Thursday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Mar 2013 07:11
Amara Mining: After having been under review, Cantor Fitzgerald reinitiates coverage with a price target of 81p and a buy recommendation. Antofagasta: Citigroup shifts target price from 990p to 1000p, but retains its sell recommendation. Ashtead Group: Investec raises target price from 475p to 700
Read moreUnion up in arms over further job cuts at Lloyds Banking Group
13th Mar 2013 13:48
Lloyds Banking Group came under attack by union Unite after announcing it would cut a further 550 jobs. The axe will affect departments including risk, retail, insurance and commercial banking. It follows a 940 cull in January, and brings the total number of redundancies to 8,550. The move is par
Read moreLondon close: Stocks gain as markets shrug off gloomy production data
12th Mar 2013 16:52
In spite of some dismal production data from the UK, the FTSE 100 finished Tuesday's session slightly higher as the benchmark index continues to set fresh five-year highs. Copper producer Antofagasta was providing a lift in London, rising on the back of its strong 2012 results, while IAG gained on
Read moreLondon midday: Markets flat despite dismal UK production figures
12th Mar 2013 11:28
The FTSE 100 managed to hold on to recent gains on Tuesday morning as traders shrugged off some disappointing domestic economic figures. London's benchmark is continuing to hover around the 6,500 mark, a level not seen since late 2007 before the financial crisis sparked a sell-off in financial mark
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, Antofagasta, IHG
12th Mar 2013 11:08
Investec has upgraded its recommendation for UK banking group Lloyds from 'sell' to 'hold' and lifted its target price for the shares from 46p to 50p. The broker said that Lloyds' share price has delivered a "useful" 10% correction over the past two weeks after the company's full-year results. "Alo
Read moreLondon open: Footsie holding on to five-year highs
12th Mar 2013 09:05
The FTSE 100 opened in cautious manner on Tuesday morning as investors paused for breath after the index hit fresh five-year highs the day before. London's benchmark is now hovering around the 6,500 mark, a level not seen since late 2007 before the financial crisis sparked a sell-off in financial m
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to dip on UK house price index decline
12th Mar 2013 07:29
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down seven points from yesterday's close of 6,504, knocked by news that the UK house price balance dropped to a seasonally adjusted -6 per cent in February, compared to expectations of a rise to -2 per cent (from -4 per cent in January). In the US stocks
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
12th Mar 2013 07:19
Abcam:Investec shifts target price from 484p to 487p and keeps a buy recommendation. Admiral Group: UBS ups target price from 1200p to 1275p and reiterates a neutral rating. Amlin: Westhouse Securities raises target price from 440p to 455p, but downgrades from add to neutral. Anite: Numis reduce
Read moreLloyds trims stake in St James's Place to bolster capital
12th Mar 2013 07:08
UK banking group Lloyds has trimmed its holding via a placing of shares in wealth management outfit St James's Place in an effort to strengthen its capital cushion. The lender place nearly 102m shares at 510p a share, raising gross proceeds of around £520m, trimming its stake from 57% to 37%. It wi
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: IAG, Lloyds, Funding for Lending...
12th Mar 2013 06:43
The Independent says that British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG) won a major battle with labour unions yesterday, ending the threat of industrial action at its Spanish unit Iberia with an agreement that will save it 250m euros per annum. IAG has accepted a Spanish government mediat
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
11th Mar 2013 07:23
Admiral Group: Berenberg ups target price from 1000p to 1060p, but still recommends selling. Amlin: Westhouse Securities raises target price from 440p to 455p, but downgrades from add to neutral. Anite Group: Invetsec downgrades from buy to hold with a target price of 157p. Aviva: Citigroup reduc
Read moreLondon close: Markets cement gains after strong US jobs data
8th Mar 2013 16:56
The FTSE 100 registered its highest closing price in over five years on Friday after a key indicator of the US labour market smashed expectations. However, the figures failed to give stocks a boost in afternoon trade as investors pondered whether the data is strong enough to prompt the Federal Rese
Read moreSector movers: Barclays, HSBC lead banks higher
8th Mar 2013 15:50
Strong economic data from the States pushed markets higher on Friday, with the banks benefitting from the bullish mood. UK banking heavyweights Barclays and HSBC were among the best performers on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trade. Barclays hit the headlines on Thursday night after its Chief Executiv
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise as market prices in strong US jobs data
8th Mar 2013 11:36
Markets maintained their positive bias on Friday morning as traders showed confidence ahead of a key reading of labour-market strength in the US later on, the February employment report. Increased risk appetite in London meant that financial stocks were leading the way higher today. Expectations r
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: GKN boosted by upgrade
4th Mar 2013 12:45
GKN shares rose into the top spot after Goldman Sachs raised its target price from 195p to 272p and upgraded the stock from sell to neutral. Capita Group followed closed behind after Jefferies raised its target price from 840p to 1,010p and kept a buy recommendation. The business process manager a
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