FTSE 250 movers: Laird rockets after approach
16th Jun 2011 15:39
Shares in Laird rocketed after the electronic components manufacturer rejected an all-cash 185p-a-share takeover proposal from US rival Cooper Industries. Laird makes antennae for mobile phones and other telecommunications-related electronic products. Cooper, which employs 2,100 people in the UK, ho
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Kenmare Resources leads the risers
13th Jun 2011 14:29
Irish mining firm Kenmare Resources is the top performer on the FTSE 250 on Monday, rising over 4.5%. Kenmare's shares have had a decent run as of late, rising by nearly 9% in the last week, and by around 60% since mid-January. Meanwhile, trendy fashion firm Supergroup - the index's worst performer
Read moreLondon close: ENRC leads FTSE 100 slide
10th Jun 2011 16:26
The top share index slid below the 5,800 point mark heading into the weekend. ENRC, the Kazakh resources giant, was nursing heavy losses by the close of play. The company is set to lose a third independent board director according to reports in the Financial Times. The loss of Mehmet Dalman would
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Retailers drop, JD leads the fallers
10th Jun 2011 14:14
Seven of the ten top fallers are from the retail sector, with JD Sports Fashion losing over 6%. The Tempus column in the Times this morning said that, while the sports apparel chain is a more robust business than most on the high street, "with the shares on less than nine times this year's earnings,
Read moreFriday tips round-up: IG Group, Pan African Resources, JD Sports...
10th Jun 2011 06:41
IG Group announced a management rejig and the closure of its sport-betting business yesterday along with its end-of-year trading statement. The moves signal a welcome decision to concentrate on the spread-betting company's core financial business and to expand it in new markets and make use of new t
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 rallies despite retail gloom
9th Jun 2011 16:31
Shares rallied in the afternoon after a good start on Wall Street where stocks won back some recent losses. Engineer Weir Group was the highest riser after its earnings estimates were lifted by RBC Capital Markets. There have also been reports today that two companies in China have been given fine
Read moreSector movers: Home Retail drags retailers into the red
9th Jun 2011 16:06
Unsurprsingly, the retailing sector is the worst performing sector on Thursday, after Home Retail Group took a dive. Home Retail has taken a plunge after revealing an 8.1% fall in sales at its catalogue-based retailer Argos in the 13 weeks to 28 May. "Trading conditions, particularly at Argos, have
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Retailers take a hit as Home Retail dives
9th Jun 2011 15:58
Home Retail has taken a plunge after revealing an 8.1% fall in sales at its catalogue-based retailer Argos in the 13 weeks to 28 May. "Trading conditions, particularly at Argos, have proved to be more difficult and volatile than anticipated," chief executive Terry Duddy said. Retailing peers Dixon
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 unchanged despite retail slump
9th Jun 2011 12:14
Retailers are heavily under the cosh today after a raft of gloomy updates, but the top share index is little changed as investors await US jobs data due later in the afternoon. Ongoing difficulties at the catalogue-based retailer Argos continue to plague its owner Home Retail Group, which has annou
Read moreLondon open: Retailers slide as sales decline
9th Jun 2011 08:21
Retailers are posting hefty losses after a raft of updates but a rally in mining stocks is helping to cushion the blow. In the FTSE 100, Marks & Spencer and B&Q owner Kingfisher are among the heaviest fallers, while South American copper miner Antofagasta rallies after declining on the back of the
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to slip after retail updates
9th Jun 2011 07:44
Stocks are expected to fall back slightly as investors digest a raft of cautious-to-gloomy updates from the retail sector. Continuing difficulties at the catalogue-based retailer Argos continue to plague its owner Home Retail Group, which has announced an 8.1% fall in sales at the chain to £817m in
Read moreJD Sports cautious as sales decline
9th Jun 2011 07:21
Continuing pressures on the UK consumer have contributed to an acceleration in the decline in sales at Trendy sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion. Like-for-like sales in the period between the end of January and 4 June fell by 2.8% from the same period the previous year. That compares with a 1.2
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: JD tops the risers
31st May 2011 15:15
Retailers JD Sports Fashion and Supergroup are also in demand. Tate & Lyle, the food ingredients group, has been given a lift by UBS after the broker raised its target price for the stock by 8%, from 550p to 595p. Stockbroker and investment manager Brewin Dolphin is edging higher after announcing
Read moreBroker tips: Thomas Cook, Experian, JD Sports
16th May 2011 11:35
Nomura has downgraded its forecasts for tour operator Thomas Cook as continued tension in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and tough trading in the UK will likely affect earnings for the full year. While the group reported a first half operating loss of £166m broadly in line with Nom
Read moreBroker snap: JD Sports 'relatively undervalued'
16th May 2011 11:34
FinnCap raises its target price for retailer JD Sports Fashion saying that the group is "relatively undervalued" after a tough year for the industry: "we derive a level of reassurance from the company's recognition of the situation," the broker said. 2011 results were better-than-expected, with pre
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