London midday: Markets pause after recent gains, UK unemployment falls
11th Sep 2013 11:50
Stocks were trading broadly flat on Wednesday morning with markets rangebound after hitting a four-week high the day before, as traders continued to digest recent developments in Syria after the government agreed to hand over its chemical weapons. The FTSE 100 was swinging between gains and losses
Read moreLondon open: Stocks pull back from four-week high
11th Sep 2013 08:19
FTSE 100 opened slightly lower on Wednesday morning as markets paused for breath to digest recent developments in Syria after the government agreed to hand over its chemical weapons. London's benchmark index finished Tuesday's session at 6,583.99, its highest closing price since August 14th when it
Read moreKingfisher blames H1 profit dip on weather and consumer confidence
11th Sep 2013 07:06
Home improvement retailer Kingfisher, owner of B&Q and Screwfix, blamed depressed consumer confidence and cold weather for reduced profits in the first half of the year. Although sales grew 4.3% to £5.7bn, which was helped by currency changes, profit before tax and exceptional items fell 1.6% to £
Read moreWednesday preview: Sports Direct reports ahead of joining FTSE 100
10th Sep 2013 15:05
Sports Direct International is set to release a trading update on Wednesday following reports it will be promoted to the FTSE 100 index for the very first time next week. The company, along with Coca-Cola and South African paper and packaging firm Mondi, are expected to replace oil services firm Jo
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
9th Sep 2013 10:42
Associated British Foods: Panmure Gordon cuts target price from 2100p to 2075p, while leaving its buy recommendation unchanged. Investec places its target price (prev.: 1930p) under review keeping a hold recommendation. Aviva: Morgan Stanley increases target price from 403p to 445p and maintains an
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tullow Oil shares jump on oil discovery
6th Sep 2013 15:05
Shares in Tullow Oil leapt after it was revealed that the Wisting Central exploration well had made the first ever oil discovery in the Hoop-Maud Basin in the Barents Sea offshore Norway. Tullow Oil owns a 20% stake in the licence where the oil was found. Airline group easyJet was continuing to re
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall as investors await US non-farm payrolls
6th Sep 2013 08:23
Stocks opened broadly lower on Friday morning with investors refraining from building positions ahead of the all-important US jobs report due out this afternoon, seen as a deciding factor in the Federal Reserve's impending withdrawal of stimulus. US data released Thursday threw more weight behind t
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
6th Sep 2013 08:01
Antofagasta: Canaccord Genuity lowers target price from 1035p to 1020p, while leaving its buy recommendation unchanged. Ashmore Group: Canaccord Genuity downgrades from buy to hold with a target price of 380p. Associated British Foods: Societe Generale upgrades to hold with a target price of 1900p
Read moreBroker tips: Glaxo, IHG, Retailers
5th Sep 2013 11:25
Panmure Gordon has maintained its 'buy' recommendation for pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline but admitted that it was disappointed with the firm's setback on its potential new skin-cancer treatment. The broker explained that MAGE-A3 is a theraputic cancer vaccine - "the holy grail of the industr
Read moreBroker snap: Weather to dominate retailers' results, says Nomura
5th Sep 2013 10:56
Nomura has reiterated its 'bullish' view on the European retail sector, saying that while the macro signs of recovery are clear, the weather will likely drive updates from a host of companies this month. On the whole, Nomura said it remains upbeat about UK retail "as we expect a housing market reco
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
4th Sep 2013 08:50
Abbey Protection: Numis lowers target price from 120p to 110p keeping a hold recommendation. Antofagasta: Investec takes target price from 707p to 725p, but still recommends selling. Ashtead Group: Numis ups target price from 640p to 670p and retains a hold recommendation. Panmure Gordon increases
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
3rd Sep 2013 11:13
ASOS: Exane increases target price from 5000p to 6000p and keeps an outperform rating. Associated British Foods: Exane upgrades to outperform with a target price of 2400p. Balfour Beatty: Berenberg ups target price from 270p to 300p and retains its buy recommendation. Barclays: Berenberg takes ta
Read moreLondon close: Markets shrug off German downgrade rumours to finish higher
24th Jul 2013 16:56
Unconfirmed rumours of a downgrade to Germany's sovereign debt rating rattled markets on Wednesday afternoon, but stocks recovered to register moderate gains by the close of trade. The FTSE 100 finished the session up 23 points at 6,620. Senior Market Analyst Michael Hewson from CMC Markets said:
Read moreLondon midday: Markets boosted by earnings, Eurozone PMIs
24th Jul 2013 11:23
Upbeat corporate earnings from a number of heavyweights and improving data in the Eurozone gave UK markets a boost on Wednesday morning, as traders shrugged off concerns about manufacturing activity in China. easyJet, ARM Holdings, Tate & Lyle, Kingfisher and Compass were all trading firmly higher
Read moreLondon open: Markets rise as earnings impress
24th Jul 2013 08:53
Well-received updates and results from easyJet, ARM Holdings, Tate & Lyle, Compass and Kingfisher pushed the FTSE 100 firmly into positive territory on Wednesday morning, as markets shrugged off disappointing economic data from China. HSBC's flash China manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI
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