London close: Stocks up but gains limited on Fed uncertainty, mixed data
24th Sep 2013 16:31
Markets closed slightly higher on Tuesday afternoon after a choppy day though upside was limited as investors focused on mixed data and the uncertain future for Federal Reserve monetary policy. Last week's surprise decision by the Fed to maintain its stimulus programme is still fresh in investors'
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, Rolls-Royce, Euromoney
24th Sep 2013 12:26
Investec has upgraded its rating for Lloyds from 'sell' to 'hold' and lifted its target price from 65p to 76p on a more accommodative and targeted political and regulatory backdrop. Analyst Ian Gordon said that the Prudential Regulation Authority's (PRA's) decision to impose an "accelerated" 3% lev
Read moreLloyds to sell portfolio of European commercial real estate loans
24th Sep 2013 12:25
Lloyds Banking Group has agreed the sale of a portfolio of European commercial real estate loans as part of its non-core asset reduction strategy. The sale, which will be made for around £263m (€312m), is expected to complete by the year-end. The gross assets subject to the transaction are £371m
Read moreLondon midday: Market flat after German data comes in mixed
24th Sep 2013 11:30
Stocks were trading broadly flat on Tuesday morning with markets lacking direction after mixed economic data from Germany and concerns about the US economy. The German IFO business climate indicator for the month of September edged up only slightly, yet expectations for the next six months were sli
Read moreBroker snap: Investec upgrades Lloyds to 'hold'
24th Sep 2013 10:16
Investec has upgraded its rating for Lloyds from 'sell' to 'hold' and lifted its target price from 65p to 76p on a more accommodative and targeted political and regulatory backdrop. Analyst Ian Gordon said that the Prudential Regulation Authority's (PRA's) decision to impose an "accelerated" 3% lev
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
24th Sep 2013 08:31
African Barrick Gold: Liberum Capital upgrades to hold with a target price of 147p. Amec: UBS reduces target price from 1200p to 1145p downgrading from buy to neutral. Compass Group: Investec ups target price from 900p to 925p and keeps a buy recommendation. CVS Group: Investec takes target price
Read moreLondon close: Fed uncertainty, US debt ceiling weigh on stocks
23rd Sep 2013 16:27
Concerns about the US economy weighed heavily on global stock markets on Monday as investors focused on comments from Federal Reserve officials and the ongoing debt-ceiling debate. The FTSE 100 finished down 39.06 points on the day at 6,557.37. "Those of the opinion that stock markets have oversho
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Croda jumps on upgrade from Credit Suisse
23rd Sep 2013 14:22
Chemicals firm Croda was in the top spot after Credit Suisse upgraded its recommendation from 'neutral' to 'outperform' and hiked its target price from 2,600p to 3,000p. Telecoms giant Vodafone also gained after UBS raised its target price for the shares from 230p to 245p after including Kabel Deut
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks lower on German elections, US debt ceiling
23rd Sep 2013 11:18
Elections in Germany, an uncertain outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy and a debate over the US debt ceiling weighed on markets on Monday morning, as traders shrugged off upbeat data from China and the Eurozone. The HSBC/Markit flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturin
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip despite Merkel victory in German elections
23rd Sep 2013 08:04
Stocks slipped into the red on Monday morning as investors digested this weekend's elections in Germany along with the uncertain outlook for monetary policy in the US. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU party won 41.5% of the vote in the federal elections this weekend after winning 311 seats
Read moreLondon close: Stocks hit by Bullard comments as post-Fed rally fades
20th Sep 2013 16:39
The exuberant post-Fed mood quickly faded on Friday with comments from one US policymaker dampening stocks before the close of trade. Risk appetite was also scaled back as caution set in ahead of the German elections at the weekend with the outcome still highly uncertain. The FTSE 100 finished 28.
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tate & Lyle hit by Credit Suisse rating cut
20th Sep 2013 15:02
Shares in food and sweeteners manufacturer Tate & Lyle were falling heavily on Friday after the stock's rating was cut by Credit Suisse from 'outperform' to 'neutral'. The bank said its greatest concern is a proposal in Mexico to tax soft drinks which would reduce demand the group's high-fructose
Read moreSector movers: Miners, banks fall as investors scale back risk
20th Sep 2013 13:57
The mining and banking sectors were the worst performing categories on Friday afternoon as traders scaled back risk appetite going into the weekend. With the excitement of the surprise Federal Reserve decision now over - cyclical stocks gained strongly on Thursday after the central bank held off fr
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pause ahead of German elections
20th Sep 2013 11:36
Stocks were trading broadly flat by Friday lunchtime as markets paused for breath in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve's surprise decision not to taper quantitative easing, though upside was limited ahead of the German elections this weekend. After a weak start, the FTSE 100 was more or less unc
Read moreLondon close: Stocks sink into the red ahead of FOMC outcome
18th Sep 2013 16:23
After a range-bound morning session, markets sunk into the red on Wednesday afternoon as investors reduced their appetite for risk ahead of the Federal Reserve policy decision later this evening. The FTSE 100 closed 11.35 points lower at 6,558.82, the index's second day in negative territory after
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