London open: Markets flat as investors digest mixed data from Asia
9th Dec 2013 08:53
- Markets still digesting non-farm payrolls - Chinese export growth picks up - Japan Q3 GDP revised lower techMARK 2,678.36 +0.29% FTSE 100 6,553.51 +0.02% FTSE 250 15,359.05 +0.27% Markets opened more or less flat on Monday morning as investors continued to digest last week's strong US data, as w
Read moreLloyds sells UK real estate loans to Cerberus
9th Dec 2013 07:49
Lloyds is to sell a portfolio of UK corporate real estate loans to American private-equity firm Cerberus European Investments. The sale, which is part of the bank's continued non-core asset reduction programme, is for a cash consideration of £90m. The gross assets are £147m and are being sold to P
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: HSBC, Lloyds, Royal Mail...
9th Dec 2013 07:27
HSBC has sounded out investors about a flotation of its UK arm, in a move that would realise value from its high street banking business and address regulatory pressures. The bank has in recent weeks asked investors whether they would support the sale of a sizeable stake in the UK business. It has a
Read moreLloyds sells portfolio of non-performing Irish mortgages
6th Dec 2013 07:44
UK banking group Lloyds has agreed to sell a portfolio of 'non-performing' Irish retail mortgages to Tanager Limited, part of US-listed firm Apollo Global Management. The portfolio is to be sold for a cash consideration of £257m. The disposal is expected to be complete in the second half of 2014.
Read moreShaftesbury agrees new loan facility with Lloyds
4th Dec 2013 10:35
Shaftesbury, the FTSE 250-listed real estate investment trust, has entered into a new five-year revolving credit facility with Lloyds Bank. The £125m loan replaces the existing one of the same value which was due to expire in April 2016. The weighted average maturity of the group's debt at Novem
Read moreBroker tips: Old Mutual, Banks, Miners
3rd Dec 2013 11:21
JPMorgan Cazenove has trimmed its target price for savings and investment group Old Mutual from 228p to 223p. after adjusting for currency movements. However, the bank maintained its 'overweight' rating on the stock, highlighting attractive and improving returns from its emerging market life busin
Read moreBroker snap: Nomura names Barclays as top pick amongst banks, HSBC downgraded
3rd Dec 2013 09:37
Barclays is the top pick in the UK banking sector, according to Nomura, which retained its 'buy' rating for the stock on Tuesday morning. The broker also kept a positive stance on Standard Chartered, but downgraded its rating for HSBC and reiterated its negative position on RBS. Lloyds, meanwhile,
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
3rd Dec 2013 09:10
Arrow Global: Numis starts with a target price of 270p and an add rating. Antofagasta: UBS shaves target price from 870p to 845p, 'neutral' rating maintained. Aquarius Platinum: UBS cuts target price from 44p to 43p, 'neutral' rating kept. Ashtead Group: Citi raises target price from 750p to 800p
Read moreLondon close: Resource-heavy FTSE 100 falls as metals' prices slump
2nd Dec 2013 16:43
- Taper speculation picks up ahead of non-farm payrolls - Global manufacturing figures beat forecasts - Miners sold off as metal prices fall - Supermarkets hit by competition fears techMARK 2,653.70 -0.76% FTSE 100 6,595.33 -0.83% FTSE 250 15,334.75 -0.85% London's FTSE 100 finished with moderate
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners and supermarkets push lower
2nd Dec 2013 15:42
Mining stocks were under pressure as commodity prices declined with precious metals peers Fresnillo and Randgold tracking gold and silver lower early on. As well, in a research note issued today analysts at Citi wrote that: "We remain underweight the gold and base metals stocks and our least favoure
Read moreLloyds confirms Lord Blackwell to succeed Bischoff as Chairman
2nd Dec 2013 13:16
Lloyds Banking Group on Monday confirmed that Lord Blackwell, who has been a Non-Executive Director of the group since June 2012, will succeed Sir Winfried Bischoff as Chairman with effect from April 3rd 2014, when Sir Winfried is due to retire. Lord Blackwell is also a member of the group's Audit
Read moreLondon midday: Markets fall, shrug off upbeat manufacturing data
2nd Dec 2013 11:24
- Markets lower ahead of data-heavy week - Non-farm payrolls, taper in focus - Investors shrug off positive manufacturing figures this morning - Broker downgrades hit Tesco, Aberdeen, Debenhams techMARK 2,659.11 -0.55% FTSE 100 6,610.41 -0.60% FTSE 250 15,380.56 -0.56% Markets in the UK and across
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 flat despite gains in banking sector
29th Nov 2013 16:35
- Markets flat despite banking strength - Volumes pick up but still on the low-side - German, US markets continue to set new highs techMARK 2,673.94 +0.22% FTSE 100 6,650.57 -0.06% FTSE 250 15,466.56 +0.23% UK markets finished broadly flat on Friday despite trading volumes picking up slightly foll
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Netherlands, Japan, Royal Mail
29th Nov 2013 07:31
The Netherlands has become the latest Eurozone member to be stripped of its AAA credit rating by Standard & Poor's, citing weakening growth prospects as it cut the country's rating to AA+. Earlier this month France also suffered a downgrade by S&P, when it was cut from AA+ to AA - two years after lo
Read moreLondon close: Markets up after economic data, Lloyds rises
27th Nov 2013 16:43
- Economic data comes in broadly positive - Global indices trading near record highs - M&A speculation surrounds Lloyds, AMEC techMARK 2,658.82 +0.35% FTSE 100 6,649.47 +0.20% FTSE 250 15,406.67 +0.66% UK markets finished in positive territory on Wednesday as investors reacted to a flurry of econo
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