London midday: Stocks boosted by stimulus hopes, Chinese imports
10th Apr 2013 11:37
Optimism regarding central-bank stimulus was driving gains on stock markets on Wednesday morning following recent comments from Japan and ahead of an announcement from the Federal Reserve later today. Investors were shrugging off a surprise trade deficit in China in March, as the data showed a stro
Read moreLondon open: Chinese demand hopes drive markets higher early on
10th Apr 2013 08:20
Stocks started Wednesday's session with decent gains, tracking Asian markets higher after on the back of optimism regarding central-bank stimulus. Investors were shrugging off a surprise trade deficit in China in March, as the data showed a strong rebound in imports. Export growth, however, was wea
Read moreBroker tips: AstraZeneca, IMI, WPP
2nd Apr 2013 12:16
JPMorgan Cazenove has upgraded its rating for drugmaker AstraZeneca from 'underweight' to 'neutral' and lifted its price target for the stock from 2,750p to 3,400p, causing shares to edged higher on Tuesday. "We continue to model AZN's earnings trough in 2017, however, as the pipeline matures and b
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise, M&A speculation boosts Vodafone
2nd Apr 2013 11:36
The FTSE 100 had gained one per cent by Tuesday lunchtime as traders made up for lost time following a long four-day weekend for the Easter holidays. Telecoms giant Vodafone was leading the risers on London's benchmark index on the back of speculation that it could be involved in the biggest M&A d
Read moreBroker snap: IMI hit by Goldman downgrade after strong run
2nd Apr 2013 09:25
Shares in engineering group IMI were under pressure on Tuesday morning after Goldman Sachs cut its rating on the stock from 'buy' to 'neutral', saying that it is no longer materially mispriced. Goldman said in a research note that IMI has participated in both the market-wide re-rating between June
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
2nd Apr 2013 08:28
Afren: Liberum Capital shifts target price from 123p to 130p maintaining a hold recommendation. Amara Mining: Numis initiates with a target price of 80p and a buy recommendation. APR Energy: Espirito Santo downgrades to sell with a target price of 680p. ASOS: Goldman Sachs increases target price
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Mar 2013 07:11
Amara Mining: After having been under review, Cantor Fitzgerald reinitiates coverage with a price target of 81p and a buy recommendation. Antofagasta: Citigroup shifts target price from 990p to 1000p, but retains its sell recommendation. Ashtead Group: Investec raises target price from 475p to 700
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
11th Mar 2013 07:23
Admiral Group: Berenberg ups target price from 1000p to 1060p, but still recommends selling. Amlin: Westhouse Securities raises target price from 440p to 455p, but downgrades from add to neutral. Anite Group: Invetsec downgrades from buy to hold with a target price of 157p. Aviva: Citigroup reduc
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
8th Mar 2013 07:42
Advanced Computer Software Group: Canaccord Genuity raises target price from 80p to 108p and reiterates a buy recommendation. Aggreko: Jefferies raises target price from 2000p to 2200p keeping its buy recommendation. Cantor Fitzgerald takes target price from 2020p to 2200p and stays with its buy re
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Aviva, IMI, H&T Group,
8th Mar 2013 06:45
Aviva has come a long way and yesterday´s dividend cut does not negate all that has been achieved since Mark Wilson took over at the helm last May. The company needed to decrease its pay-out to reduce the strain from interest payments on profits. The real challenge, however, will be to increase the
Read moreLondon close: Markets unfazed as central banks hold fire
7th Mar 2013 17:06
The FTSE 100 finished with moderate gains on Thursday as investors digested policy-rate decisions in both the UK and Europe. Matt Basi, the Head of UK Sales Trading at CMC Markets, said European stock markets experienced "jittery trade" with traders pausing for thought after the significant gains o
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aviva dives after slashing dividend
7th Mar 2013 15:04
Insurance giant Aviva was forced to slash to dividend after swinging into the red in 2012, after taking a 3.3bn-pound write-down on a disposal in the US. Aviva also said that its overall situation does not warrant bonuses for executive directors for 2012 or pay rises for 2013. Shares dropped sharply
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks gain as BoE holds fire
7th Mar 2013 11:59
Stocks were making moderate gains by Thursday lunchtime despite the Bank of England (BoE) refraining from further easing to boost the UK economy. At noon, the BoE revealed that policy-makers had voted to maintain interest rates at their record-low level of 0.5% (where they have been since March 200
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
7th Mar 2013 07:25
Admiral: Nomura raises target price from 1350p to 1493p keeping a buy recommendation. African Barrick Gold: Nomura cuts target price from 435p to 200p and downgrades from neutral to reduce. Aggreko: Investec increases target price from 1750p to 1940p upgrading from hold to buy. Anglo American: No
Read moreSevere Service unit boosts growth at IMI
7th Mar 2013 07:24
Engineering giant IMI raised its dividend by eight per cent after a 'resilient' set of results in 2012 which were helped by an encouraging performance from new products and emerging markets. The company also announced a share buy-back programme of up to £175m over the next 12 months "to ensure that
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