Broker snap: Investec upbeat about Barclays but obstacles remain
2nd Jan 2013 10:41
Barclays was performing well on Wednesday morning after Investec hiked its target price from 260p to 285p and hailed the lender as its 'preferred UK domestic bank'. Despite an impressive 79% rally over the past five months, the broker said that the shares are still trading "only in line with loss-
Read moreLondon open: Fiscal cliff deal ignites risk appetite
2nd Jan 2013 08:21
The FTSE 100 surged on Wednesday morning as investors celebrated the news that the fiscal cliff deal Stateside, with mining and banking stocks benefitting from the increase in risk appetite. "It may have come at the last minute, but US lawmakers finally managed to find some common ground by voting
Read moreLondon close: Footsie ends 2012 on a dull note, fiscal-cliff weighs
31st Dec 2012 12:50
After a slight rebound late morning, the Footsie dropped to near its intraday low by the close of trade in a shortened trading session as US budget uncertainty dented risk appetite. Markets across Europe finished with mild losses today as they closed early for New Year's Eve. Fiscal cliff concern
Read moreLondon midday: Risk appetite scaled back ahead of fiscal cliff deadline
31st Dec 2012 11:19
UK stocks were trading firmly in the red by Monday lunchtime with less than 24 hours to go before the US fiscal cliff deadline, when 600bn dollars in automatic spending cuts and tax increases come into effect. Markets were even shrugging off some upbeat economic data from Asian powerhouse China ove
Read moreDid you pick the FTSE 100 winners in 2012?
28th Dec 2012 09:00
Let's be blunt, 2012 has been a real stinker in terms of the one thing markets crave most: certainty. Shocks have come from left, right and centre in 2012 as investors swung wildly between 'risk on' and 'risk off' modes. On top of that, trading on the London Stock Exchange was very light by histor
Read moreLondon close: Investors take profits ahead of Christmas
21st Dec 2012 16:31
- Cancelled 'Plan B' vote results in sell-off - Boehner pledges to continue negotiations - Miners and financials in the red While stocks managed to stage a small comeback in afternoon trade, the UK market finished the week on a dull note, with 'fiscal cliff' fears dampening the festive cheer ahead
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners and financials in the red
21st Dec 2012 15:07
Miners and financial stocks were bearing the brunt of the bearish mood on markets on Friday as investors cut positions in riskier assets on concerns over the US economy. However, Randgold Resources was bucking the trend as gold prices advanced following heavy losses this week. Banks were under th
Read moreLondon close: Gains pared after White House comments on 'fiscal cliff'
19th Dec 2012 16:57
The UK stock market staged a slight 'Santa rally' on Wednesday, with risk appetite increasing before Christmas on the back of a Greek ratings upgrade and a better-than-expected reading of German confidence. "Santa has returned to the markets, bringing some much needed cheer before the Christmas bre
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Financials, IAG and CRH lead the risers
19th Dec 2012 15:31
Insurance and banking stocks were performing well on Wednesday afternoon after Credit Suisse upgraded its ratings on both sectors this morning. Lloyds was up 4% after the Swiss broker raised its view on European banks to 'benchmark' from 'small underweight', saying that the stock looks "abnormally
Read moreLondon midday: The 'Santa Rally' begins...
19th Dec 2012 11:35
An upgrade of Greece's credit rating and a better-than-expected reading of German sentiment saw European stock markets make impressive gains on Wednesday. Meanwhile, increasing optimism that US leaders can strike a deal to avert the 'fiscal cliff' was also continuing to bolster the bullish mood.
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise on hopes over Greece
19th Dec 2012 08:16
UK stocks were making gains in early trading on Wednesday with sentiment being lifted by improving developments in Greece. Yesterday evening, S&P upgraded its rating for Greece from 'selective default' to 'B-minus'. The yield on a 10-year Greek bond was down 13 basis points at 12.7% this morning.
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
13th Dec 2012 07:22
Advanced Medical Solutions: Investec reduces target price from 93p to 68p and downgrades from buy to hold. Numis downgrades to hold, while maintaining the target price at 165p. Canaccord Genuity moves target price from 93p to 90p and retains a buy recommendation. Anglo American: JP Morgan moves tar
Read moreLondon close: Stocks pare gains after US ISM data
3rd Dec 2012 16:52
- US manufacturing sector in contraction - Chinese and India data lifts markets early on - Banking fall after BoE FLS details The FTSE 100 index was set to finish Monday's session with decent gains until a worse-than-expected reading of US manufacturing caused markets across Europe to trim gains by
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks fall after BoE lending scheme underwhelms
3rd Dec 2012 15:38
UK banking group Lloyds was under the weather after the release of the details of the Bank of England's (BoE's) Funding For Lending (FLS) scheme in the third quarter. The BoE revealed that Lloyds, along with RBS, had cut net lending by £2.77bn and £642m, respectively, in the three months to the en
Read moreLondon midday: Markets rise after manufacturing data
3rd Dec 2012 11:35
- Chinese and Indian PMIs improve - UK manufacturing PMI beats forecasts - Miners provide a lift in London The Footsie had held on to gains by Monday lunchtime after some decent manufacturing figures from China and India, though the mood was cautious on the back of uncertainties surrounding the US
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