FTSE 250 movers: Homeserve gains on growth predications

21st May 2013 15:20

Homeserve shares were rising strongly after the group said it is confident it will return to modest growth in 2014/2015. The group said it has clear Sales and Marketing plans for increasing both customer acquisition and retention and expects UK customer numbers to stabilise at around 1.9m from March

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London midday: Stocks extend gains as inflation falls sharply

21st May 2013 11:38

Stocks held on to 12-year highs on Tuesday morning as a sharp drop in consumer-price inflation lifted the outlook for the UK economy. Helping to keep markets in positive territory this morning was falling inflation in the UK. The rise in consumer prices slowed sharply from an annual rate of 2.8% to

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London pre-open: Small retreat expected in early trade

21st May 2013 07:24

City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down seven points from yesterday's close of 6,756, having hit a 13-year high on Monday. US equities retreated Monday as investors sat tight ahead of the release of economic data and the Federal Reserve's minutes of its last policy meeting. The Fed will

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Tuesday broker round-up UPDATE

21st May 2013 07:12

Antofagasta: Canaccord Genuity reduces target price from 1065p to 1040p, while leaving its hold recommendation unchanged. Barratt Developments: Goldman Sachs takes target price from 351p to 371p maintaining a buy recommendation. Big Yellow Group: Investec increases target price from 370p to 430p a

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Homeserve profit falls, maintains dividend - UPDATE

21st May 2013 07:09

Home emergency repairs group HomeServe saw full year profits decline but expressed confidence that customer numbers would stabilise as its international businesses continues to grow. The group, which insures customers against burst pipes and broken boilers, also removed a major uncertainty as it pr

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FTSE 250 movers: Hochschild Mining rises despite loan news

25th Mar 2013 16:35

Telecom Plus led gains on positive sentiment towards the sector today as well as on the back of recent company-specific news-flow related to Vodafone and BT Group. Precious metals producer Hochschild Mining dropped lower by the afternoon. Earlier in the day it had gained on the back of news that it

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Monday broker round-up UPDATE

25th Mar 2013 07:12

Amur Minerals Corporation: HB Markets initiates with a speculative buy. ARM Holdings: Bank of America Merrill Lynch reiterates buy and 1,145p price target. AstraZeneca: Deutsche Bank raises target price from 2800p to 3100p and keeps a hold recommendation. Exane BNP ups target price from 3100p to 3

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London close: Gains erased as Cyprus puts bank levy back on the table

22nd Mar 2013 16:47

Stocks trimmed gains on Friday afternoon on the back of ongoing developments in Cyprus as politicians desperately scramble to come up with a 'Plan B' to raise the funds needed to secure financial assistance from the Troika. Nevertheless, markets maintained their positive bias on hopes that a deal c

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FTSE 250 movers: Phoenix Group climbs on strong results

22nd Mar 2013 15:51

Closed life fund consolidator Phoenix Group climbed after it unveiled strong results for the financial year ended December 31st, underpinned by solid cash generation from its operating companies. Howden Joinery was higher after Canaccord Genuity raised its target price from 174p to 305p and upgrad

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London midday: Markets cautious on critical day for Cyprus

22nd Mar 2013 11:47

European stocks were making moderate gains on Friday morning but the mood on financial markets was cautious with the focus firmly on Cyprus ahead of pivotal day for the country's future in the Eurozone. According to government spokesman Christos Sylianides this morning, the "next few hours" are key

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Broker tips: HSBC, BP, HomeServe

22nd Mar 2013 11:09

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has taken a less bearish view on global banking group HSBC and moved its recommendation from 'underperform' to 'neutral'. BofA said: "While we remain concerned about the return on equity capacity of HSBC, it has done an outstanding job in improving capital ratios, some

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Broker snap: New clouds on the horizon at HomeServe, says Panmure

22nd Mar 2013 11:06

Panmure Gordon has retained its 'sell' rating and 145p target price for home emergency repairs group HomeServe, saying that Friday's profit warning raises questions about dividend sustainability. HomeServe said in a pre-close trading update that guidance for the current year (ending March 31st) rem

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London open: Fears of a Cyrpiot default weigh on stocks

22nd Mar 2013 08:29

While the attention had diverted away from Cyprus temporarily over the last few days - owing to the Budget in the UK and the FOMC decision in the States - concerns had returned with a vengeance on Friday morning, causing stocks to slip early on. It seems that talks with Russia to provide additional

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HomeServe to cut 300 jobs as customer numbers decline

22nd Mar 2013 07:25

Home emergency repairs group HomeServe said it is on target to hit full-year forecasts but has warned that a fall in customer numbers next year will lead to the loss of 300 jobs. Chief Executive Richard Harpin said in a statement on Friday that HomeServe will meet expectations for the year ending M

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Wednesday broker round-up UPDATE

27th Feb 2013 08:11

: Panmure Gordon reduces target price from 2159p to 1742p and reiterates its hold recommendation. Antofagasta: JP Morgan cuts target price from 1485p to 1400p, while retaining its overweight rating. Barclays: Numis raises target price from 351p to 400p and upgrades to buy. BT Group: UBS moves tar

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