Lloyds to sell off Irish commercial loan portfolio in early 2013
19th Nov 2012 12:35
Lloyds Banking Group has announced that it is selling a portfolio of Irish commercial real estate loans as part of its strategy to de-risk its balance sheet and reduce its non-core assets. The portfolio will sell for £149m, and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013. The sale pro
Read moreBroker tips: HSBC, Serco, Ocado
19th Nov 2012 10:58
Investec has upgraded its rating for global banking giant HSBC from 'hold' to 'buy', saying that the downgrade cycle could finally be over. Investec has raised its target price for the stock from 590p to 630p. "From here, we expect outperformance versus Lloyds ('sell') and RBS ('sell')." Credit Su
Read moreBroker snap: HSBC to outperform Lloyds and RBS, says Investec
19th Nov 2012 09:03
Investec has upgraded its rating for global banking giant HSBC from 'hold' to 'buy', saying that the downgrade cycle could finally be over. The broker said on Monday morning that despite the material improvement in credit experience seen in the third quarter and further encouraging trends in underl
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Gaza, BP, Banks
18th Nov 2012 20:34
President Obama has increased the pressure on Israel and Hamas to agree a truce before a ground war breaks out in Gaza and pushes any prospect of peace "way off in the future". Talks brokered by Egypt were continuing through the fifth day of violence, and Palestinian sources have claimed that a deal
Read moreLondon close: Footsie closes at worst levels since July
16th Nov 2012 16:37
- Stocks shaken by Middle-East tensions, reports of oil rig fire - US lawmakers class 'cliff' discussions as 'constructive' - Greek haircut worries dent sentiment The FTSE 100 sunk to its lowest level since July on Friday as rising tensions in the Middle East, Eurozone debt concerns and the worries
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie nears four-month low
16th Nov 2012 11:34
- Footsie near levels not seen since end of July - 'Fiscal cliff' and Greek uncertainty clouds the markets - Melrose drops 13 per cent After a fairly subdued start, UK stocks had sunk firmly into negative territory for the third straight day, owing to some heavy falls from Melrose, the banks and re
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat ahead of US budget talks
16th Nov 2012 08:27
The UK benchmark index opened flat on Friday morning as investors turn to the US where President Barack Obama is to hold budget talks in Congress to discuss the impending 'fiscal cliff'. The Footsie finished yesterday's session at 5,678, its lowest closing value since September 5th when it finished
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: ITV soars after beating market expectations
13th Nov 2012 14:59
Shares in ITV leapt after the broadcaster beat market expectations, despite net advertising revenue falling in the third quarter. NAR for the 'ITV Family' was down 10% in July, down 9% in August and down 1% in September, after taking a hit from the Olympics and Paralympics, which were shown on the B
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish flat as Eurogroup meets
12th Nov 2012 17:00
- Eyes turn to Eurogroup meeting - Greece approves 2013 budget - Japanese GDP decline worse than feared Concerns about Greece and a worse-than-expected contraction in Japan meant that it was a rather subdued day on the UK stock market on Monday, with the FTSE 100 broadly unchanged by the close. "E
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Polymetal rises on positive update
12th Nov 2012 14:59
Mining firm Polymetal International leapt into the top spot after announcing that it has extended the life-of-mine projections for its Khakanja and Omolon mines in Russia by two years after releasing the first set of ore reserves estimates for its Tsokol, Ozerny, Avlayakan, and Dalniy deposits. UB
Read moreSector movers: Lloyds and RBS lead banks higher after broker comments
12th Nov 2012 14:52
Banking stocks were among the best performers on Monday afternoon with all the big UK lenders making gains. Lloyds was a high riser on the FTSE 100 after UBS raised its target price for the shares from 44p to 46p, saying that the bank's third-quarter results showed "solid progress and improving mom
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise but markets cautious ahead of Eurogroup
12th Nov 2012 11:36
- Greece approves 2013 budget - Japanese GDP worse than expected - Markets await Eurogroup meeting this afternoon UK stocks were continuing to trade slightly higher on Monday morning after Greece approved its 2013 budget late last night, however, gains were only modest as caution sets in ahead of
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, Diageo, IAG
12th Nov 2012 11:34
UBS has raised its target price for UK banking group Lloyds from 44p to 46p, saying that the bank's third-quarter results showed 'solid progress and improving momentum'. However, the broker remained cautious, saying: "We remain 'neutral' on Lloyds and the other UK domestic banks as we believe that
Read moreBroker snap: UBS sees 'improving momentum' at Lloyds
12th Nov 2012 10:00
UBS has raised its target price for UK banking group Lloyds from 44p to 46p, saying that the bank's third-quarter results showed 'solid progress and improving momentum'. Core business profit in the third quarter was £1.7bn, the highest reported level for nearly two years, UBS said, "with the group
Read moreLondon close: Late rally not enough as stocks finish lower
9th Nov 2012 16:42
- Uni of Michigan confidence index rise beats forecasts - Chinese data offset by Greek concerns - Footsie finishes lower, but well off intraday lows After steep falls for most of the session, UK stocks picked up in afternoon trade to finish only slightly lower by the close after a reading of US con
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