London midday: Stocks higher as UK unemployment falls, M&A activity in focus
12th Jun 2013 12:04
M&A activity was the theme of the day in London on Wednesday as heavyweight stocks British Sky Broadcasting, Severn Trent and Vodafone grabbed the headlines. Nevertheless, after a choppy start, the FTSE 100 managed to register moderate gains by lunchtime. Helping sentiment this morning was UK unemp
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
10th Jun 2013 07:34
ASOS: HSBC Holdings increases target price from 3660p to 4380p and keeps an overweight rating. Bellway: Deutsche Bank raises target price from 1482p to 1503p and reiterates a hold recommendation. Betfair Group: Citi ups target price from 880p to 950p, upgrading from neutral to buy. Capco: UBS inc
Read moreLondon close: Markets surge as US data eases 'tapering' fears
7th Jun 2013 17:23
An in-line increase in US non-farm payrolls sparked an impressive surge on equity markets worldwide on Friday afternoon, as worries about the Federal Reserve scaling back its stimulus measures eased, for now at least. London's FTSE 100 finished up 76 points on the day (+1.2%) at 6,412. Nevertheless
Read moreJohnson Matthey CEO sells shares post-exercise
7th Jun 2013 16:11
Neil Carson, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of chemicals group Johnson Matthey, exercised share options and sold them immediately afterwards on the same day the company impressed the market with its full-year results. Carson, who joined the company back in 1980 and became CEO in 2004, exercised
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Severn Trent jumps after LongRiver ups offer
7th Jun 2013 15:33
Severn Trent surged this afternoon after the LongRiver consortium upped its cash offer for the water provider following the rejection of an earlier proposal by the group earlier this week. The consortium has offered 2,200p per Severn Trent share, including the 45.51p dividend announced in May, whi
Read moreLondon midday: Markets lower ahead of non-farm payrolls
7th Jun 2013 11:45
Markets were trading in a cautious fashion on Friday morning ahead of the eagerly-anticipated employment report from the States due out this afternoon. The FTSE 100 finished 1.3% lower on Thursday at 6,336, its lowest level since April 22nd, as the recent pattern of market volatility continued in a
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat as markets nervously await US jobs data
7th Jun 2013 08:24
After falling to its worst level in over six weeks, London's FTSE 100 opened broadly flat on Friday morning with investors refraining from building positions ahead of the all-important US jobs report due out this afternoon. The Footsie finished 1.3% lower on Thursday at 6,336, its lowest level sinc
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Severn Trent, Johnson Matthey, Alliance Pharma
7th Jun 2013 07:00
Severn Trent is one of a dwindling group of remaining publicly listed water companies. For The Times´s Tempus the bidding for the water firm is not yet over. While the newspaper column does not think that its suitors will pay the 23 pounds which some institutional investors expect, it does expect a
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
7th Jun 2013 06:51
Aberdeeen Asset Management: Bank of America cuts target price from 475p to 410p downgrading to underperform. Anglo American: Nomura lowers target price from 1700p to 1650p and stays with its neutral rating. ARM Holdings: UBS moves target price from 950p to 970p, while its neutral rating remains un
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Johnson Matthey gains as results beat forecasts
6th Jun 2013 14:37
Platinum refiner and chemicals group Johnson Matthey rose to the top of the FTSE 100 on Thursday after the company reported full-year results that beat analysts' estimates. Bank of America Merrill Lynch upgraded its rating from 'neutral' to 'buy', saying Johnson's second-half earnings were 5.0% ah
Read moreLondon midday: Markets rangebound with focus on central banks
6th Jun 2013 11:39
Markets were rangebound on Thursday morning as traders awaited announcements from the Bank of England (BoE) and European Central Bank (ECB) on monetary policy. There were just 16 points separating the index's intraday low (6,416) and high (6,432), as markets paused for breath following a heavy sell
Read moreBroker tips: Johnson Matthey, G4S, Polymetal
6th Jun 2013 11:09
Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA) has upgraded its forecast for platinum refiner and chemicals group Johnson Matthey from 'neutral' to 'buy' after the company's forecast-beating full-year results on Thursday morning. BofA highlighted that the stock has underperformed the wider sector by 9.0% and
Read moreBroker snap: BofA upgrades Johnson Matthey after full-year beat
6th Jun 2013 09:58
Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA) has upgraded its forecast for platinum refiner and chemicals group Johnson Matthey from 'neutral' to 'buy' after the company's forecast-beating full-year results on Thursday morning. The broker said that second-half earnings per share (EPS) from the company were
Read moreLondon open: Markets pause ahead of BoE and ECB decisions
6th Jun 2013 08:34
Markets opened broadly flat on Thursday morning as traders paused for breath following the heavy sell-off the day before, with all eyes on the Bank of England (BoE) and European Central Bank (ECB) as they prepare to announce their latest monetary policy decisions this afternoon. The FTSE 100 lost 2
Read moreLondon pre-open: Markets to extend losses following sell-off
6th Jun 2013 07:57
Markets are expected to open lower on Thursday following a dramatic sell-off the day before as traders continue to show caution ahead of the all-important US jobs report tomorrow. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down four points from yesterday's close of 6.419. The index dropped a total
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