Broker tips: BP, Lloyds, BHP Billiton, Weir Group, Bwin.party
18th May 2015 11:50
Goldman Sachs has cut its stance on the integrated oil sector from 'neutral' to 'cautious' and lowered UK major BP specifically from 'neutral' to 'sell', after reducing its crude price forecasts. "This change is likely to put severe pressure on the integrated oils, leaving them too high on the cost
Read moreInvestec downgrades Lloyds to 'sell' after recent share-price surge
18th May 2015 09:57
Lloyds is now rated as a 'sell' by Investec, which sees downside for the stock following its recent outperformance. The broker said the stock has "enjoyed a euphoric reaction" to its first-quarter update on 1 May and the result of the UK general election, taking its shares to a fresh 6.5-year high.
Read moreLondon open: Stocks advance as Aveva and Bwin jump on M&A
18th May 2015 09:13
UK stocks jumped on Monday morning despite ongoing uncertainty about Greece, as the mood on the market was boosted by bid speculation surrounding Aveva and Bwin.party. The FTSE 100 was up 0.56% at 6,999.75 early on, with mining stocks leading the charge, though BHP Billiton was bucking the trend. E
Read moreLloyds could return to private hands within a year
14th May 2015 16:59
Lloyds Banking Group could be fully returned to private hands in the next year, according to chairman Normal Blackwell. The government, which has already generated over £10bn from selling of almost half of its 41% stake in the bank, is set to continue selling shares to financial institutions such as
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish off lows but FTSE still drops 1.4%
12th May 2015 16:33
UK stocks suffered steep declines on Tuesday as volatility in sovereign debt markets and ongoing fears about Greece sent shares 1.4% lower, with Easyjet leading the fallers on a cautious outlook. The FTSE 100 finished the session down 96.05 points, or 1.37%, at 6,933.80, though the index did finish
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Easyjet nose dives on strikes and currency headwinds, financials lower
12th May 2015 13:10
Budget airline Easyjet led fallers despite meeting guidance and swinging to a small profit in the first half, warning it is likely to face tougher conditions in the latter part of the year. The company saw its shares sink after saying that exchange-rate movements and air traffic control strikes in F
Read moreGovernment lowers Lloyds stake below 20% with £500m share sale
12th May 2015 08:14
UK Financial Investments, the holding company which controls the government's stakes in bailed-out lenders Lloyds and RBS, has taken its stake in Lloyds to below 20%. The investment vehicle set up by HM Treasury sold £500m-worth of shares in the bank and now holds 14,223,560,740, equal to a 19.93%
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Greek bond yields, Lloyds, Shell
12th May 2015 06:40
Greek borrowing costs shot up on Monday despite Athens making a €750m debt payment to the IMF, reports The Times. The yield on a Greek two-year bond yield jumped 83 basis points to 21.34% with some still concerned that the nation will default. Advisory firm Pirc has told Lloyds shareholders to vote
Read moreMonday broker round-up
11th May 2015 15:36
RBS: Credit Suisse reiterates underperform and 320p target. GlaxoSmithKline: Deutsche reiterates hold and lowers target to 1,540p from 1,600p. HSBC: Exane BNP reiterates underperform and 600p target. Lloyds: Credit Suisse reiterates neutral and 72p target. Sage Group: Goldman Sachs reiterates neu
Read moreSunday share tips: UK banks, MXC Capital
10th May 2015 16:02
Investors who piled into bank shares after the election results became known may have jumped the gun. True, the risk of a less disciplined approach to economic management by Labour has been eliminated. Continued economic recovery should loan losses continue to fall. Likewise, the risk of a costly ex
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks power ahead as market cheers surprise Tory election win
8th May 2015 11:23
London stocks posted healthy gains on Friday as investors welcomed news that Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative party is on track for a second term in power. The FTSE 100 was up 1.7% at 7,004.23 by midday, with banks, utility stocks and housebuilders pacing the advance. Lloyds Banking Grou
Read moreNomura upgrades UK banks after recent underperformance; says Tory election win is more banking friendly
8th May 2015 09:48
Nomura upgraded UK bank stocks to overweight from underweight on Friday, pointing to their recent underperformance and the "business/banking friendly outcome" of the UK election, with the Conservative Party on track for another five years in power. "When we downgraded the UK banks sub-sector at the
Read moreLondon close: FTSE hits one-month low as HSBC leads late sell-off
5th May 2015 16:47
Underwhelming results from banking heavyweight HSBC offset a late rally in the mining sector on Tuesday, with UK stock markets dropping into the red by the close. The FTSE 100, which rose to a high of 7,053.18 early on, finished down 58.37 points (-0.84%) at 6,927.58. This was the index's lowest clo
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
5th May 2015 14:59
Lloyds: Exane, UBS and Jefferies reiterated their buy recommendation, with the latter bumping up its price target to 201p from 88p. BT Group: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform and Barclays its overweight stance, with price targets of 495p and 600p, respectively. Aviva: Barclays ups target to 632p
Read moreLloyds could surprise positively on dividends, broker says
5th May 2015 13:28
Partially state-owned banking group Lloyd's strong capital progress could see the lender outstrip market forecasts for its dividend pay-outs and deliver further cash returns, JP Morgan said in a research note e-mailed to clients on Tuesday. Following the bank's first quarter results on 1 May analyst
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