Broker snap: Goldman highlights HSBC as top pick among UK banks
20th Jan 2014 16:37
Goldman Sachs has named HSBC as its preferred pick among UK banks on a long-term perspective, after analysing the financials across the sector since 1990. Analysts from the US firm said that UK banks under their coverage have booked £44.5bn of notable and non-recurring charges since 1990, equivalen
Read moreLondon midday: Markets tread water on quiet day, but banks fall
20th Jan 2014 11:38
- Volumes light with Wall Street closed for MLK Day - Chinese GDP growth slows down - UK business optimism improves, IMF to raise UK forecasts - Deutsche Bank surprises with Q4 loss techMARK 2,851.04 0.00% FTSE 100 6,831.82 +0.04% FTSE 250 16,212.26 +0.16% Stocks were rangebound on Monday morning
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
20th Jan 2014 08:41
Admiral Group: Canaccord Genuity raises target price from 1160p to 1400p and upgrades to hold. African Barrick Gold: Westhouse Securities lowers target price from 170p to 160p and downgrades to sell. Alkane Energy: Liberum Capital downgrades to hold with a target price of 44p. Allocate Software:
Read moreLondon open: Banking stocks limit upside as markets open flat
20th Jan 2014 08:18
- Banks fall after Deutsche Bank Q4 loss - US markets closed for MLK Jr day - Chinese data points to slowdown techMARK 2,857.04 +0.21% FTSE 100 6,828.28 -0.01% FTSE 250 16,219.04 +0.20% UK equities opened more or less flat on Monday on what is set to be a quiet day with Wall Street closed later on
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, Tesco, Mothercare, Legal & General
19th Jan 2014 15:44
The government could sell its next batch of Lloyds Banking Group shares as early as mid-February, the Sunday Telegraph said. The sale would be a book-build for institutional investors followed by a large offer to retail investors. Labour leader Ed Miliband's call for the breakup of Britain's biggest
Read moreBroker snap: 'Sell' RBS ahead of next month's results, says Investec
17th Jan 2014 15:47
Investec has downgraded its rating for UK banking group Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) from 'hold' to 'sell', reminding investors of the rule: 'Never own RBS into the numbers!' "'Short RBS' may be a crowded trade but after a 19% one-month 'spike', we think it (once again) looks attractive," said Anal
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, Experian, Greenhouse gases
17th Jan 2014 07:41
Ed Miliband will today promise to create at least two new challenger lenders by forcing Britain's biggest high street banks to sell a "significant" number of branches. The Labour leader claims that, if elected, one of his first acts would be to order the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to pr
Read moreLondon close: BSkyB leads markets higher after decent economic data
14th Jan 2014 16:31
- Markets at highest level since October 30th - UK inflation falls to BoE target - Eurozone industrial production, US retail sales beat forecasts - UBS highlights potential M&A at BSkyB techMARK 2,818.48 +0.54% FTSE 100 6,766.86 +0.14% FTSE 250 16,236.02 -0.12% Markets managed to finish in positiv
Read moreLondon close: Morrison leads UK markets higher
13th Jan 2014 16:36
- FTSE 100 closes at highest since November 4th - Morrison gains on property sales rumours - Banks celebrate eased Basel rules - US Q4 earnings season in focus ahead of busy week techMARK 2,803.23 +0.05% FTSE 100 6,757.15 +0.26% FTSE 250 16,254.80 +0.39% After a choppy session, UK markets finished
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Morrison regains recent losses on dividend hopes
13th Jan 2014 15:17
Supermarket group Morrison was the top riser this afternoon as it continued to recover after a steep fall last week following a bigger-than-expected drop in like-for-like sales over Christmas. Broker Shore Capital said it expects activist investors to continue to show interest in Morrisons as report
Read moreLondon midday: Markets little changed but banks rise
13th Jan 2014 11:40
- Banks rise as Basel eases capital rules - US earnings in focus this week - AMEC offers 1.9bn pounds for Foster Wheeler - US activist investors looking at Morrison, reports say techMARK 2,797.71 -0.15% FTSE 100 6,731.21 -0.13% FTSE 250 16,199.41 +0.05% UK stocks were swinging between gains and lo
Read moreLondon open: Banking stocks buoy markets early on
13th Jan 2014 08:21
- Markets still digesting US jobs data - Banks rise as Basel eases leverage-ratio rules - AMEC offers 1.9bn pounds for Foster Wheeler techMARK 2,799.90 -0.07% FTSE 100 6,753.20 +0.20% FTSE 250 16,223.65 +0.20% UK markets opened higher on Monday morning though gains were only slight as investors co
Read moreLondon close: Markets hold on to gains despite poor US jobs data
10th Jan 2014 16:42
- US jobs report misses forecasts by a mile - Fed now in focus on stimulus speculation - Tullow gains on Statoil rumours - Mining stocks track metals higher - Barclays boosts forecasts for UK and US GDP techMARK 2,801.83 +0.98% FTSE 100 6,739.94 +0.73% FTSE 250 16,191.73 +1.52% UK markets remained
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tullow jumps on bid speculation
10th Jan 2014 15:11
Tullow Oil was the top riser on speculation that it could be a takeover target. The bid speculation gave the oil stock a lift after rumours did the rounds yesterday that Norwegian group Statoil is considering an offer for the firm. Tullow also had a strong day yesterday after an upgrade from HSBC to
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: M&S shares recover despite Q3 miss
9th Jan 2014 15:26
Marks & Spencer shares were putting in a strong performance this afternoon, recovering somewhat after yesterday's third quarter miss. The stock was given a boost by Investec, which upgraded its rating from 'hold' to 'buy', saying that the business should now become cash generative given that the cur
Read more