Sector movers: RBS leads banks higher as markets surge
4th Jul 2013 14:51
Every sector in London was trading in positive territory on Thursday as dovish comments by central banks in the UK and Europe sparked a market-wide surge with the FTSE 100 up around three per cent by late afternoon. The Bank of England and European Central Bank both dampened expectations of potenti
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise as BoE holds fire, markets eye ECB
4th Jul 2013 11:28
The FTSE 100 issued decent gains on Thursday morning, taking advantage of expected low volumes on the back of the Independence Day holiday in the States, with all eyes on central banks in the UK and Europe in the absence of any major economic data today. As expected, the Bank of England (BoE) stood
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, ASOS, Dunelm
4th Jul 2013 10:49
An improving picture of the housing market should start to rub off on UK banks, according to Nomura, which is viewing the the sector with 'guarded optimism'. Nomura has upgraded its rating for Lloyds from 'reduce' to 'neutral', saying that the company is now its top pick in the domestic UK banking
Read moreBroker snap: Nomura upgrades Lloyds on housing recovery
4th Jul 2013 09:49
An improving picture of the housing market should start to rub off on UK banks, according to Nomura, which is viewing the the sector with 'guarded optimism'. In a research report released on July 3rd, the broker said that UK house prices are 10% too low and could rise by 15% by the end of 2015 (up
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise as eyes turn to BoE, ECB
4th Jul 2013 08:25
The FTSE 100 rebounded strongly on Thursday morning after a sell-off the day before, as traders took advantage of thin volumes with markets in the States shut for Independence Day. The Bank of England (BoE) and European Central Bank (ECB) policy decisions will be in focus today with little economic
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
4th Jul 2013 08:17
Aberdeen Asset Management: JP Morgan reduces target price from 573p to 476p and reiterates its overweight rating. Ashmore Group: JP Morgan cuts target price from 410p to 339p maintaining a neutral rating. ASOS: Jefferies raises target price from 2199p to 6200p and upgrades from underperform to buy
Read moreBanks asked to tender for role in Lloyds, RBS share sale process
28th Jun 2013 14:11
The UK government took the first step in the eventual reprivatisation of Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group by asking investment banks to tender for a role in the share sales. UK Financial Investments, which manages the stakes on behalf of the government, has told bank advisers to regi
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Serco gains on growth forecast
28th Jun 2013 12:59
Public services outsourcing company Serco Group led the FTSE 100 race on Friday after saying it expects to report strong revenue growth in its full-year results. Schroders edged higher as the asset manager was upgraded by analysts at BNP Paribas to an 'outperform' rating in a research report on Fr
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
28th Jun 2013 08:32
BAE Systems: Deutsche Bank increases target price from 375p to 400p, while downgrading to hold. Barclays: Bank of America moves target price from 430p to 410p, while its buy recommendation remains unaltered. Booker Group: Investec shifts target price from 140p to 141p and keeps its buy recommendat
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
25th Jun 2013 07:24
African Barrick Gold: Morgan Stanley reduces target price from 200p to 140p, while leaving its equal-weight rating unaltered. Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 153p to 137p leaving its hold recommendation unchanged. African Minerals: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 586p to 570p, while k
Read moreLondon close: Markets suffer another sell-off as sentiment remains fragile
24th Jun 2013 16:41
Markets suffered another heavy sell-off on Monday, sending the FTSE 100 to levels not seen since the start of the year, as concerns over a slowdown in China and last week's Federal Reserve policy meeting continuing to hit markets across the globe. London's FTSE 100 finished the day down 87 points,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners fall on concerns over Chinese slowdown
24th Jun 2013 14:13
Mining stocks were again bearing the brunt of the market-wide sell-off on Monday on concerns over slowing growth in China after Goldman Sachs cut its growth forecasts for the powerhouse for this year and the next. Vedanta, Antofagasta, Glencore Xstrata and Anglo American were all registering moderat
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 nearly erases year-to-date gains
24th Jun 2013 11:38
After a bright start, the FTSE 100 had sunk sharply into the red by Monday lunchtime with the index having nearly erased all of the impressive gains made since the start of the year. The Footsie was trading 1.05% lower by midday at around 6,052, compared to an intraday high of 6,132 reached early o
Read moreFriday broker round-up
21st Jun 2013 08:34
Afren: Jefferies cuts target price from 155p to 140p and downgrades from buy to hold. Alpha Real Trust: Panmure Gordon shifts target price from 76p to 79p and retains a buy recommendation. Betfair Group: JP Morgan moves target price from 850p to 825p keeping a neutral rating. Borders & Southern P
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 drops three per cent after Fed signals end to QE
20th Jun 2013 16:58
Equity, bond and commodity markets were a sea of red on Thursday as traders fled from risk in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve's confirmation of its stimulus 'exit strategy'. The FTSE 100 finished down an eye-watering 189 points, falling 2.98% to 6,160. The last time the index was at this level
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