FTSE 250 movers: Centamin leads gains, Ocado drops to the bottom of the pile
6th Jan 2015 14:02
Shares in precious metals companies led gains as gold futures were in the green, as investors sought out safe-havens. Centamin was doing best as gold futures for February delivery rose 1.37% to $1,220.50. Stock in platinum miner Lonmin was also outperforming. Meanwhile, energy stocks were still fail
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Severn Trent, Mitchells&Butlers
26th Nov 2014 19:27
The latest figures from quoted water utility Severn Trent revealed a company in healthy shape, with pre-tax profits 10% ahead at £155.8m. Critically, it no longer seems to be the case that the company's future dividend growth will be hurt by the looming settlement with its regulator, Ofwat. Indeed,
Read moreMitchells & Butlers chief acquired 8,475 shares after FY results disappoint
25th Nov 2014 16:27
Alistair Darby, the chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers, has acquired 8,475 shares in the group after the restaurants and pubs operator said a challenging market was to blame for its falling annual earnings and continuing lack of dividend. Alistair Darby bought the shares at 348.46p apiece for a
Read moreMitchells and Butlers starts 2015 strongly after results hit target
25th Nov 2014 07:41
Restaurants and pubs operator Mitchells & Butlers said a challenging market was to blame for its falling earnings and continuing lack of dividend, as underlying full year profits made a small gain on the previous year. Though sales rose 4% year-on-year to £1.97bn, pre-tax profit before exceptional i
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
17th Nov 2014 10:32
African Barrick Gold: Investec reduces target price from 262p to 170p and downgrades to sell. Associated British Foods: Liberum initiates with a target price of 3470p and a buy recommendation. Bodycote: Investec lowers target price from 750p to 745p and maintains its buy recommendation. Centamin:
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
12th Nov 2014 09:07
Aberdeen: UBS lowers target price from 465p to 450p and downgrades from buy to neutral. ASOS: Societe Generale reduces target price from 5000p to 4450p, while leaving its buy recommendation unchanged. BG Group: Deutsche Bank reduces target price from 1400p to 1300p and keeps a buy recommendation.
Read moreCarpetright gets new chairman as founder Harris steps down after 57 years
21st Oct 2014 08:19
Carpet retailer Carpetright has appointed the chairman of pub group Mitchells & Butlers as its new chairman to replace group founder Philip Harris. Carpetright said Bob Ivell would become its non-executive chairman from 1 November. Harris said he would step down from the board on 31 October. Ivell
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
26th Sep 2014 08:38
Balfour Beatty: Deutsche Bank ups target price from 245p to 270p upgrading to buy. Betfair: JP Morgan raises target price from 1050p to 1175p leaving its neutral rating unchanged. British Land: Societe Generale upgrades to buy with a target price of 780p. Dairy Crest: Investec cuts target price fr
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 declines as mining stocks fall on dollar advance
25th Sep 2014 17:14
teerngasLondon's top shares tumbled on Thursday as the rising dollar took its toll on mining and energy stocks. The FTSE 100 Index closed 66.56p points adrift at 6639.71 as the greenback bounced on speculation of monetary stimulus from the European Central Bank (ECB) and US interest rate hikes. Spe
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: CSR rises after Microchip Tech deadline extended
25th Sep 2014 14:34
Shares in electronics group CSR were given a lift as the UK takeover panel extended the deadline for US suitor Microchip Technology to complete its bid negotiations. The previous deadline of 25 September has now been pushed back to 15 October. Oil and gas group Cairn Energy was higher after announci
Read moreBroker tips: Reckitt Benckiser, UK Mail, Mitchells&Butlers
25th Sep 2014 13:37
teerngasThe risk-reward trade-off inherent in holding shares of consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser is tilted to the upside, in the opinion of analysts at Morgan Stanley, given the company's strategic optionality. More specifically, the firm is targeting a shift in its portfolio towards higher gr
Read moreNumis issues 5% forecast downgrade on Mitchells & Butlers
25th Sep 2014 10:02
Numis has cut all its forecasts on Mitchells & Butlers by 5%, in the wake of disappointing results from the pubs and restaurants operator. After the group said like-for-like sales grew 0.1% in the nine weeks to 20 September and were flat over the second half, broker Numis said it expects full year m
Read moreMitchells & Butlers results boosted by World Cup performance
25th Sep 2014 07:40
Strong demand during the World Cup boosted the performance of pub and restaurant operator Mitchells & Butlers, which reported total sales growth for the 51 weeks of 3.8%. Like-for-like sales rose 0.6% over the period, while the group said its pub division had encountered different trading conditions
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
28th Jul 2014 11:06
African Barrick Gold: UBS ups target price from 260p to 290p and maintains a buy recommendation. Deutsche Bank cuts target price from 300p to 280p and reiterates a buy recommendation. Anglo American: UBS downgrades from buy to neutral with a target price of 1700p. Barclays: Nomura cuts target pric
Read moreSpirit Pub non-exec increase stake by a third
25th Jul 2014 15:58
Tony Rice, a non-executive director of Spirit Pub Company, has bought £152,506-worth of shares, increasing his stake by around a third. The addition of the 206,984 shares, which were bought at 73.68p apiece, take Rice's holding to 810,000 shares. The purchase comes a few weeks after the group to
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