Broker tips: Insurers, Housebuilders, Lloyds, RBS, Anglo American
5th May 2015 11:43
Barclays Capital has lowered its recommendation for the entire European insurance sector from 'neutral' to 'negative'. The broker said companies are facing "significant and growing" capital and earnings headwinds, particularly in parts of the life insurance sector. As part of the sector-wide downgra
Read moreLondon midday: Markets up but gains limited ahead of election
5th May 2015 11:37
Stocks started the shortened trading week positively on Tuesday, taking their cue from gains in Europe and the US the previous day. After being closed on Monday for the bank holiday, the FTSE 100 was up 0.38% at 7,012.52 by midday, rising for the third straight session. However, falls from HSBC, mi
Read moreJefferies upgrades Lloyds to buy
5th May 2015 10:08
Jefferies raised its rating on Lloyds Banking Group to buy from hold and upped the target price to 102p from 88p Tuesday, saying that the earnings downgrade cycle has troughed for the bank. "Investors are looking to invest in shares of banks which have de-risked, are returning capital, have positive
Read moreSunday share tips: Lloyds, Vedanta, DekelOil
3rd May 2015 15:43
The Conservative party's decision to sell the state's remaining stake in Lloyds - should it retain power - is a cockamamie scheme, as it would impose extra costs on the bank. Management should be focused on executing strategy, not on fulfilling election pledges. Nonetheless, the equity story for ret
Read moreLondon close: Markets shrug off weak data as Lloyds and miners surge
1st May 2015 16:37
Strong gains from mining stocks and an impressive first-quarter performance from UK lender Lloyds helped UK markets to rise on Friday, as investors shrugged off mostly worse-than-expected economic data. "With Europe mostly out of action for May Day, it was a quiet day in London, but at least the tra
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Lloyds surges on strong first quarter profits, property stock lower
1st May 2015 13:10
Lloyds Banking Group topped the risers after delivering a bigger-than-forecast 21% jump in underlying profits in the first quarter, as impairment charges more than halved. The UK lender also lifted its net interest margin guidance for the full year and improved its capital position. Stimulus hopes w
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, Barclays, Zoopla
1st May 2015 11:40
Lloyds impressed investors and analysts alike with its first-quarter results on Friday, though some brokers highlighted uncertainty ahead of the election and regarding the government's stake. Gary Greenwood from Shore Capital said he expected the shares to react positively, but material upside "may
Read moreLloyds results hailed by analysts, but election uncertainty remains
1st May 2015 09:21
Lloyds impressed investors and analysts alike with its first-quarter results on Friday, though some brokers highlighted uncertainty ahead of the election and regarding the government's stake. Underlying profits rose 21% year-on-year in the first three months of 2015 to £2.18bn, well ahead of the con
Read moreLondon open: Lloyds beats forecasts but markets fall ahead of long weekend
1st May 2015 09:05
London stocks fell on Friday despite a better-than-expected first quarter from Lloyds Banking Group as investors were treading carefully in the absence of trading across Europe. The FTSE 100 was down 0.51% at 6,924.94 early on, with most equity markets on the continent closed for May Day. Analyst C
Read moreLondon pre-open: Lower start expected ahead of long weekend
1st May 2015 07:46
UK stocks are expected to fall on Friday morning with investors showing caution ahead of a quiet session with many European markets closed for May Day. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 14 points lower than Thursday's close of 6,960.63. Analyst Craig Elram from Oanda said the lower open m
Read moreLloyds beats forecasts with 21% jump in first-quarter underlying profits
1st May 2015 07:14
Lloyds Banking Group delivered a bigger-than-expected jump in underlying profits in the first quarter as impairment charges more than halved, with the UK lender lifting its net interest margin (NIM) guidance for the full year. The company also surprised by saying that there were no further provision
Read moreFriday preview: Lloyds earnings to be hit by PPI and TSB disposal
30th Apr 2015 15:06
Lloyds Banking Group is expected to report a slide in first quarter earnings on Friday, reflecting provisions for payment protection insurance and TSB disposal costs. Numis predicted £507m statutory pre-tax profit for the bank, down from £1.08bn the previous year, including £500m for PPI and £640m f
Read moreZoopla zooms higher on uSwitch acquisition
30th Apr 2015 08:22
Zoopla, the residential property website group, has agreed to acquire utility price comparison site uSwitch for up to £190m. Zoopla, which is 31.8%-owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), said the purchase would create the "ultimate online property resource" with the purchase of uSwitch ow
Read moreUK's four major banks face further £19bn in litigation charges, S&P reveals
27th Apr 2015 12:19
The UK's four largest banks are expected to have £19bn more of litigation costs this year and next, said credit agency Standard & Poors, which said the quartet's credit ratings were safe for now. Although the credit agency said it thought the worst period for charges relating to payment protection p
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Housing, Primark, HSBC, Natural Gas
27th Apr 2015 06:54
Ed Miliband will today intensify a political offensive over housing with an offer to exempt first-time buyers from up to £5,000 in stamp duty using cash raised from tax crackdowns on rogue landlords and foreign investors. The promise to waive the sales tax on properties worth up to £300,000 for thos
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