
Experian: "Experian offers investors strong economics, including high barriers to entry, solid growth, gentle margin expansion and strong cash conversion. With our generally constructive view on its Brazilian growth angle we remain buyers" [Citi]. Experian: "The half year numbers are a win win on e
Read moreHomeServe surges after restarting sales activity - UPDATE
10th Nov 2011 09:14
Shares in repair services firm HomeServe roared higher today after it said it had restarted sales activity in a "limited way" following the suspending of its telesales operation 11 days ago. The firm said it would recommence taking 'inbound' calls from customers to buy its products but has not yet
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Supergroup shines ahead of tomorrow's update
8th Nov 2011 13:18
Fashion firm Supergroup was top of the leaderboard after investors stocked up on shares ahead of Wednesday's trading update for the second quarter, promoting speculation that the statement will spell good news for shareholders. Also heading higher is Lamprell, a specialist engineering firm serving
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: C&W Comms jumps after first half results
3rd Nov 2011 16:25
Telecoms group Cable & Wireless Communications soared higher on Thursday after reporting a 24% rise in half-year revenue and signs of "stablisation" in the all-important Caribbean division. Waste management firm Shanks jumped as it delivered a 20% increase in underlying half-year profit, upped its
Read moreBroker tips: Tate & Lyle, Homeserve, St James's Place
3rd Nov 2011 12:41
Panmure Gordon has raised its target price for sweeteners firm Tate & Lyle from 615p to 645p after the group's first half profits beat expectations. Pre-tax profit rose by 38% from £136m to £180m, ahead of consensus estimates of £163m. As such, Panmure's pre-tax profit forecasts for the current y
Read moreBroker snap: Peel Hunt slashes Homeserve target, as investigation looms
3rd Nov 2011 11:34
Three days after downgrading Homeserve's rating from hold to sell, Pell Hunt has slashed its target price for the emergency repair services firm from 450p to 280p, saying that an "FSA investigation looms". Homeserve saw its shares plummet by over a quarter on Monday after audit firm Deloitte found
Read moreUPDATE: Thursday broker round-up
3rd Nov 2011 09:03
Tate & Lyle: Panmure Gordon raises target from 615p to 645p, keeps hold rating. Marks&Spencer: Credit Suisse cuts target to 345p from 390p, stays at neutral. Next: UBS ups target from 2,600p to 2,800p, buy recommendation unchanged. St. James's Place: UBS downgrades from buy to neutral, target red
Read moreLondon close: Miners plummet, Footsie drops 2.8%
31st Oct 2011 16:33
London's blue chips registered an average fall of 2.77% on Monday as a steep sell-off in the heavyweight mining sector dragged the Footsie down to 5,544, 158 points off Friday's close of 5,702. Just three stocks finished the day with gains. The steady decline continued following a dreary start on W
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Homeserve shares spring a leak
31st Oct 2011 13:44
Homeserve's share price was leading the way lower after Peel Hunt downgraded the emergency repair services firm from hold to sell, after Homeserve announced that it is to suspend its telesales operation after an independent review. Homeserve saw its shares plummet by over a quarter after the audit
Read moreLondon midday: Miners tumble as Japan intervenes
31st Oct 2011 12:15
The miners dragged the Footsie over 1% lower by midday after Japan's intervention into the currency markets and Chinese demand worries spurred a fall in commodity prices. London's blue chip index remains firmly in the red at the 5,641 mark, down from Friday's close of 5,702. In economic news, the g
Read moreBroker tips: Barclays, Homeserve, Sage
31st Oct 2011 12:13
Nomura has reiterated its buy call on banking giant Barclays, after the firm's third quarter results came in ahead of expectations. The broker notes that Barclay's traditional banking operations drove the third quarter beat, and while Barclays Capital was weak, figures were in line with forecasts a
Read moreBroker snap: Peel Hunt downgrades Homeserve after telesales suspension
31st Oct 2011 10:58
Peel Hunt downgraded emergency repair services firm Homeserve from hold to sell, after the group announced that it is to suspend its telesales operation after an independent review. Homeserve saw its shares plummet by over a quarter on Monday after audit firm Deloitte found "processes that did not
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