FTSE 250 movers: UBM jumps after results
5th Mar 2010 14:19
United Business Media (UBM) leads the risers. Full-year figures from business publisher were ahead of expectations in a 'tough' year and the outlook for underlying performance in 2010 is 'stable'. Fellow business publisher Informa also climbs. Hochschild Mining's shares are also higher after its e
Read moreLondon close: Insurers left behind
2nd Mar 2010 17:07
A firm start on Wall Street gave fresh heart to UK equities, with financial stocks to the fore, with the notable exception of insurers. Ahead of results tomorrow Standard Chartered was wanted in a buoyant banking sector while elsewhere in the financial sector property groups such as SEGRO and Hamme
Read moreChairman's wife buys Redrow shares
2nd Mar 2010 16:33
Redrow chairman Steve Morgan's wife has bought 100,000 shares in the housebuilder taking their combined stake to 29.95%. Fiona Morgan paid 131.5p a share for the 100,000 shares. The total cost was £131,500. Morgan founded Redrow in 1974 and floated the company 20 years later. He also owns Wolver
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie consolidates gains
2nd Mar 2010 14:13
Leading shares consolidated gains over the lunchtime session though it remains a bad day to be invested in the insurance sector. Insurer Prudential is under the cosh again as investors bale out ahead of an expected monster cash call to finance the group's acquisition of AIG's Asian assets. RSA In
Read moreBroker tips: Persimmon, Informa, Blacks Leisure
2nd Mar 2010 13:06
The wheels have come off the Persimmon revival bandwagon this year with the stock coming down from its January peak of around 500p to dip below 400p at one point but they are back on the rise after Tuesday's results, with good cause, in Panmure Gordon's view. The broker has upgraded its price targe
Read moreLondon midday: Banks bounce back
2nd Mar 2010 12:08
Although base metal miners have reversed course and are now heading south the FTSE 100 index has added to early gains, helped by a surge in interest in banking shares. Ahead of results tomorrow Standard Chartered is leading the banking sector higher. Part-nationalised lenders Royal Bank of Scotland
Read moreBroker snap: Stormer from Informa
2nd Mar 2010 11:22
Full year results from business publisher Informa were well ahead of expectations, according to Panmure Gordon, raising the prospect of earnings upgrades for 2010. 'There should be scope to upgrade FY 10 EPS [earnings per share for fiscal 2010] pending further contact with the company. The EPS base
Read moreInforma cautious after profits fall
2nd Mar 2010 07:51
Specialist publisher Informa said its outlook remains uncertain after tough economic conditions resulted in a fall in profits in 2009. Pre-tax profits at the company, whose titles include the shipping newspaper Lloyd's List, fell to £96.5m in the year to December 31 from £109m the previous year on
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Tomkins motors higher
1st Mar 2010 14:54
Tomkins is higher after the engineer moved modestly back into profit last year, but cautioned that conditions remain challenging and any sustained recovery will be towards the latter half of the year. Shares in specialist publisher Informa are wanted ahead of its preliminary results, due tomorrow.
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Serco, Informa, Robert Walters
16th Dec 2009 06:42
Serco is usually billed as the company that runs London's Docklands Light Railway, but it does everything from business process outsourcing to defence to education. Outsourcers of Serco's ilk stand to be among the few winners from the slash and burn in the public sector over the next five years. b
Read moreLondon close: Losses narrow
15th Dec 2009 16:33
Top shares fought back late afternoon to halve losses, but most financial issues stayed lower, while oil plays also ended friendless. Turmoil in the Greek banking sector since credit ratings agency Fitch downgraded the country's sovereign debt last week continued to hurt. Barclays and HSBC were am
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks continue to weigh
15th Dec 2009 14:51
London is off its worst levels of the day, but remains deep in the red as finance plays suffer on fears about the strength of European peers. Barclays and HSBC are among the worst performers as Greek rivals slump on worries about their country's budget deficit. Reports, later denied, that Austria'
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie drifts back
15th Dec 2009 12:12
Footsie has drifted slightly lower as banks and miners join British Airways among the heaviest fallers. The airline is in focus amid expectations of a 12-day strike over Christmas. BA said it is mulling "all options" to cope with the planned action by cabin crew over the Christmas period. BA is
Read moreLondon open: Dull start as BA suffers
15th Dec 2009 09:02
London's top stocks have turned lower as investors take a breather following recent gains. British Airways has generated most headlines this morning. The embattled airline is drawing up contingency plans to cope if the planned 12-day strike by cabin crew goes ahead. An injunction is one option, but
Read moreLondon pre-open: Flat start ahead
15th Dec 2009 07:34
London's top stocks are expected to open largely flat as investors take a breather following the previous sessions gains. Costa Coffee owner Whitbread has offered to buy Eastern European coffee shop operator CoffeeHeaven for about £36m. The recommended offer of 24 pence in cash represents a premium
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