Kofax chairman tops up
26th Sep 2011 14:28
The chairman of Kofax's remuneration committee, Chris Conway, has bought £62,500 worth of shares in the company less than a month after it missed expectations for the year. Kofax, which provides capture driven process automation solutions, reported a 12% increase in total revenues to $243.9m (£151
Read moreUPDATE: Wednesday broker round-up
21st Sep 2011 08:52
Inmarsat: Citi downgrades to hold from buy. Inmarsat: Morgan Stanley downgrades to underweight from neutral. Imperial Tobbacco: Investec retains buy. Carnival: Credit Suisse confirms neutral rating and 2,357p target. Drax: Credit Suisse cuts target from 400p to 350p, underperform rating maintain
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Supergroup, Prezzo, IQE
8th Sep 2011 06:32
Fashion group Supergroup sells at 17 times this year's earnings. Lifestyle brands such as SuperGroup have done well over the recession and future growth looks assured, but the churl in me finds it hard to see immediate progress for a retailer on this sort of multiple in this market, says Martin Wall
Read moreProfits rise at IQE after smartphones boost product demand
7th Sep 2011 09:47
IQE, the global supplier of semiconductor wafers to chip manufacturers, has reported strong results for the year, reflecting market trends towards smartphones and the demand for ever-faster technology. Revenues were up 16% from £33m to £38.3m, resulting in a 28% rise in pre-tax profit of £2.8m, up
Read moreSector movers: Admiral drives down non-life insurance stocks
24th Aug 2011 14:49
A huge 13% fall in Admiral's share price on Wednesday was weighing down the non-life insurance sector. The car insurer plummeted despite unveiling record interim pre-tax profits that jumped 27% to £160.6m, from £126.9m the year before. While the profit figure was more or less in line with estimat
Read moreSector movers: Personal Goods shakes off Abbeycrest drag
15th Jul 2011 16:33
The Personal Goods sector is on the up today despite international jewellery designer and manufacturer, Abbeycrest, proving a drag. The company said it would need to renegotiate its debt facilities in the coming months. The news wiped 57% of the value of its shares in morning trading, but the shar
Read moreIQE sails through currency headwinds
14th Jul 2011 12:26
IQE, the producer of silicon wafers for electrical products, expects a revenue increase of 20% in dollar terms in 2011, although the actual increase has been affected by currency exchange rates. The group forecasts first half revenues of £38m and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amor
Read moreSector movers: Rio Tinto's bid lifts miners
29th Mar 2011 16:00
Rio Tinto is among the best performing miners lifting the sector higher after its A$3.9bn bid for Australian coal miner Riversdale was declared unconditional. Eager shareholders who've already sent off their acceptance forms will get the $16 a share offered by 5 April, but will be watching closely
Read moreSmartphone growth boosts IQE
29th Mar 2011 09:36
Strong growth in the smartphone market helped drive revenues higher at IQE, which supplies wafers for semiconductors used in the gadgets. Revenues in the year to 31 December grew 38% from the previous year to £72.7m, while pre-tax profits tripled to £6.3m. "Our core business of high speed connecti
Read moreSmall caps round-up: Headlam, Henry Boot, IQE...
20th Jan 2011 14:07
Floor coverings distributor Headlam expects 2010 earnings to be marginally ahead of market expectations, after group revenue improved by 0.4% on the previous year. In the UK, like for like (LFL) revenues rose by 0.4% from a year earlier but the continental European businesses saw a 0.7% decline in
Read moreIQE acquires Galaxy, raises funds
30th Sep 2010 13:07
IQE, a provider of wafers to the semi-conductor industry, has raised £20.8m through a placing to fund its acquisition of the US provider of materials used in infrared technology Galaxy Compound Semiconductors. IQE chief executive Drew Nelson said the acquisition 'positions IQE as the global leader
Read moreLondon close: US cheer gives Footsie another lift
1st Sep 2010 16:39
An already buoyant Footsie enjoyed a second wind in late trading as manufacturing data from the US added to hopes that the global economy remains on course for recovery. The Institute for Supply Management's factory index rose to 56.3 from 55.5 in July, against expectations of a decline. That gav
Read moreLondon afternoon: Morning's gains consolidated
1st Sep 2010 14:21
Leading shares moved sideways over the lunch time session, consolidating the morning's gains. In the battle of the "bid speculation" stocks, package tour operator TUI Travel leapfrogged over Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW) to claim the prize as best performing blue-chip. TUI Travel is higher on h
Read moreLondon midday: Bid talk boosts Footsie pair
1st Sep 2010 11:58
It is a quiet day on the corporate news front and, as is often the case on such days, bid gossip is occupying the thoughts of traders. Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CWW), the demerged part of Cable & Wireless that is predominantly comprised of the telecoms giant's UK business, is being touted as a po
Read moreLondon open: Blue chips up again
1st Sep 2010 08:44
Leading shares have continued yesterday's rally after decent economic data out of China this morning. China's official purchasing managers' index rose to 51.7 in August from a 17-month low of 51.2 in July, causing an improvement in commodity prices and overall sentiment. Australian stock markets w
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