Thursday tips round-up: QinetiQ, United Utilities, Johnson Matthey
24th Nov 2011 06:26
In May 2010 QinetiQ started a two-year turnaround programme that would see the UK workforce cut by 10-15%, but contract delays in the British and US defence markets have continued since then, writes the Tempus column in the Times. "Yesterday's halfway figures, though sharply ahead of market expectat
Read moreLondon close: German bond auction response unnerves investors
23rd Nov 2011 17:05
After an uneventful morning session that came as a relief after the turbulent events of recent days, shares turtned sharply lower in the afternoon session, as US markets took a bath. The results of this morning's German bond auction set nerves a-jangling. Germany issued €3.644bn in 10-year bonds
Read moreLondon midday: Reassuringly dull morning session
23rd Nov 2011 12:01
It has been a comfortingly dull morning session in London after all the excitement of recent weeks, though there is no sign of Footsie bringing an end to its losing streak, though its cause is not helped by the index constituents Man, Next and Standard Life trading in ex-dividend form. MINERS HEAD
Read moreLondon open: Chinese data weighs on stocks
23rd Nov 2011 08:31
The Footsie fell below the 5,200 level early on, as some gloomy data from China dampened the mood. Weighing on sentiment today is the poor data out from China, which showed factory activity levels dropping to their lowest in 32 months. The HSBC flash manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI),
Read moreJohnson Matthey raises divi after good first half
23rd Nov 2011 07:31
Specialist chemicals firm Johnson Matthey reported six month earnings ahead of market estimates and has hiked its dividend. Pre-tax profits came in at £203m, up 24% on the year before, with total revenues rising 29% to £5.9bn. Analysts at Charles Stanley had tipped profits to come in at around £18
Read moreWednesday preview: Compass, Johnson Matthey, BoE minutes ...
22nd Nov 2011 14:55
Contract caterer Compass brings out full-year figures on Wednesday, with the market expecting profits before tax to burst through the billion pounds barrier. Market consensus is for pre-tax profit of £1.01bn on turnover of £15.6bn. Earnings per share are set to rise to 38.7p from 35.7p last year,
Read moreFirst broker round-up of the morning
28th Sep 2011 10:03
Burberrys: Alpha Value upgrades to ´reduce´ from ´sell. BG Group: Alpha Value downgrades to ´add´ from ´buy´. Johnson Matthey: UBS upgrades ´to ´buy´ from ´neutral´, cuts target to 1915p from 2150p. AZ Electronic Mat.: UBS keeps at ´buy´, cuts target to 300p fropm 310p. Close Brothers: UBS keep
Read moreEXPANSYS bosses buy into rally
27th Jul 2011 15:45
Directors at EXPANSYS have been clubbing together to buy big stakes in the ailing online smartphone retailer, taking advantage of a continuing rally. Bob Wigley took the biggest stake, taking about 6.6m shares at 1.49p a time and lifting his stake to 8.4m shares, about 0.73% of the company. Brian C
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Johnson Matthey, Smiths Group, Headlam...
20th Jul 2011 06:49
Johnson Matthey's investors have become accustomed to the company making all the right noises when it updates the market. And yesterday it did not disappoint, writes the Independent. The speciality chemicals operation, which refines platinum and is the world's biggest maker of catalytic converters,
Read moreLondon close: Banks recover as Footsie gains 0.65%
19th Jul 2011 16:29
The banking sector was winning back investor confidence on Tuesday as shares sharply rebounded, lifting the top share index close to the 5,800 level. Lloyds, RBS and Barclays were in demand, following the sector sell-off yesterday on the back of concerns over the softness of last week's European ba
Read moreSector movers: Johnson Matthey provides a catalyst for chemicals sector
19th Jul 2011 16:21
Johnson Matthey rose strongly on the FTSE 100 on Tuesday, driving the chemicals sector to the top of the pile. The company, focused in catalysis, precious metals, fine chemicals and process technology, saw sales and profits both register double-digit percentage gains in the first quarter, "benefiti
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks, miners drive Footsie higher
19th Jul 2011 16:10
Lloyds, RBS and Barclays were in demand, following the sector's sell-off yesterday on the back of concerns over the softness of last week's European banking stress tests. Lloyds was the high riser of the day, after announcing that it is aggregating the wholesale markets, treasury and trading, trans
Read moreBroker tips: Johnson Matthey, Victrex, Evolution
19th Jul 2011 12:07
Prime Markets has suggested buying chemicals group Johnson Matthey, saying that Tuesday's trading statement represents an attractive entry point in the short and long term for investors. The company, focused in catalysis, precious metals, fine chemicals and process technology, said that it continue
Read moreBroker snap: Buy Johnson Matthey, recommends Prime Markets
19th Jul 2011 11:09
Prime Markets has suggested buying chemicals group Johnson Matthey, saying that Tuesday's trading statement represents an attractive entry point in the short and long term for investors. The company, focused in catalysis, precious metals, fine chemicals and process technology, said that it continue
Read moreLondon open: Stocks stage partial recovery
19th Jul 2011 08:30
Stocks are edging higher after a tough day yesterday when concerns over European and US sovereign debt sent traders rushing for the exits. Sales and profits at Johnson Matthey, a top riser in the FTSE 100 today, both registered double-digit percentage gains in the first quarter of the platinum refi
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