FTSE 100 movers: Standard Chartered plunges
7th Aug 2012 14:15
Emerging markets-focused banking titan Standard Chartered fell after the US banking regulator accused it of collusion with the government of Iran to hide transactions from authorities. Nomura, Oriel Securities and Bank of America all downgraded their ratings on the stock this morning. ?? Nomura cut
Read moreBroker snap: Legal and General still 'strategically challenged'
7th Aug 2012 12:36
Investec has reiterated its 'sell' rating and 104p target price for Legal and General in spite of the insurance group's half-year results comfortably beating consensus estimates. "The big surprise with these results was the 18% increase in the interim dividend to 1.96p (consensus 1.93p) which refle
Read moreLondon midday: StanChart drags banks lower
7th Aug 2012 11:47
- StanChart dominates headlines on Iran dealings - UK manufacturing output falls 4.3 per cent - Spain could be nearing a bailout The Footsie had swung into the red by Tuesday lunchtime as the banking sector took a hit on the back of 24 per cent plunge from Standard Chartered due to alleged dealings
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
7th Aug 2012 09:22
AB Foods: Nomura cuts target from 1,400p to 1,380p, buy rating kept. BBA Aviation: Jefferies keeps buy rating and 250p target. Big Yellow: Goldman Sachs upgrades to conviction buy, target lifted from 360p to 390p. Devro: Investec keeps buy rating and 355p target. Diageo: Investec lifts target fr
Read moreLondon pre-open: StanChart set to slump
7th Aug 2012 07:27
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up one point from yesterday's close of 5,809, ignoring a strong finish in the US ahead of UK industrial and manufacturing output data. Thoughts have also already turned to important data due out on Thursday from China, which will include both inflation a
Read moreLegal and General hikes divi as profits grow
7th Aug 2012 07:03
Life insurance and pensions group Legal and General hiked its interim dividend by almost a fifth as the group expressed 'resilience' amidst tough conditions. The half-year dividend per share was raised by 18% from 1.66p to 1.96p, while basic earnings per shares rose 14% from 6.13p to 6.96p. Pre-tax
Read moreTuesday preview: IHG, Legal and General, Ind Production
6th Aug 2012 16:07
Holiday Inns owner InterContinental Hotels (IHG) hit the headlines late last month after a probe by the Office of Fair Trading investigation raised concerns about the group's relations with two online travel agents. Tuesday's interim results from IHG should bring happier news, with broker Jefferie
Read moreLondon open: Central bank hopes drive gains early on
30th Jul 2012 08:26
- Leaders have 'no time to lose', says Juncker - Markets await ECB decision on Thursday - QE3 hopes drive gains UK stocks rose in early trading on Monday on the back of hopes that the European Central Bank (ECB) will act this week to stem the Eurozone crisis. Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker sai
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: RBS, Glaxo, National Grid
15th Jul 2012 15:34
Two powerful private equity consortiums are secretly planning to bid for Direct Line, the giant insurer owned by Royal Bank of Scotland ? a move that would scupper a planned float. RBS is expected to push the button on a London listing of Direct Line in September. Two American buyout giants, Blackst
Read moreLondon open: Markets cautious ahead of policy decisions
4th Jul 2012 08:38
- Ex-div stocks provide a drag in London - Chinese economic data dampens the mood - US markets closed for national holiday UK stocks slipped in early trading on Wednesday with volumes expected to be light as US markets remain closed for Independence Day; investors are likely to be cautious ahead of
Read moreLondon close: Markets look to Fed for more stimulus
20th Jun 2012 16:32
-Greek forms new coalition government -MPC divided on more QE -Markets await the Fed decision later today News of the formation of a Greek coalition and hopes of further stimulus measures in the UK and the US gave stocks a lift on Wednesday afternoon. New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras was swor
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Sage provides a lift after acquisition
20th Jun 2012 15:30
Accountancy software behemoth Sage Group was the best performer on the blue-chip index today after acquiring a majority interest in Folhamatic Group, a provider of accounting, tax and payroll and regulatory content software in Brazil, for 125m pounds. Investec upgraded its rating on the stock today
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks gain on stimulus hopes
20th Jun 2012 11:31
- Stocks pare losses after MPC minutes - Markets await the Fed decision later today - Aviva, ITV and Sage gain; ex-div stocks drag The Bank of England's (BoE's) vote on maintaining its asset purchase programme proved to be a contentious issue last month and the news provided a boost to stock market
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
19th Jun 2012 08:16
APR Energy: UBS slashes target from 860p to 690p, sell rating unchanged. BHP Billiton: Jefferies keeps buy rating. Bumi: JP Morgan Cazenove initiates coverage with buy rating and 520p target. Computacenter: UBS cuts target from 530p to 465p, buy recommendation kept. Dixons Retail: Bank of Americ
Read moreLondon close: Poor data sinks stocks, fuels QE3 speculation
1st Jun 2012 16:26
- Global stocks hit year-to-date low - US, UK, Chinese and Eurozone data disappoints - Gold soars on QE3 speculation after weak data Disappointing employment and manufacturing data from across the world sank global stock markets on Friday, meaning that May's heavy losses for equities were extended.
Read more